p>Microsoft pays $2.5bn for Minecraft maker Mojang By Joe Miller Technology reporter, BBC News
/p>
p>Microsoft has bought Mojang the Swedish company behind the wildly popular video game Minecraft for $2.5bn (PS1.5bn).
/p>
p>The title that has sold more than 54 million copies, lets players to build structures with retro Lego-style blocks and also explore the vast map and fight against other players.
/p>
p>Phil Spencer, chief Xbox executive, announced the deal.
/p>
p>Mojang, the company's founders promised that their fans that everything will be perfectly.
/p>
p>Analysts believe that the deal is designed to increase the number of Microsoft's Windows Phone users.
/p>
p>This acquisition comes one year after Microsoft purchased the Finnish mobile phone company Nokia's handset and devices division.
/p>
p>Minecraft is among the most popular games on the Apple iOS store and Android's Google Play, and has recently been released for Xbox One and PlayStation? 4 and has boosted sales even more.
/p>
p>Despite being on sale for a while it was the third most played game on consoles last month , according to NPD Group market research firm.
/p>
p>Mojang, the game's creator was founded in the year 2009. It made more than $100 million last year and has approximately 40 employees.
/p>
p>Microsoft announced that the Mojang team would join its game studio, which is responsible for games like Halo, Forza, and Fable.
/p>
p>The chief executive of the tech giant, Satya Nadella, said: "Minecraft is more than an amazing game franchise. It is an open-world platform driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about and brimming with exciting opportunities for that community and for Microsoft."
/p>
p>Opposition to the sale
/p>
p>Markus "Notch", Mojang's founder has previously criticized Microsoft and told Reuters that there was a tiny market for Windows phones and it wasn't something worth developing applications for.
/p>
p>Minecraft has a huge and enthusiastic fan base Many of them have reacted angrily to what they see as an attempt to take over a communally-spirited independent company.
/p>
p>"Makes me sick, and sad," wrote one user on a well-known Minecraft forum. "It could end the gaming community," EvilBatsu? added.
/p>
p>Some expressed concern over how fans will be able to exhibit their skills.
/p>
p>"It will not just cost more to play the game, but it could also affect people's jobs." Many players play Minecraft and upload it to YouTube as a profession but when Microsoft takes over there will be copyright issues."
/p>
p>Some players suggested that Microsoft could spend more resources on the game's expansion and upgrades.
/p>
p>In an announcement, Microsoft said it would continue to maintain Minecraft across all its existing platforms, and a "commitment to nurture and grow it long into the future".
/p>
p>The company added that the acquisition was expected to be concluded by the end of 2014.
/p>
p>In a statement that confirmed the deal on its website, Mojang reassured gamers, saying: "Please remember that the future of Minecraft and the community you are part of are extremely important to everyone involved. Let this be the only thing you learn from this article. https://minecraft-servers.xyz/ </p>
p>In relation to Microsoft, Mojang said: "There are only a handful of potential buyers with the resources to develop Minecraft to the scale it is deserved."
/p>
p>The company added that "Notch" had decided that he "doesn't want to be a part of a company that has such global significance".
/p>
p>Developer Notch on selling Minecraft:
/p>
p>"I've become an icon. I do not want to be a symbol, accountable for something that I don't understand or don't want to tackle, that keeps coming back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a chief executive officer.
/p>
p>Read the entire statement
/p>
p>Why Minecraft?
/p>
p>James McQuivey? of analytics firm Forrester said that "Minecraft is one of the most popular gaming properties around the globe".
/p>
p>"Not only is it profitable however, it continues to grow in revenue years after its release, mostly because of the ardent community of fans who invest in the creation of their own Minecraft worlds.
/p>
p>"That helps to explain the reason Microsoft would be interested in Minecraft and would want to ensure it is always available on Microsoft's gaming platforms.
/p>
p>Professor Mark Skilton from Warwick Business School said that the acquisition was about building a robust customer base for Microsoft.
/p>
p>"The online gaming industry is rapidly moving from niche collective enthusiast to mass-market and Minecraft is a logical move since big business is following the numbers of traffic in the digital world."
/p>
p>Amazon purchased Twitch last month for $970 million (PS597m).
/p>
p>"It's all about my sanity"
/p>
p>Microsoft is 'set to buy Minecraft'
/p>
p>Microsoft completes Nokia phone deal
/p>
p>Microsoft
/p>
p>NPD Group
/p>
