p>Microsoft pays $2.5bn for Minecraft maker Mojang By Joe Miller Technology reporter, BBC News
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p>Microsoft has acquired Mojang, the Swedish firm that developed the popular video game Minecraft for $2.5bn (PS1.5bn).
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p>The title that has sold more than 54 million copies, lets players to construct structures using Lego-like blocks, as well as explore the vast map and battle other players.
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p>Phil Spencer, chief Xbox executive, announced the deal.
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p>Mojang, whose three founders will leave the company, has assured its fans that "everything is going to be fine".
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p>Some analysts have speculated the deal is designed to lure more users to Microsoft's Windows Phone devices.
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p>This acquisition comes just one year after Microsoft purchased the Finnish mobile phone company Nokia's handsets and devices division.
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p>Minecraft is one of the most popular games on Apple's iOS store and Android's Google Play, and has recently been released for the Xbox One and PlayStation? 4 and has boosted sales even more.
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p>This month it was the third most popular console game, according to market research firm NPD Group, despite being in the market for a short time.
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p>Mojang, the game's developer was founded in 2009. It made over $100 million in profit in 2009 and employs about 40 people. https://addictgaming.com/ </p>
p>Microsoft announced that the Mojang team would join its game studio that is responsible for titles like Halo, Forza and Fable.
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p>The tech giant's chief executive, Satya Nadella, said: "Minecraft is more than an excellent game franchise. It's an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community that we cherish and brimming with exciting opportunities for that community and for Microsoft."
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p>Opposition to the sale
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p>Mojang's founder, Markus "Notch" Persson has previously criticized Microsoft and has told Reuters that the market for Windows phones was "tiny" and not worth developing apps for.
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p>Minecraft has a huge and enthusiastic cult fan base, many of whom have reacted angrily to what they see as a corporate takeover of a communally-spirited independent company.
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p>"Makes me sick and sad," wrote one user on a well-known Minecraft forum. EvilBatsu? said, "It would kill off the gaming community."
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p>Some expressed concerns over the ability of fans to demonstrate their talents.
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p>"It will not just cost more to play the game, but it could also affect people's jobs." Many people play Minecraft and upload it to YouTube as their career, but if Microsoft takes over there will be copyright issues."
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p>Some players made the point that Microsoft could devote larger resources to expanding and upgrading the game.
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p>In an announcement, Microsoft said it would maintain Minecraft across all its existing platforms, and a "commitment to nurture and grow it long into the future".
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p>It said that the acquisition was expected to be completed by the end of 2014
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p>In a statement that confirmed the deal on its website, Mojang reassured gamers, saying: "Please remember that the future of Minecraft and you , the community, are crucial to everyone involved. Let this be the only thing you take away from this post.
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p>With respect to Microsoft, Mojang said: "There are only few potential buyers who have the capacity to develop Minecraft on the scale it deserves."
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p>The company said that "Notch" was deciding that he didn't want to be the person responsible for running a business with such global significance.
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p>Developer Notch on selling Minecraft:
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p>"I've become a symbol. I do not want to be a symbol accountable for something that I don't understand and do not want to tackle and that constantly comes back to me. I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a chief executive officer.
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p>Read the entire statement
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p>Why Minecraft?
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p>James McQuivey? of analytics firm Forrester has stated that "Minecraft is one of the most important gaming properties in the world".
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p>"Not only is it profitable however, it continues to grow in terms of profits even after its release, largely because of the ardent player base that invests in the creation of their own Minecraft worlds.
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p>"That helps explain the reason Microsoft would like Minecraft and would like to ensure it is always available on Microsoft's gaming platforms.
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p>Professor Mark Skilton from Warwick Business School said that the acquisition was about building a solid customer base for Microsoft.
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p>"The online gaming industry is fast moving from niche collective enthusiast to mass-market and Minecraft is a natural progression since big business is following the growth of traffic in the digital world."
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p>Amazon purchased Twitch last month for $970 million (PS597m).
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p>"It's all about my sanity"
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p>Microsoft is 'set to buy Minecraft'
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p>Microsoft completes Nokia phone deal
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p>25 April 2014
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p>Microsoft
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p>NPD Group
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