Microsoft Has Acquired Minecraft For $2.5 Billion

Microsoft has confirmed that Mojang and Minecraft will join its ranks, but it’ll continue to make the game available across iOS, Android and PlayStation as well as on Xbox and PC, the company announced today. Microsoft says that they started their conversation around bringing the title to the Xbox console, and from there witnessed their tremendous success and decided to make the acquisition to help “diversify [its] game portfolio.”

Founders Markus “Notch” Persson, Carl Manneh and Jakbok Porser are leaving the company following the acquisition, the team announced. Mojang’s official site also confirmed the previously reported purchase price of $2.5 billion. In their post, the Mojang community team says that Notch shied away from controlling such a globally influential company, and would prefer to work on smaller projects. The decision sell was designed to help Minecraft continue to grow while freeing up the founding team to pursue their other interests.

Mojang makes no assurances about the specific future plans in store for Minecraft, but says that for now it should be business as usual. Microsoft says it “respect[s] the brand and independent spirit” of Minecraft and will continue projects like MINECON, the annual convention focused on the game begun by Mojang back in 2010.

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