Minecraft for PS4 & Xbox One Review, Release Date, Gameplay & Price: Microsoft to Purchase Minecraft for $2 Billion?
One of the biggest tech companies in the world, Microsoft, is planning on buying indie video game company Mojang, makers of "Minecraft," for a rumored $2 billion. The move could benefit the small Swedish game developer but would please some fans.
According to Bloomberg, the tech giant Microsoft is in talks with Mojang to purchase the small and young company. Although spokespeople for neither company have confirmed that Microsoft plans to buy the game developer, sources close to the talks have said. The three sources who spoke with Bloomberg asked not to be identified because the negotiations were not public.
The talks are serious and according to two sources the deal could be finalized later this week or next week. If a deal is reached, Microsoft the $2 billion with cash held overseas, which would benefit the company, which "would have favorable tax consequences for the software maker, whose vast majority of cash and short-term investments are kept outside the U.S."
The sources say that Markus Persson, who founded Mojang four years ago, approached Microsoft some months ago offering to sell the video game company. The two companies have negotiated the price and the rest of the details and Persson will remain until the transition is done.
However, according to PC World, Persson has not been a strong supporter of large tech companies, including Microsoft, and has had a history of calling out the behemoth for "trying to ruin the PC as an open platform."
"Minecraft" has been one of the company's most successful games, selling more than 54 million versions of it for various types of platforms. But, it only made $100 million in profits for the company. Two billion dollars seems a much better deal.
Yet, many fans are not happy. The Wall Street Journal reports fans have grown to love the company and its founder for his defiance and willingness to criticize the giants devouring smaller game developers. But now their hero could be following the rest.
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