Microsoft said to be buying the maker of 'Minecraft' for $2 billion

[xxMATTGxx]

icrosoft is nearing a deal to buy Mojang AB, makers of the Minecraft video game franchise, according to a new report. According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal would value Mojang at more than $2 billion and could be signed as soon as this week.

Microsoft and Mojang declined to comment to the Journal. As the Journal notes, the move would be surprising given that Mojang founder Markkus "Notch" Persson, is a darling of the indie gaming scene who has avoided taking venture capital. He has also criticized Microsoft's Windows 8 for potentially being "very, very bad for indie games."

Minecraft, which first came out in 2009, has sold more than 50 million copies. Stockholm-based Mojang had $100 million in profits last year, according to the Journal. It's a reflection of the fact that Minecraft, an open-world game where players can build almost anything they can imagine while avoiding spiders and other dangers, has become a global phenomenon.

Developing ...

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/9/6128759/microsoft-said-to-be-buying-the-maker-of-minecraft-for-2-billion



My thoughts? For some reason I will be surprised this even happens. Why? Well Notch has been very vocal about Microsoft over the years and also about Windows 8. So I think people will be surprised and shocked he would agree to something like this. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't. Hell, people said Google was buying Twitch but then in the end it was Amazon who did.

[scottish]

He won't care what he said a few years ago, 2 billion is 2 billion.

[xxMATTGxx]

He won't care what he said a few years ago, 2 billion is 2 billion.

Would be an ironic move. Minecraft won't be the same once MS get their hands on it.

[scottish]

I doubt MS would change much considering it's mass success already.

[lawrawrrr]

aaaaahahahahahahha the thread title on my forum looks like they're buying it for $2... I'll buy it for more! ;)


Anyway yeah IF they did buy, which I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to, but can't see happening with its growing success and Notch's past comments, I don't really think they'd change it that much anyway. I could possibly see some sort of merger happening where Notch still gets some sort of senior position but I just really don't think he'd change his mind so much as to completely let it go to the company he has, quite frankly, been banging on about for a while now.

[Chris]

It makes sense that they want to purchase it. Not only is it popular on the PC but it's got a really big following on the xbox 360 and most recently the xbox one. I wonder if they would try and keep Minecraft from any future playstation consoles in an attempt to make it an exclusive xbox game.

[Chippiewill]

He won't care what he said a few years ago, 2 billion is 2 billion.
448589043291672576
448900844541726720

[scottish]

the real garry knows best.

[DPS]

yeah im with scottish on this one... he wouldnt care. 2 billion is alot of ***** wonga... would be stupid to turn that down imo.

[xxMATTGxx]

yeah im with scottish on this one... he wouldnt care. 2 billion is alot of ***** wonga... would be stupid to turn that down imo.

He's already turned money like that before. This time might be different though, seeing as Notch and the whole Mojang gang are keeping quiet at this moment in time about this.

[scottish]

I don't see why they wouldn't, they get what 180mil a year (prev year) in revenue, and that'll be dying down as Minecraft itself is dying down in popularity.

The major sales for this year will come from xbone and PS4. After that I can't see them earning too much revenue unless their future games are as successful.

[DPS]

He's already turned money like that before. This time might be different though, seeing as Notch and the whole Mojang gang are keeping quiet at this moment in time about this. yeah i guess, but i think its the right time for him to sell now.

[xxMATTGxx]

I don't see why they wouldn't, they get what 180mil a year (prev year) in revenue, and that'll be dying down as Minecraft itself is dying down in popularity.

The major sales for this year will come from xbone and PS4. After that I can't see them earning too much revenue unless their future games are as successful.

It's more about them selling it to Microsoft due to what has been said in the past. But they aren't in the best shape at the moment with the whole bukkit licensing argument. So it might be best to sell. Who knows!

[Richie]

I'd take it, Minecraft has already hit its lifetime peak imo, take that 2b notch and stick it on black 4b ez !

[scottish]

Is it 2b cash deal or part cash part stocks?

Probably speak to the people in the company and share it out if they do accept it, as they're whats built the company really.

I doubt bukkit will have any effect on them tbh.

[xxMATTGxx]

Is it 2b cash deal or part cash part stocks?

Probably speak to the people in the company and share it out if they do accept it, as they're whats built the company really.

I doubt bukkit will have any effect on them tbh.

Bukkt is pretty much dead at this stage anyway.

[scottish]

Well dinnerbones meant to update it aint here?

[xxMATTGxx]

Well dinnerbones meant to update it aint here?

He said that when EvilSteph announced Bukkit was closing/they were leaving. This was before the DMCA takedown - Now it's whole different picture. All the code that can't be used because of this take down would have to be re-written most likely due to this whole "licensing" business.

That's why other people have got together to make a new project called Sponge: http://spongepowered.org/

I think there's a few other projects similar but this is a recent one that a lot of people are talking about now.

[scottish]

either that or they can release the Minecraft Server code (decompiled, deobfuscated version), but Mojang said before that they won't open source for GPL/LGPL license.

But at the end of the day, Mojangs legal team vs Some 18 year old dev doesn't look good for him if he really wants to take it further.


http://forums.bukkit.org/threads/mojang-and-the-bukkit-project.309715/

[xxMATTGxx]

either that or they can release the Minecraft Server code (decompiled, deobfuscated version), but Mojang said before that they won't open source for GPL/LGPL license.

But at the end of the day, Mojangs legal team vs Some 18 year old dev doesn't look good for him if he really wants to take it further.


http://forums.bukkit.org/threads/mojang-and-the-bukkit-project.309715/


For those of you who don’t know me, I am Ryan Morrison, or “VideoGameAttorney” on Reddit. I have spent countless hours over in the gamedev subreddit helping the gaming community get informed and know their rights. As such, when I see one of “the little guys” trampled on, it really makes me lose my temper.
There are few more passionate people in the industry than those who spend their time modding and working on open source software. They know they aren’t doing it for money or recognition; they’re doing it because they love it. So when a company secretly buys a project and doesn’t tell those programmers toiling away on open source projects that they’re now effectively working as free labor, that company is playing with fire.

I have received a lot of emails about Wesley Wolfe and Mojang, and nearly all of them referred to one of the various licenses involved in this debacle. I’ve heard arguments that all of Minecraft is open source now, and I’ve heard Wesley is Hitler’s reincarnation coming to doom all those who dare to craft or mine. Neither is true, at all. Minecraft owns its code, and there is no magical license on the internet or accidental involvement on a project that changes that. In the same regard, Wesley is not doing anything shady or underhanded, he too owns his code and has every right to have it treated as he would like.

A license is a contract. There are many reasons why a contract would be void, and many conditions that make a contract invalid from the get-go. One such condition is being “tricked” into the agreement, which would include agreeing to work on a project under false pretenses. As stated above, an open source project being secretly purchased by a company, in hopes to have that company’s game be improved through it, is as close to a loophole for free labor as you will find. Free labor was outlawed in this country a while ago. We had a whole war about it.

Further, while the arguments that Minecraft is open source are ridiculous, what’s not ridiculous is that the use of Mojang’s code in the projects under a GPL would negate the entire GPL on that project. I can’t create an open source project off one of Blizzard’s games, for example, so why does anyone think it’s different here?

Finally, if I draw a picture of Mickey Mouse, that’s infringement. Disney can come after me and make me take it down or stop using it in whatever I am. But Disney cannot claim ownership over my drawing of Mickey. That’s still mine, even if I can’t use it. So here, if Wesley’s entire code library was infringing, Mojang can make him take it down. But Wesley still owns that infringing code and he can also take it down or, more importantly, tell others to take it down as well. Mojang can’t claim ownership of his code just because it might have infringed on their IP. They can just make him take it down.

There will be many headlines about this in coming weeks. There will be a lot of wild theories and arguments from both sides. But at the end of the day, don’t just believe one side is “good” and the other “bad” here. These things are rarely so simple.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/2fk5nn/my_response_to_vubui_mojang_and_the_hundreds_yes/

Also taken from Reddit:

Both parties (Mojang & Non-Mojang Bukkit contributors), due to incompatible licenses, have always had the ability to assert their rights and have the (Bukkit) project taken down. Neither party have the right to take the others code and continue the project without the others consent.

He's not in the wrong - He's allowed to do so, it's his code.

[scottish]

Mojang didn't 'secretly' purchase bukkit though. It was announced at the time in various places.

Bukkit is wholly open source, it contains no secret code from Minecraft or their Server code.


Further, while the arguments that Minecraft is open source are ridiculous, what’s not ridiculous is that the use of Mojang’s code in the projects under a GPL would negate the entire GPL on that project. I can’t create an open source project off one of Blizzard’s games, for example, so why does anyone think it’s different here?

Mojangs code is not used in Craftbukkit, it's third party code Mojang have stated that none of their code has been 'given' to Bukkit.

There's millions of open source projects on Blizzards games, they're called Addons (there's a whole curse library of them).

He knowingly submitted code to an open source project, you can't wait 2 years down the line and say oh I don't like them anymore let's issue a DMCA takedown notice. He joined the team, contributed his code to that license.

That's similar to if I started working with Habbox tomorrow, then in 3 months time I fell out with you and said I want every page I made removed as it infringes my IP.

idk I can't be bothered reading more about it i'm sure mojang will overcome it, but this just seems to be very petty due to them disbanding the project, why not leave it alone and let dinnerbone keep the success going, instead of stabbing it in the back when it's already down.

[xxMATTGxx]

Mojang didn't 'secretly' purchase bukkit though. It was announced at the time in various places.

Bukkit is wholly open source, it contains no secret code from Minecraft or their Server code.



Mojangs code is not used in Craftbukkit, it's third party code Mojang have stated that none of their code has been 'given' to Bukkit.

There's millions of open source projects on Blizzards games, they're called Addons (there's a whole curse library of them).

He knowingly submitted code to an open source project, you can't wait 2 years down the line and say oh I don't like them anymore let's issue a DMCA takedown notice. He joined the team, contributed his code to that license.

That's similar to if I started working with Habbox tomorrow, then in 3 months time I fell out with you and said I want every page I made removed as it infringes my IP.

idk I can't be bothered reading more about it i'm sure mojang will overcome it, but this just seems to be very petty due to them disbanding the project, why not leave it alone and let dinnerbone keep the success going, instead of stabbing it in the back when it's already down.

I'm pretty sure he's well within his right to do that. Like Chippiewill mentioned in the other thread.


The developer who submitted the DMCA is actually well within his rights, all his work was done under the GPL license which means everything else in Bukkit needs to be GPL, including the parts which are part of the Minecraft server source code (Which are technically closed source). Bukkit is in copyright violation for one of two reasons:

a) They've been distributing Minecraft's source code under GPL.
b) They've been infringing the individual developer's copyright by not distributing it under GPL as required.

Mojang have a few ways to get out of this, either release Minecraft's server source code under GPL, replace all the GPL code and update the license, get the individual developers to change their licenses.

[scottish]

I'm pretty sure he's well within his right to do that. Like Chippiewill mentioned in the other thread.

All of bukkit IS open source afaik. Mojang have stated they've given no code to the bukkit project (to try to maintain its independence etc), so bukkit is GPL


Mojang themself have stated;

"The official Minecraft Server software that we have made available is not included in CraftBukkit. Therefore there is no obligation for us to provide the original code or any source code to the Minecraft Server, nor any obligation to authorize its use. Our refusal to make available or authorize the use of the original / source code of the Minecraft Server software cannot therefore be considered to give rise to an infringement of any copyright of Wesley, nor any other person."

[dbgtz]

Can't wait for Minecraft™ 2, only on Xbox One™.

I don't play Minecraft anymore, but Microsoft haven't exactly done well with their own franchises recently (AoE, Zoo Tycoon) so I dread what they would do to Minecraft. Though, even if this isn't a rumour, I doubt the sale will go ahead.

[RyRy]

Say what you will, but this is great both for the Xbox One/360 guys AND PC guys.

Microsoft won't interrupt in their business and just let them do their thing, and I can see them bundling it into the next Windows release as a free game and giving Mojang a portion of each sale from each OS, regardless of whether they use Minecraft or not.

That would be a baller deal for both Microsoft and Mojang I think.

[dbgtz]

Say what you will, but this is great both for the Xbox One/360 guys AND PC guys.

Microsoft won't interrupt in their business and just let them do their thing, and I can see them bundling it into the next Windows release as a free game and giving Mojang a portion of each sale from each OS, regardless of whether they use Minecraft or not.

That would be a baller deal for both Microsoft and Mojang I think.

PS and mobile platforms can shove it!!

But I can't see them doing that, at least not with a full copy. They really will just run it into the ground, making as much as possible as is the current trend with ridiculous DLC and microtransactions. You wouldn't spend $2 billion to basically just give the product away.

[xxMATTGxx]

Well either the rumour is true or everyone at Mojang is currently locked up somewhere without internet.

[scottish]

But, according to Bloomberg news agency, it was Mr Persson who "reached out" to Microsoft a few months ago.

It said that a source suggested that if the deal went through, Mr Persson would help with the transition, but was unlikely to stay on afterwards.

The New York Times also reported that a person briefed on the talks had said that Mr Persson was expected to leave within six months, but added that Mojang was keen to hold on to its younger developers.

[Tyler]

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Edited by Samanfa (Forum Moderator): Please do not post pointlessly and off topic, thank you!

[MilksAreUs]

@!:random!:!; @-:Undertaker:-; @-Amyy; @-HonorBranch; @-Nick; @.:TaylorSwift:; @.ExtremeSlayer; @53898; @:.Awd.:; @:Markster:; @:odey:; @=Lizzy; @A4R0N; @Aaron; @Abi; @Absently; @Adam; @Alexthedoc; @Amberr; @AtxP; @auffant1; @B; @Bankai90; @Barkseh; @Becca; @BFarnsey; @bikini; @bloop; @Bolt660; @Calum0812; @Calvin; @cameron354; @Cassiieee; @Catchy; @Chapill; @Chippiewill; @Chloe54297; @Chrisbud1; @ClarieTBH.; @Collegno; @CrazyLemurs; @dangAgentsanta; @Danny.R.H2012; @davecool656; @Derrener; @Dj-WillianBr; @djclune; @djjarod; @DJRonanBrown27; @DJ_Shadow; @DPS; @Draqom; @Drew; @Drewar; @dude1-44; @e5; @ediootti; @Ekelektra; @Ell; @Empired; @Evanora; @Faboosh; @Fict; @flawlessxxo; @freelancers; @fungiselebu; @Futz; @GoldenMerc; @GommeInc; @GrandpaJoe63; @Grig; @HabboxComps; @hairpins; @Harry98; @Hawaii5.O; @Headlines; @Hollyoaks; @Hostula; @HxHelpDesk; @iBlueBox; @IceNineKills; @Inseriousity.; @iphone66; @iSherlock; @itsliamOK; @IWishIWasCool; @IzzyUhh; @j0rd; @Jaiisun; @janrulesfriend; @Jarkie; @Jellyfish; @Jessica-may; @jesus; @Jmando; @Jordan; @jorsian; @Josh0202; @joshua06860; @Jssy; @Judge; @Judy; @Juiz; @Jurv; @JUSTHD; @KAIZHI; @Kardan; @Kellie; @kfc; @kirkrrr; @kitten; @Kittysoft; @Krazybethw; @lawrawrrr; @le; @Harry; @lemons; @Lewis; @Littlekr0n1c; @Liva; @Logandyer45; @LoveToStack; @lRhyss; @lucaskf390; @Lulius; @Madison1D; @mageg; @mdport.; @Michael; @Mikey; @MONEYMAGIC; @Mr-Trainor; @mrwoooooooo; @Ms.Aquamarine; @narfle; @Nathan6619; @Nayth; @Nick; @Nickk; @nko89; @notadummy; @Nuct; @October; @Odd; @OldLoveSong; @Oleh; @Ozzinator; @Paige.; @pasta; @Petrusoxide; @Phil; @Plebings; @Rachel_137; @Re-Call; @RealClifford; @Red; @Reloaded; @Remonde; @Repair; @Richie; @Ripieno; @rnix; @Roxy; @Rozi; @RuthOnToast; @RyRy; @Samanfa; @sex; @sexylove95; @Shar; @Shockwave.2CC; @Shonly; @Shortages; @Shorty; @ShrimpJuice; @Sianness; @Singlish; @SirDavidTroll; @SlimShadyLp; @Sloths; @Smurfed-; @Southe,; @spen1000; @st4cysmom; @Sticky-Note; @Succubus; @Suicune; @takeapicture; @TheDoctor.; TonyBest; tpittman-11; Turti; Tyler; Tylerr!; UndeadDevilHD; Vegas; vikash121; welshcake; Wispur; Wizzdom; WoodyLFC.2k7; xxMATTGxx; XxZammyXx; Yawn; youtubematy882; Yumnomnom; Yuxin; zebbadi; Zelda; zombies; @_HeyyitsHannah_;
What?

[ItsMeerken]

http://www.gta5stats.com/players/small/undeaddevil98.jpg (http://www.gta5stats.com/players/user/undeaddevil98)

Edited by Nick (Assistant Forum Manager): Please don't post pointlessly.

[Sticky-Note]

Can I please stopped being tagged in things I don't care about at all.

Edited by e5 (Forum Super Moderator) - Please do not post off-topic/pointlessly.

[IzzyUhh]

Idgi why is everyone being tagged in threads...

OT: I do like the game and hope it doesn't affect game play,

[Hannah]

Idgi why is everyone being tagged in threads...

OT: I do like the game and hope it doesn't affect game play,

^ This.

STOP TAGGING ME! D:<

[Suicune]

Can I please stopped being tagged in things I don't care about at all.
Agreed. I'm sick to death of coming onto the forum, only to find I'm being mentioned in things that I don't really care about in the slightest. It needs to stop.

[lemons]

511503077133000706

$2.5b!

[scottish]

lol get in

people thinking he wouldn't take 2.5bn jeez

[xxMATTGxx]

Well we all knew a buyout was going to happen when none of the staff tweeted about it

- - - Updated - - -

https://mojang.com/2014/09/yes-were-being-bought-by-microsoft/

[Kardan]

I'm disappointed, but it's not surprising at all.

[Stephen]

who wouldnt

[Jazz]

http://notch.net/2014/09/im-leaving-mojang/

im not surprised

[scottish]

https://mojang.com/2014/09/yes-were-being-bought-by-microsoft/

[scottish]

http://news.xbox.com/2014/09/games-minecraft-to-join-microsoft

video etc up

[Jazz]

the video felt so fake and put on

[peteyt]

I'm still surprised he sold it to Microsoft $2.5bn is a lot yeah, but with the way he's criticised Microsoft in the past I'd have expected him to sell it to someone else rather than Microsoft. Let's just hope it isn't ruined

[scottish]

Well Microsoft is a better alternative to others such as EA lol.

[peteyt]

Oh certainly better than EA but still. I'm surprised if he didn't like where he was it he didn't just give it to some of the other team. Just seems a lot of small companies these days are getting bought out giving the big ones too much power

[scottish]

Give it away or 2.5bn

I know what I'd take :P

[Jssy]

im surprised actually, but definitely a better choice than EA

[Ahnime]

If Minecraft stays the same, that'll be good. But if it changes too much, I'm definitely against it.