Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • PC Hardware

    Microsoft Snaps Up Minecraft for $2.5 Billion

    By
    Pedro Hernandez
    -
    September 15, 2014
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      Microsoft

      Proving recent reports true, Microsoft announced today that it is acquiring Mojang, maker of Minecraft, for $2.5 billion. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant expects the deal to close this year and for its investment to break even during its current 2015 fiscal year. (Microsoft’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.)

      Comments made by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella indicate that the company plans to be a continued presence in the video games market, despite rumblings that it may spin off its Xbox gaming unit as it pursues an enterprise-friendly “mobile-first, cloud-first” product strategy. Video games, as it turns out, is a big money-maker.

      “Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year,” said Nadella in a statement. “Minecraft is more than a great game franchise—it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”

      Minecraft takes place in a blocky, Lego-like universe that allows users to reshape the virtual world around them. Since its launch, the game and its unconventional style have attracted millions of players across several device platforms.

      According to company estimates, Minecraft has been downloaded more than 100 million times on the PC. Its mobile editions have earned the top spot in the paid app rankings for iOS and Android.

      Minecraft has enjoyed particular success on Microsoft’s own video game platform. In the past two years, Xbox 360 users have racked up more than 2 billion hours playing the game. It is the most popular online game for the Xbox, claimed Microsoft.

      The Minecraft community is not only engaged, it’s loyal, asserts Microsoft. Mojang’s data reveals that “nearly 90 percent of paid customers on the PC having signed in within the past 12 months.”

      Microsoft pledges to be a good steward of the property, according Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. He assured that his company is “going to maintain ‘Minecraft’ and its community in all the ways people love today, with a commitment to nurture and grow it long into the future.” Those efforts include continued support for the iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox and PC versions of the software.

      Minecon, the annual Minecraft convention, will continue, said Spencer in an Xbox Wire blog post. “We’ll look to create even more ways for the vibrant community of YouTuber’s, innovators, bloggers and players to connect with each other—both in person and online,” he added.

      While expressing optimism for the future, Carl Manneh, CEO of Mojang, suggested that the game’s creators, which include Mojang’s outspoken co-founder, Markus Persson (a.k.a. Notch), are moving on. “As the founders move on to start new projects, we believe the high level of creativity from the community will continue the game’s success far into the future.”

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a contributor to eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×