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Microsoft Set to Buy Minecraft's Developer Mojang, Say Reports
Microsoft set to buy Minecraft's developer Mojang According to reports by Leo Kelion Technology desk editor
According to reports, Microsoft is in negotiations to acquire Minecraft's video games studio.
According to reports, Mojang could be sold for more than $2bn (PS1.2bn).
The Swedish studio said it had sold 54 million copies of its world-building game in June. Since then, the game has been released for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 which has further increased sales.
Markus "Notch", the creator of Mojang has previously publicly criticized Microsoft.
He claimed that Microsoft was trying to "destroy the Windows 8 operating platform as an open platform" by certifying third-party software prior to the release of Windows 8.
He was also a strong advocate of independent studios. In 2012, he stated that: "The more studios can escape the publisher system the more games will be developed with love, not for making a profit."
Bloomberg news agency claims that it was the Microsoft employee, Mr. Persson who was the one to "reach out" to Microsoft in the last month.
The report said that a source suggested that should the deal go through, Mr Persson would help with the transition, but it was likely to leave afterward.
The New York Times reported that Persson will be leaving within six months. However an individual who was briefed on talks told me that Persson was likely to quit within six months. However, Mojang wanted to keep its younger developers.
Microsoft spokesperson said that they do not comment on speculations and reports.
Mojang also declined to comment. Mr Persson did not respond to BBC's questions.
Virtual world
Minecraft was first released in the year 2011. It has since grown into a cultural phenomenon and is now the third most popular game in the world.
MINECRAFT MULTIPLAYER
London's Victoria and Albert Museum hosted an evening to explore its design culture. Lego has made spinoff toys, Ordnance Survey created a version for mainland Great Britain in the game, and Denmark has constructed a scale model.
The story is set in a virtual universe comprised of cubes made of various materials, such as dirt and rocks. Most of these can be used to build blocks and/or refined into usable raw materials.
The player uses the blocks to build shelters and weapons to protect their character from the game's zombies and other creatures.
They can also take part in huge construction projects in order to flex their creative skills.
One example of extremes was the creation of virtual hard drives that could be used to work.
Mojang has worked on a variety of titles, but they have either fallen short of Minecraft's success - such as the role-playing game (RPG) Scrolls - or have been put aside before they were completed like 0x10c, a space-themed game that Mr Persson had been working on up until the end of last year.
'Worried gamers'
The Wall Street Journal first reported on negotiations between Mojang, Microsoft and that they may close this week.
It noted that this would be the first multibillion-dollar acquisition by Microsoft's chief executive, Satya Nadella, since he took charge of the company.
Harry Bradshaw, who interviewed Mr. Persson via Twitch and stated that a lot of gamers would be worried about the news.
He said that there have been instances in the past when big corporations took someone else's game and turned it into a massive money-making scheme to determine how much they could make,"
"Gamers are naturally concerned about this.
"And it does confuse me why Mojang would sell up, bearing in mind it's the most popular PC game ever and is still selling thousands of copies every day."
One market analyst said it was unlikely that Microsoft would remove existing Minecraft games from sale on the PlayStation, Mac and Android, Linux, or other rival platforms.
He also said that Microsoft's systems could be preferred to the future of products.
"Minecraft is among the most popular IPs [intellectual properties] in the gaming industry that is acquirable," said Piers Harding-Rolls, lead games analyst at the consultancy IHS.
"The brand could last for the next 10 years,
"So as an investment - even at a high price - it still is a valuable asset for larger companies seeking to secure exclusivity over an active franchise."
Minecraft maker shelves games
19 August 2013
Twitch
IHS
New York Times
Bloomberg
WSJ