Microsoft has acquired Mojang for $ 2.5 billion, and along with it, Minecraft.
Microsoft, Notch, and Mojang have each independently confirmed the purchase. Mojang has shared the most details for the benefit of curious and longtime Minecraft and Mojang fans.
Microsoft has no intention of stopping distribution or development of Minecraft on any of its current platforms, namely, Windows, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, iOS, and Android. However, neither Mojang nor Microsoft has any control over any decisions these other platform holders would have.
Mojang also explained that the decision to sell to Microsoft came down to Notch wanting to separate himself from handling Minecraft completely. Notch did not intend for Minecraft to get as big as it did, and he could no longer handle the pressure that came with being responsible for it.
Mojang explained that Jakob Porser and Carl Manneh would be leaving the company along with Notch. While most of Mojang’s employees expect to be retained, Mojang does not yet know what will happen to the company, nor about the future of Mojang’s other games, Scrolls and Cobalt. Mojang also made no mention of 4J Studios, who is handling all the console ports of Minecraft.
On a personal blog post, which he also reshared on pastebin, Notch explained that he had a personal epiphany after receiving angry tweets over the revised Minecraft EULA rules. He feels he no longer had the connection with fans he previously did. Notch now wants to just be a programmer playing around with code.
It was previously reported that Microsoft was looking to buy Minecraft to secure a port to Windows Phone.