Tech giant Microsoft is brewing another acquisition move to further increase its influence in the gaming world. According to CNET, Microsoft's next target is no other than Mojang - the developer of worldwide hit game Minecraft.
Microsoft announced on Monday that they already reach an agreement to acquire Majong for a whopping $2.5 billion, making it the most lucrative video game purchase and largest purchase ever made since Satya Nadella assumed the role as the company's chief executive officer.
"Microsoft Corp. today announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Mojang, the celebrated Stockholm-based game developer, and the company's iconic "Minecraft" franchise," stated in the press release issued by the company.
"The Mojang team will join Microsoft Studios, which includes the studios behind global blockbuster franchises "Halo," "Forza," "Fable" and more. Microsoft's investments in cloud and mobile technologies will enable "Minecraft" players to benefit from richer and faster worlds, more powerful development tools, and more opportunities to connect across the "Minecraft" community."
Analysts viewed Microsoft's acquisition of Mojan as vital to his ambition of lording on top the mobile gaming industry. Since its release in 2009, Minecraft has already sold 50 million copies on video game consoles, computers and mobile devices.
Minecraft is considered a gaming phenomenon that asked any particular goal from its players while allowing them to create their own world and situation such as fighting bad zombies and coming with their dream science-fiction space craft.
According to a source, Mojang founder and creative director Markus Persson will leave the company upon Microsoft acquisition. Meanwhile, Mojang CEO Carl Manneh considered the development as a major event that would shape Minecraft's future in the gaming world.
"The 'Minecraft' players have taken the game and turned it into something that surpassed all of our expectations. The acquisition by Microsoft brings a new chapter to the incredible story of 'Minecraft,'" Manneh said in the statement.
