Microsoft acquiring Mojang for $2 billion.
Microsoft acquiring Mojang for $2 billion.
Notch prefers smaller independent games over big companies and enjoyed the purchase of Oculus by Facebook. He’s considering stopping a future Minecraft update for Oculus. Could he let Microsoft buy his own company? The article discusses Microsoft’s interest in acquiring Mojang, the creator of Minecraft.
Speculations abound. One side suggests Notch might sell the 2Bil and retire a rich individual, while the other highlights his past dedication to fighting against Facebook. In the worst outcome, Microsoft could acquire Mojang, transforming it into Rareware 2.0.
Microsoft and younger audiences have rarely appeared together in a meaningful way. It seems unlikely they’ll connect with them in the future.
I also had the same thoughts about Rare and then Skype. I truly hope Microsoft stays focused on Windows.
Microsoft might mess things up and I believe Notch would act even more selfish if he sells Mojang after resisting Facebook’s takeover. He already has sufficient resources to enjoy a comfortable life. Usually when such rumors surface, they tend to be accurate or lead to another company acquiring the business. Regarding why Minecraft is considered outdated, I’m not sure but it seems like the trend has passed.
Realize that two billion isn't a significant sum—it's essentially limitless. If you start with $10 and spend $2 on bread, you're left with $8. With $2 billion, buying bread still leaves you with the same amount. They can afford to purchase copyrighted content, but being under Microsoft puts them in a tough spot; only companies ready to legally challenge them would be serious contenders like Apple or possibly Sony. It's not just about cash—it's about power and recognition. Being an independent developer against giants such as EA, Activision, Blizzard, or Bethesda is extremely challenging. Mojang will likely be acquired eventually, so it might be better to secure the deal soon rather than waiting another decade for a smaller sum. Remember what happened with MySpace—Yahoo offered $500 million, but after five years they sold for just $50 million. The situation can shift; Zuckerberg once refused to sell for a billion in 2010 and was mocked. Now Facebook is valued at around $27-30 billion, but that's not the gaming world. History shows many once-great companies falter, like Atari or Nintendo. It's better to fall on a solid foundation of two billion than risk burying Atari's legacy in the desert. I truly hope Mojang makes the right choice—they can't make mistakes. This post was shared on Reddit, but I genuinely doubt they'll proceed with it. They might need Notch to leave or for him to step away, given his strong support for open source and his dislike of Windows 8.1. Either way, I'd like to see Mojang accept the offer, but why would Microsoft do that? I just want them to have $2 billion without turning their games into RareWare.
A possible agreement might resemble the one between Activision and Blizzard, where Blizzard remains owned but operates with significant autonomy without external pressure. Edit: however, this scenario shifts when it involves Microsoft, as seen in how much attention was given to ending Halo.