14 DAY TRIAL // The Microsoft buyout of Mojang, the independent video game developer behind Minecraft, is the idea of the game's creator, Markus "Notch" Persson, who approached Microsoft a few months ago and promised to oversee the acquisition and leave upon its completion, according to Bloomberg.
The gaming industry was shocked earlier today when a report surfaced that Microsoft was looking to buy independent studio Mojang for a whopping 2 billion USD (1.5 billion EUR), in order to get its hands on the Minecraft franchise.
More details surface about the rumored acquisition
Now, a new report has appeared with more details from other sources located within Microsoft's offices. Apparently, the whole buyout is the idea of Minecraft creator and Mojang founder Markus "Notch" Persson.
The designer approached Microsoft several months ago and proposed the deal, based on the positive relationship between Microsoft and Mojang, which previously led to the timed exclusivity of Minecraft for Xbox 360.
The two companies agreed, and after several flights of Microsoft Xbox division boss Phil Spencer made to Mojang's headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Persson agreed on a framework for the acquisition, on its price, and they have been working out the details ever since.
Persson is apparently going to keep working at Mojang until the buyout is complete, helping during the transition of the studio's owners. Afterwards, however, he is unlikely to remain at the company.
Microsoft promises brand expansion for Minecraft
Apparently, Microsoft has big plans for the Minecraft franchise, as it wants to use its sheer scope in expanding the number of game users but also by developing the brand via licensing for toys and even movies.
It's unclear, however, if the new ownership is going to affect the Minecraft versions that are available on other platforms besides Microsoft's own Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The game initially made its debut on PC and earned a cult-like following even during its alpha and beta stages. Now, it's available on mobile smartphones and tablets, not to mention the PS3 and PS4. A PS Vita version is set to appear soon enough from Mojang's partner studio, 4J.
Neither Mojang nor Microsoft has commented on the reports so far, leading many to believe that the deal is still being fleshed out and won't be confirmed at least until all the contracts are signed.
For now, Mojang is still an independent company that's already resulted in a lot of profit for Persson and the whole team.