The rumours over the weekend have proved true. Microsoft has acquired Minecraft for $2.5 billion. The acquisition includes Minecraft’s Swedish developer Mojang. The deal is less about Microsoft’s new “Mobile First, Cloud First” strategy and more about games. Minecraft is the most popular online game on both the Xbox 360 and the new Xbox One.
[quote_box_center]CEO Satya Nadella said of the acquisition, “Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year. Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about.”[/quote_box_center]
Writing on the Xbox Wire blog, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox said, “Our investments in cloud, Xbox Live and mobile technology will enable players to benefit from richer and faster worlds, more powerful development tools, and more opportunities to connect with the Minecraft community.”
It is a big acquisition and high profile. Microsoft has potentially made a savvy move in buying Minecraft.
Andrew McLean is the Studio Director at Disruptive Live, a Compare the Cloud brand. He is an experienced leader in the technology industry, with a background in delivering innovative & engaging live events. Andrew has a wealth of experience in producing engaging content, from live shows and webinars to roundtables and panel discussions. He has a passion for helping businesses understand the latest trends and technologies, and how they can be applied to drive growth and innovation.
