Microsoft Acquires Video Game Development Company

On 15/09/2014, Microsoft announced a definitive agreement to acquire Mojang, the Swedish video game developer behind Minecraft, in an all-cash deal valued at $2.5 billion. The acquisition targeted one of the most widely played sandbox games, which had already built a large global community across PC, console, and mobile platforms. Microsoft said Mojang’s team would join Microsoft Studios, later known as Xbox Game Studios, to expand development and distribution across multiple devices. Mojang founder Markus Persson decided to sell the company following the rapid growth of Minecraft and the responsibilities associated with managing the studio. When the transaction closed in November 2014, Persson, along with co-founders Jakob Porsér and CEO Carl Manneh, departed the company. Microsoft stated that the acquisition would strengthen its presence in mobile and cloud-connected gaming while maintaining Minecraft’s availability across different platforms. After the acquisition, Microsoft continued supporting Minecraft on non-Microsoft platforms while expanding services such as cross-platform multiplayer and cloud-based features. The game continued to grow in popularity, and by 2023 Minecraft had sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling video game in history.