Microsoft is close to a blockbuster deal to buy the Swedish video game company behind the phenomenally successful Minecraft franchise, according to the Wall Street Journal’s sources.
The firm has lined up a deal for Mojang AB valued at more than two billion dollars (around £1.2bn), said ‘a person with knowledge of the matter.’
According to the WSJ’s source, the stunning deal for Markus ‘Notch’ Personn’s vast gaming empire could be confirmed as early as this week.
The open world building game has sold over 50 million copies world wide on formats like the PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and pocket editions for iPhone and Android. Just last week, the game reached the next-generation when it was released for the Xbox One and the Sony PS4 consoles.
The title allows users to build a world in their own image using blocky building materials, and fending off mods or monsters by building fires, creating weapons and fashioning armour.
In multi-player modes gamers are able to visit other gamers empires and make friends, or alternatively choose to knock down rivals structures and steal their resources if they’re that way inclined.
At the time of writing, both Microsoft and Mojang have declined to comment on the WSJ’s report. We’ll bring you more on this breaking news story should any more details emerge.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
