Microsoft is in talks to buy the maker of the block-building game Minecraft for more than $2 billion, according to reports, a deal that would make the fantastically popular game available on Microsoft devices.
The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, citing unnamed sources, report that Microsoft opened talks with Mojang about three months ago and has already made an initial offer. Mojang and Microsoft could reach a deal by the end of the month.
Minecraft’s blocky graphics haven’t prevented it from being a huge hit among gamers, who build imaginative structures and recreate worlds using lego-like pieces. The game’s privately-held Swedish creator, Mojang, saw $115 million in profits last year, the Journal reports, off revenue of $291 million.
Minecraft isn’t currently available on Windows phones, and hasn’t been adapted to use the graphical interface of Windows 8, Microsoft’s newest operating system. Microsoft’s move to nab Minecraft would secure the popular gaming fad for its key platforms.
[NYT]
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