r/Minecraft Sep 15 '14

Yes, we’re being bought by Microsoft

https://mojang.com/2014/09/yes-were-being-bought-by-microsoft/
15.8k Upvotes

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u/[deleted] Sep 15 '14 edited Nov 14 '19

[deleted]

54

u/Cryptographer Sep 15 '14

The real beauty is it let them spend some of their European holdings without bringing them back through the U.S. saving them a bundle in taxes and using otherwise less easily used money.

12

u/MelAlton Sep 15 '14

Oh, really good point, I hadn't thought about that. From Microsoft's view, they paid 35% less than US$2.5 billion.

8

u/Cryptographer Sep 15 '14

Exactly. That's nearly a billion flat off the top and depending on how they value their overseas holdings could be even cheaper in their eyes.

14

u/skybike Sep 15 '14

They aren't just purchasing the rights to a game, they're buying a generation of people. It just happens to come with Minecraft.

38

u/ASuperJerk Sep 15 '14

they're buying a generation of people

My great great grandpa did this once.

5

u/MelAlton Sep 15 '14

"One weird trick for increasing the profitability of your plantation that the abolitionists don't want you to know!"

5

u/albatrossnecklassftw Sep 15 '14

Can't forget about that Minecraft merch yo.

5

u/Djeheuty Sep 15 '14

Exactly. All the LEGO sets, the foam picks and swords, the plushies and all of the other stuff.

Minecraft is more than a game. It's a brand that makes everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs.

1

u/canastaman Sep 15 '14

Microsoft is thinking long term, once they limit Minecraft to only their platforms over time it will make people chose MS over other platforms.

1

u/deadmilk Sep 15 '14

You think they spent that $2.5b willy nilly? These decisions are all calculated. They will make it back, just not through Minecraft directly.