Reuters :
"Enter Minecraft, which is the top paid app both on Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) iOS and Google Inc's (GOOGL.O) Android systems. Microsoft will unveil a $2.5 billion deal to buy its owner on Monday, according to a source briefed on the matter.
“It seems like Microsoft is looking at Mojang and Minecraft as a way to tap into this enormous cultural phenomenon," said Dave Bisceglia, Chief Executive of independent game studio Tap Lab. "If you look at iOS, Minecraft has been a top-grossing game for quite some time, if Microsoft could on Windows phones give players a unique and compelling experience that you can't get on the other platforms, that could be a driver to sell devices to existing Minecraft fans.”
Mojang has partnered with Merlin Entertainments to build the world's first Minecraft theme park in the UK.
Not everything needs to go free-to-play!
I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of money Minecraft makes these days is from DLC, so going f2p would make a lot of sense. But given how cheap the game actually is ($30 for consoles/PC and $7 on mobile) I don't think it would make that much of diference.
If 50% of all kids buy just one copy of this game (made up number but not unrealistic as the game has become almost a rites of passage) then Microsoft is doing great by being paid for each copy.
it would actually make no sense to go f2p.
If you can charge something for the basegame and people pay for it (obviously they are still doing it) then going f2p would be idiotic.
Puting a entry price on anything also reduces it potential player base and therefore its paying costumer for DLC. That mind you likely make the bulk of Minecraft revenue. That is basic business since at least a decade, so I would get in with the times.
Funny how they and their parent company have different views on subscription-based delivery.
Our ability to support PlayStation VR has come to an end, and will no longer be supported in updates after March of 2025.
so i assume PSVR2 is not going to take its place. That's a shame as I do think it could benefit from the VR2 improved fidelity and controls.
Well, they did just announce a native PS5 version the other day. Maybe there's hope, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Never was a Minecraft fan, so no more support isn’t a big deal for me.
What I would like for Xbox and Bethesda to do is update Skyrim VR to be playable on the PSVR2. That’s the only game I want out of the Xbox catalog.
I wasn't a Minecraft fan until VR. It heightened the experience for me, but I prefer to use texture packs to improve the look a little bit.
I'm slightly bummed about the drop of PSVR support bc I was starting co-op w my daughter w this. Her on the PSVR Minecraft, and myself on the PC version w my Quest 2. :\
So $2.5B to mainly help windows phone?
MS be crazy. I wonder how they will do it. Exclusive features? Timed exclusive of 6m to 1y on windows phone? Should be interesting to watch.
So they are picking Windows Phone over Xbox? Why create a new dev stable and not put this with the others?
I really do think this is crazy to spend this kind of money on one ip. But one thing Sony fans need to stop doing is acting like this is the Xbox division buying this game and studio. This has nothing to do with Phil or the Xbox division.
Oh boy...can you imagine minecraft 2 with the money ms pour into the developer and make it a XB1, PC, and Windows phone exclusive with cross play? That will be some major coup for MS and some meltdown will be a result. But I think It is safe to say Android and iOS should also get a version because the potential money is too much to not do it but if it is onlu on the XB1 on the consolefront..that will be a major victory for MS as the x360 version of minecraft is still selling like hot cakes.