Microsoft acquired the video game company Mojang in 2014. Microsoft announced the agreement on September 15, 2014, in a deal valued at approximately $2.5 billion, and the acquisition was completed on November 6. Mojang became part of Microsoft Studios, while its founders Markus “Notch” Persson, Jakob Porsér, and Carl Manneh left the company.
The acquisition centered on Minecraft, Mojang’s global sandbox hit. Microsoft said the game’s reach across computers, consoles, and mobile devices made it a strong fit for its gaming strategy. Minecraft had already become one of the world’s best-known games, but Mojang continued operating with considerable independence after the purchase.
The deal followed Persson’s public indication in June 2014 that he wanted to sell his stake after becoming exhausted by the responsibilities of owning the company. Microsoft’s purchase was not an acquisition of Minecraft alone: it bought Mojang, the studio and business behind the franchise. In 2020, Microsoft-era Mojang was rebranded as Mojang Studios, reflecting its expanding work on Minecraft-related projects.