Microsoft agreed on Monday to buy the creator of Minecraft, the world-building computer game, for $2.5 billion, in a move meant to add the immensely popular title to its stock of content.þþLast week, Microsoft was reported to be in talks to buy the firm in an effort to ensure that one of the most popular games was available for the computing giant’s family of devices. þþAs part of the deal, employees of Mojang, the Swedish developer that created Minecraft, will join Microsoft Studios, which already publishes games like the blockbuster “Halo.”þþ“Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year,” Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, said in a statement. “Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft.”þþThe deal is expected to close late this year.þ
Source: NY Times
