Notch Brooding, Microsoft Celebrating Over Minecraft Sale
Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of the Minecraft, posted on his website--stating why he sold Mojang to Microsoft.
The sale, he said, was about an existential quandary, "I don't see myself as a real game developer. I make games because it's fun, and because I love games and I love to program, but I don't make games with the intention of them becoming huge hits, and I don't try to change the world.
Minecraft certainly became a huge hit, and people are telling me it's changed games. I never meant to do it either. It's certainly flattering, and to gradually get thrust into some public spotlight is interesting."
Retroactively, the approach of the sale can be seen Perrson's tweets; Notch linked to one Twitter post that he admittedly added "out of frustration."
Anyone want to buy my share of Mojang so I can move on with my life? Getting hate for trying to do the right thing is not my gig.
-- Markus Persson (@notch) June 17, 2014
His twitter, however, also had posts like this, which was added in August.
The problem isn't the industry, it's the media it's closely connected to. Giving complete strangers an avenue to insult us because reasons.
-- Markus Persson (@notch) August 19, 2014
While Perrson ruminated on his website, Microsoft exuded excitement on Xbox Wire.
"Today is an incredibly exciting day for our team as Mojang and the Minecraft franchise join Microsoft," Microsoft posted, "Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all time, with more than 100 million downloads, on PC along, from players since its launch in 2009.
Minecraft inspires millions to create together, connects people across the globe, and is a community that is among the most active and passionate in the world."
The acquisition of Minecraft could help Microsoft keep pace with Sony. And, while Perrson stated that, "It's not about the money. It's about my sanity," his financial situation is nevertheless improved.