On Monday, it is expected that Microsoft will reveal that they have come to a $2.5 billion deal with Minecraft creator, Mojang. This is according to a new report from Reuters and a "source (that was) briefed on the matter."

For those keeping track of this at home, this is a $500 million increase over the previously rumored amount of money.

The real kicker is that this acquisition isn't necessarily being made with the Xbox One in mind. No, it's actually being made to help out the Windows Phone. Yes, $2.5 billion for one game, one studio, and one IP for the Windows Phone.
“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.”

Markus "notch" Persson once said that Mojang would probably never develop Minecraft for the Windows Phone because as far as market share goes, it is insignificant. He wasn't wrong.


(via statista)

Interestingly enough, $2.5 billion could have been used to fund five games on the same budget of Destiny. This includes development and marketing. Along the same lines, it could have been used to fund over nine games that were the size and scope of Grand Theft Auto V (with a budget said to be $265 million). That should be especially eye opening here that instead of spending any of that money on developing within the studios that they already own, Microsoft is spending it on one studio that released one hit game.