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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - ANALYST: MICROSOFT MAY WANT MOJANG TO DOUBLE DOWN ON MOBILE, NOT XBOX

An analyst has suggested that Microsoft's rumored acquisition of Minecraft developer Mojang may be more for promoting their mobile platform than their Xbox brand.

"We don’t view this acquisition as a signal of Microsoft's intent to double down on Xbox but consider it an attempt to better address mobile on a cross-platform basis," analyst Rick Sherlund said of the deal. "This also appears to be consistent with (Microsoft) CEO Satya Nadella’s mobile and cloud strategy."

Minecraft has been one of the top-selling games on iOS for a long time, and the game's absence on the Windows Phone could explain why the company would want to push forward with the deal.

 

Minecraft creator Marcus Persson has explained why Minecraft has not been on Windows Phone before, stating that the user base for the device was simply too small to justify porting it over.

"Both Symbian and Blackberry have more users than Windows Phone," Persson wrote.

Backing up Persson's claims, tech research firm IDC has cited that the Windows Phone system holds 2.5 percent of the world's smartphone market, claiming that the platform remains small because developers tend to ignore it.

 

Dave Bisceglia of mobile game studio Tap Lab sees the acquisition as a way for Microsoft to sell phones to current Minecraft fans.

“It seems like Microsoft is looking at Mojang and Minecraft as a way to tap into  this enormous cultural phenomenon," he said. "If you look at iOS, Minecraft has been a top-grossing game for quite some time, [and] 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.”

Microsoft is rumored to announce the deal to purchase Mojang for $2.5 Billion USD on September 15.

Keep it locked to IGN for more details on this story as they emerge.

 

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/13/analyst-microsoft-may-want-mojang-to-double-down-on-mobile-not-xbox



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So they can gimp the android and iOS versions in a desperate attempt to save their garbage platform. How is this any different than if it was for Xbox? Bad for gamers. Period.



This is gonna be such a big waste of money... No one buys phones for Minecraft! Seriously! Sure, its top selling on iOS and Android but no one buys a phone for that... Like what the fuck

One of the main reasons why Windows Phone isn't very popular is cause a large lack of basic apps and features that is easily available on both iOS and android, not for the exclusive games... I seriously think that this is a dumb business move that even if Majong has a crazy game up their sleeve, it wont bring anyone to windows phone until they can get a shit ton of things fixed... Heres an example:



                  

PC Specs: CPU: 7800X3D || GPU: Strix 4090 || RAM: 32GB DDR5 6000 || Main SSD: WD 2TB SN850

Haha, yeah Minecraft sells a lot on iOS but that's because of the big iOS installbase.  If they think people make decisions on what mobile device to buy based on Mincecraft, I think they have made a grave mistake.



My 8th gen collection

Future Mojang games will be "Xbox"(trans. Windows) exclusives. Calling it now. Also, exclusive halo dlc for Minecraft.



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I hope that's not their plan, people don't really by a phone for the latest version of mine craft do they? I'm not sure they can even stop it coming to vita with the contract that's been signed...



Buying order: Switch, better pc

Sounds like they want to lure fishes.



flint said:
I hope that's not their plan, people don't really by a phone for the latest version of mine craft do they? I'm not sure they can even stop it coming to vita with the contract that's been signed...


At this point, MS needs something - anything - to shore up Windows Phone. They are getting their lunch eaten in the mobile market by Android and iOS, and the idea that the majority of home users might switch to tablets and smartphones instead of Windows computers for their home computing needs, whether or not that actually turns out to be realistic, is a prospect which troubles them greatly.  Personally, I don't see why people would base their phone buying decisions on what games the phone plays, since I avoid mobile gaming myself, but MS really needs to make Windows Phone viable.

And if nothing else, they'll make money off of Minecraft royalties on other platforms.