I can see why he did it, though. Let's say he only owned 10% of his own company (i think it's more). He just made $250 million.

I really don't think anyone would have turned down an offer of that size, especially given the revenue figures quoted earlier in this thread.

A billion, so they could of spent 3.5 billion on games? jesus. 

It's a thing called experimentation, how else do you think we got games like minecraft, halo, final fantasy. New IPs is always great for the gaming industry, instead of repeating the same old thing until there's not a thing left of it. Destiny was an experiment, now they can try new things, or improve on it.

Maybe I'm just a man of principle then. I suppose I can't say what I'd have done in his position, but I'd like to think I'd have stuck to what I believe in. It's what got Notch as far as he got. Besides, it's not like Notch couldn't make well over 2 billion from future Mojang games. Minecraft 2.0 would probably have received the treatment of a new release and sold millions across many platforms, and make billions. Now, it's limited to only 3 platforms (luckily it's main and thus far best platform is still eligible), and likely to sell significantly less, and might not make Microsoft much profit, but Notch will see none of it beyond this purchase. He'd have gotten a lot more if he'd stuck to his principles and not sold out to a corporation, and even if he was sure he wouldn't, he still shouldn't have done it.

Come on, every man has a price, only few in history are an exception like Giordano Bruni, Gandhi, MLK Jr. And it sure didn't pay of for them in the short-run, but at least they are in history books.

$250 million, using lowball estimate by Mr. Khan is surely tough to pass by, secure a careless future for his 10 future generations, and still do whatever he enjoys most.

Hell, my price is considerably lower, not that anyone has a reason to pay me anything. But for just one million Euros I'd whore myself out to a night long gay S&M orgy without thinking twice.

How so?

Minecraft is already on MS platforms.
Mojang doesn't need the cash.
Creativity is most likely better while staying independent.
Most of Minecraft's ideas and additions come from the community around it.
$2.5 billion not spend on new games.

What can Microsoft do for Minecraft?

Project Spark? Scalebound? Quantum Break? Also they had Kinect. They experiment just as much as others in the industry. There isn't a shortage of new IPs coming from Microsoft. 

The funny thing is I can actually see Minecraft 3DS happening now at least. If MS pursues the multi-plat strategy then they obviously would want to push it on the 3DS and they really don't have a gaming handheld anyway so there's no conflict of interest there.

It's easy to talk principals behind a keyboard. My guess is you'd dance too if someone put a $2.5 billion dollar cheque in front of your face. 

Honestly you'd be an idiot not to. 

Minecraft made $133 million last year, saying it would be a shoe-in to make billions is silly. It could easily collapse into a nothing franchise in 2-3 years. Angry Birds is already fading out. 

The reason MS is paying this much is because they are going to turn into a mass marketed IP ... Minecraft 2.0? Sure. Minecraft Go-Kart Racing. Yup. Minecraft Fighters? Probably. Star Wars Minecraft? Yup. Disney Minecraft? Yup. Lord of the Rings Minecraft? Yup. Halo Minecraft? You bet your booty. Minecraft McDonalds Happy Meals? Minecraft The Movie 1/2/3? Go, go, go. Minecraft toys, t-shirts, etc. 

If anything now Notch can make 100 different weird indie, edge hipster games now if he wants. If I was him I'd laugh all the way to the bank. 

He has a 70% stake in the company. 

It's definitely a win for Windows Phone.