the usual suspects will say Microsoft are the devil and a blight on the industry, but really if they get some games who cares. thats how businesses work

Maybe, but has Sony ever paid 2.5B for a game before? Exactly. They even bought Gaikai in it's entirety for only $380m.

In 2 years this game will be old and nobody will want it

I've seen tons of crappy ports to Windows Phone that Microsoft paid for. And, the Windows Phone/Windows 8 part could be the crossbuy thing that they're promoting.

And, yes, Minecraft is randomly generated. I should know because the game's download sie is 10MB on iOS.

2.5 billion investing into a mega lucrative IP like Minecraft and the company who works on the games is NOT the same as investing money into risky, money sucking studios who may or may not pan out. Eliminating the Mojang deal doesn't mean Microsoft takes that 2.5 billion and invests it in new studios.

Of course not to mention, MS is investing into plenty of studios and games already.

Yes but Sony hasn't paid $2.5Billion for 47 employees with a one hit wonder.  This still feels like a joke.  If on Monday they actually announce this deal it's going to be the funniest things ever, and a good thing for Sony.  If they want to blow 2.5 billion on Minecraft instead of funding 20 or 30 AAA games then Sony should break out the Champagne.

Imo it reeks of desperation is is quite pathetic really, they create little and just buy out as if they are talent less hacks that need to piggy back on achievements of others creating none of their own. Given their nature they will milk it to death and let it die when they are done.

The amount of games they could fund of that, and employ thousands of people with that money is staggering. The possibilities with that much money are massive if you really think about it.

They are paying for a product that is projected to make X in the next few years, they clearly see an ability to milk even more and its worth it to them.  

Its just $ and nothing else.  MS never gave a shit about gaming, they clear still dont.  

Why do you think Notch approached them? Every fad has to die some day. He's obviously predicted the steady decline of Minecraft and wants to get rid of it before the value falls. And i'm not saying the cash would go to other studios. It obviously won't. This is MS we're talking about. I'm just making it clear that creating new studios would have been a better investment than one single IP and a small one hit wonder studio.

They've got loads of money so this purchase isn't that big of a deal for them.