Open Source is at this point extremely important in the software world. You use Open Source, even if you're not aware. Simple example: this site is made with PHP, which is Open Source Software. Windows contains Open Source (although it itself isn't). Most game makers use a few tools that are Open Source. Software for developing software is in majority Open Source. So Microsoft paid a lot of money to stay in the game.

I assume you have the numbers to back that up. So there is evidence that the amount Microsoft bought Minecraft exceeds the money the IP earns had Notch kept it?

I think its pretty evident that Minecraft racks in a good amount of money, its not just the video games but the franchise itself with merchandise etc. No i dont have concrete evidence, i am basically just saying a lump sum of money placed infront of human eyes can be tempting. Valve makes money and Gabe earns his money but i can say Gabe does not take home 100% of the earnings through Steam. He will have expenses.

$5b is $5b. I dont reckon he will sell but humans arent perfect either. Thats is a good retirement fund.

Gabe has already publicly on more than one occasion said he will never sell to MS.

Valve going to Microsoft would be a huge disaster. About GitHub, I don't know how to feel about that.

Que everyone jumping ship to GitLab.

Why would he sell to Microsoft though? Surely Amazon, Google, Apple or even someone like Tencent would be more likely. And I don't know about you guys but I could see it being bought for a hell of a lot more. More like 30BN. It generated 4.4BN in revenue last year and it's growing still. Why would they sell for so little?

Say it makes 1.5BN profit a year. It would only take a company about 3 years to make back their money if they bought it. Not to mention if they actually developed new games like half life 3 profits could be much higher. So yeah if a company like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon or a Google want to buy such a profitable gaming business they are going to have to pay a hell of a lot more then 5BN. We're talking 30-50BN imo. 

All the more reason why Amazon, Google, Disney, Apple or Tencent among others would be more likely then Microsoft. Hell even Sony. 

Looks like it's already happening.

"there are legitimate concerns that Microsoft will need to address. GitLab, a GitHub competitor, claims it has seen a 10x increase in the amount of developers moving their repositories over to its service, an early sign that there’s some developer unrest." 

Sony wouldn't be likely to buy Valve, not by a longshot.

Gabe also has the money he needs, so again, it is not something he wants more of, when he already has a good stream of it coming in daily.

Not sure what this would accomplish MS, but seems like it's the week of MS buying stuff rumors.

First you say 30-50 billion dollars and then say that Sony is a viable candidate? With what money? Their total equity is 26 billion.