'Minecraft' Game Developer Purchased By Microsoft

By Edward Cardenas

SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Microsoft announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to purchase Mojang, the game developer which created  the popular "Minecraft" video game.

The Stockholm-based game developer was purchased by Microsoft for $2.5 billion, and will join Microsoft Studios which created franchises "Halo," "Forza," and "Fable."

"Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year," said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, in a release. "Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft."

According to a release, "Minecraft" players will "benefit from richer and faster worlds, more powerful development tools, and more opportunities to connect across the "Minecraft" community."

The popular "Minecraft" video game has had more than 100 million downloads on PC alone since its launch in 2009. The game is also the most popular online game available on Xbox, and the top paid app for iOS and Android in the United States.

"The acquisition by Microsoft brings a new chapter to the incredible story of 'Minecraft,'" said Carl Manneh, CEO, Mojang, in a release. "As the founders move on to start new projects, we believe the high level of creativity from the community will continue the game's success far into the future."

Minecraft will continue to be available PC, iOS, Android, Xbox and PlayStation.