They've confirmed it. Mojang is sold to Microsoft. https://mojang.com/2014/09/yes-were-being-bought-by-microsoft/

 

Thoughts? I'm honestly not surprised, there was money to get from that company and Notch understood that. Can't say I defend it, but It's completely understandable. 

Notch, the creator of Minecraft, has left Mojang. He posted on his website - notch.net - around 5 minutes ago. But his website is now down. He then tweeted a link to a pastebin, here it is: http://pastebin.com/n1qTeikM

I would also just like to add that Mojang made very definite statements recently that they own Bukkit (the exceptionally popular server software that most minecraft servers run on). This therefore means Microsoft owns Bukkit as well.

Tensions will be high on this subject after the Bukkit developers chose to abandon Bukkit against Mojang's will (of which they no longer have a say in)

 

What do people think Microsoft will do now they own both of these projects?

My only real reaction to this is: RIP.

I doubt Microsoft will let things carry on like normal. They're going to get their hands dirty and try changing things more than likely. We'll have to see how much changes but I'm not exactly optimistic.

They probably will say no more mods for minecraft. 

Here's a video, from the Microsoft point of view: 

Minecraft: Windows 8 Edition here we come! But seriously i'm expecting things to go downhill, fast. (It was going downhill as soon as notch stopped developing it in my opinion). Although we have to remember that Notch said that if Mojang didn't turn a profit as big as Minecraft brought them he was going to close the company after 10 years. So either way whatever Microsoft do with it whether they fill it with DRM or completely take control of servers, I would only expect Minecraft to last to version 2.0 with or without Microsoft purchasing the Mojang. It's sad but it looks like MInecraft is going to die soon. I mean that's the way it looks.

well goodbye community-driven open-source wonder, hello corporatised Only on Xbone Subscription-based BS.

Buy 10 stacks of diamonds for 29.99$! BEST VALUE

But seriously, I don't think it is going to be that bad. I hope.

They'll probably force people to pay monthly for it. I've played Minecraft for a long time, it makes me wonder what's going to happen to the existing players. Seeing this makes me wonder if the game and company will live on. Minecraft was fun when it was new, now I think it's going down the tubes.

Reading this also makes me wonder, what's going to happen to the existing players of Minecraft.

I've had Minecraft for a few years, and do play it occasionally.

Probably going to go downhill, and require monthly payment or something.

Gosh, it's going to turn into a whole Microsoft Office-style ordeal:

 

And don't forget! With your registered copy of Minecraft, you can only use your license on one computer!

If you want to install it on additional devices, you must purchase additional copies.

Thank you, from your friends here at Microsoft.

This will probably lead to people being more supportive and welcoming of Minecraft clones rather than the usual bashing I've seen them get.

At first i was kinda shocked. I always remembered Notch for saying stuff like "we wanna be independent" and for other statements like that he made years ago. But idk..i mean. His statement is good to me. I mean. He said he is a "nerdy programmer" and that he feels that Minecraft has become too big for him to feel good about it. Thats kinda ok. I can respect that, BUT at the same time he tells people in the same statement, how much he loves 'em and how much he loves the players. I don't get that one. How can u sell someone u love? I'm not saying he's a sellout or anything. I mean..it was his company. He can do with it whatever he wants, but i do kinda question some of his statments he made and still makes.

His ending speech felt a little... I don't know, too sincere. He knows that he betrayed what he stood for.

I don’t see myself as a real game developer. I make games because it’s fun, and because I love games and I love to program, but I don’t make games with the intention of them becoming huge hits, and I don’t try to change the world. Minecraft certainly became a huge hit, and people are telling me it’s changed games. I never meant for it to do either. It’s certainly flattering, and to gradually get thrust into some kind of public spotlight is interesting.

A relatively long time ago, I decided to step down from Minecraft development. Jens was the perfect person to take over leading it, and I wanted to try to do new things. At first, I failed by trying to make something big again, but since I decided to just stick to small prototypes and interesting challenges, I’ve had so much fun with work. I wasn’t exactly sure how I fit into Mojang where people did actual work, but since people said I was important for the culture, I stayed.

I was at home with a bad cold a couple of weeks ago when the internet exploded with hate against me over some kind of EULA situation that I had nothing to do with. I was confused. I didn’t understand. I tweeted this in frustration. Later on, I watched the This is Phil Fish video on YouTube and started to realize I didn’t have the connection to my fans I thought I had. I’ve become a symbol. I don’t want to be a symbol, responsible for something huge that I don’t understand, that I don’t want to work on, that keeps coming back to me. I’m not an entrepreneur. I’m not a CEO. I’m a nerdy computer programmer who likes to have opinions on Twitter.

As soon as this deal is finalized, I will leave Mojang and go back to doing Ludum Dares and small web experiments. If I ever accidentally make something that seems to gain traction, I’ll probably abandon it immediately.

Considering the public image of me already is a bit skewed, I don’t expect to get away from negative comments by doing this, but at least now I won’t feel a responsibility to read them.

I’m aware this goes against a lot of what I’ve said in public. I have no good response to that. I’m also aware a lot of you were using me as a symbol of some perceived struggle. I’m not. I’m a person, and I’m right there struggling with you.

I love you. All of you. Thank you for turning Minecraft into what it has become, but there are too many of you, and I can’t be responsible for something this big. In one sense, it belongs to Microsoft now. In a much bigger sense, it’s belonged to all of you for a long time, and that will never change.

It’s not about the money. It’s about my sanity.

All about the money :P