Microsoft Bought Mojang
So in case you haven't heard, Microsoft bought Mojang. Here's Microsoft's announcement, here's Mojang's announcement, and here's Notch's announcement. Now here are my thoughts on it. Please keep in mind that I've had fewer than three hours to formulate the opinions and conclusions put forth in this blog post, so I'm still listening for new information. Who knows; my opinions may completely turn around by tomorrow.
As I hope most of you know, I have a small gaming channel called Fear of Mobs. I think of it as a complimentary hobby to video gaming; it's not going to explode in wild popularity, but it's a place I and others can go to have a good time and play some games. The opportunities to learn programming, game development, server administration, and video production have made this venture more than worthwhile. And since I'm still learning from it, I have no reason to abandon Fear of Mobs. I guess the whole point of this paragraph is to assure everyone that, despite my opinions on this acquisition I have no intentions to dissolve Fear of Mobs. That is as long as there exists some interest and Microsoft doesn't clamp down on content creators. The rest of this post will be about Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang rather than Fear of Mobs, so rest easy.
Rumors claiming that Microsoft and Mojang were in talks began circling the Internet about one week ago. Many respond to this type of news with anger, and many called Mojang and Notch "sellouts"1 long before the news was officially confirmed. I responded in a far more skeptical manner; Mojang was doing well financially, and Notch is often perceived as a pro-indie, anti-megacorp spokesperson, so the entire rumor seemed like a far-fetched troll that spawned from purposefully fraudulent or extremely mistaken sources. Obviously, this was not the case.
When official confirmation of the acquisition blew in my window this morning, I was quite surprised. Despite several days of silence on the matter from both of the involved parties, it still seemed like such a ridiculous move. Many were angry, many were sad. Several spoke of abandoning Minecraft, while YouTubers began questioning their future in video production. Some made valid points, while others became irrational, and in the end, the facts aren't changing.
Microsoft is a very large technology giant; they have the resources and infrastructure to turn Minecraft into the high-quality game it deserves to be. (Not saying that it's not already a high-quality game, just that it could be even better.) Mojang is a small, young independent studio that has 2 games to their name. Compared to other corporations, they have little experience managing the global phenomenon that Minecraft has become. In terms of longevity, Microsoft has the ability to make Minecraft last for years to come, even more so than Mojang. In theory. Unfortunately, Microsoft also has the ability to utterly destroy the Minecraft experience and scatter its enormous community to the wind.
Now this isn't a prophecy of doom for Minecraft. When large buyouts occur, I believe it's irrational and irresponsible to act on your initial (and completely natural) knee-jerk reaction. Acquisitions mean change, and change can be either good or bad; it's the bad acquisitions that leave a lingering taste in the mouth of affected users. Sometimes, however, acquisitions can be beneficial for end users, but sadly those are fewer in number often forgotten.
The appropriate response is to NOT go out and verbally abuse those involved- that is never an acceptable in response to what is quite literally a first-world problem. Concern about this acquisition is warranted. Microsoft's reputation does not inspire confidence. In fact, even before this acquisition was announced, I had little trust for Microsoft; I do not agree with their design and corporate philosophies, and large corporations often make very utilitarian decisions when beloved products start to lose traction. In addition, large cooperation’s have little love for YouTubers or anyone breaking their rules, which means you can bet that there will be changes to the EULA again.
YouTubers should be seriously concerned because Mojang's generous policy on monetizing video game footage is now irrelevant. Large Minecraft server owners should be concerned, because the CraftBukkit project is in shambles and Microsoft has the power to enforce whatever EULA it imposes. Players should be alert, but not as concerned because Minecraft is still an awesome "open world platform", and that's likely not going to change soon. In other words, you are justified in being concerned, but don't fool yourself into thinking that everything will remain the same--it won't. Instead, and especially if you are a content creator or server administrator, start branching out into other areas. Don't place all of your metaphorical eggs into the metaphorical Minecraft basket.2
Above all, DO NOT PANIC! We do not know where Microsoft will take Minecraft. They could do something amazing and this could be the dawn of the greatest age for Minecraft. It could also be a catastrophe. We don't know, and panicking will only cause more turmoil. Please think carefully before making any rash decisions, especially if you are a content creator with followers who respect you.
Footnotes:
1. Please don't immediately assume people are sellouts. Acquisitions, mergers, and sponsorships are often the result of very complex situations and lots of pressure on the party being acquired/sponsored. There are exceptions, but not everyone is a sellout. Even if this were the case, the fans and customers, unless specifically outlined in a contract, are not entitled to prevent the company they love from growing
2. At the time of writing, Microsoft has neither announced any specific plans nor made any reassuring promises on the direction they're going to take Minecraft. Every single one of my concerns may be completely nullified by the time the acquisition is complete.
