Los Angeles - Software giant Microsoft is acquiring the maker of the game Minecraft, both companies said on Monday.
Microsoft is buying Swedish-based videogame developer Mojang for $2.5-billion in a deal slated to close at the end of the year, according to the statement.
Despite the acquisition, Minecraft will continue to be available on all platforms including iOS, Android and PlayStation, as well as Xbox and PCs, Mojang said.
Founded in 2009, Mojang released Minecraft in the same year. The game has since sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.
Mojang founder Markus “Notch” Persson announced on Monday that he will be leaving the company.
“I can't be responsible for something this big,” Persson wrote in a blog entry.
Last year, the company reported profits of $126-million.
The game is known for its blocky graphics, which are reminiscent of Lego bricks. Players build constructions in a three-dimensional, procedurally generated world. - Sapa-dpa