Microsoft nears deal to buy Minecraft maker Mojang : WSJ
(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is in serious discussions to buy Mojang AB, the Swedish company behind the popular "Minecraft" video game, The Wall Street Journal said, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.
The deal is be valued at more than $2 billion and could be signed as early as this week, the Journal reported.
"Minecraft" is a game where players build structures with blocks to protect against nocturnal monsters.
The acquisition will add to Microsoft's Xbox video game business, at a time when the competition in the video game console market is heating up.
Microsoft said in April it had shipped 5 million Xbox One units to retailers worldwide since the launch. In the same month Sony Corp <6758.T> said it had sold more than 7 million PlayStation 4 units as of April 6 and was struggling to keep up with consumer demand.
Microsoft declined to comment.
(Reporting By Subrat Patnaik; Editing by David Gregorio)
