Shortly after reports of Microsoft looking to buy indie developer Mojang surfaced, fans of "Minecraft" immediately voiced out their concerns for what might happen to their beloved Lego-style sandbox game, Wall Street Journal reported.
Many core players of the game are teenagers, who believe that once the deal pushes through, Mojang will lose its edge as an independent developer. Getting owned by a large corporation such as Microsoft, gives off the idea to fans that Mojang will lose creative control over its games.
One of those worried gamers is 14-year-old Henry Levenson from Boston. He and his friends play "Minecraft" at least once day and are not fans of Microsoft's corporate image.
"A majority of my friends don't think Microsoft is cool," he commented.
Being an electronics manufacturer, Microsoft is perceived by Levenson and his friends as a corporate organization that only cares about its business operation. Levenson fears this mentality will spill over to Mojang once it merges with the company.
Other noted that the alleged $2 billion deal between Microsoft and Mojang could turn off numerous fans of the game.
Since sources close to the negotiations said Mojang owner Markus Persson might leave the company once the acquisition pushes through, many fans think this could spell the end for the developer's edge over other studios, according to Cinema Blend.
Persson, also known as Notch, has gained a cult following due to his anti-corporate online posts.
"Why pay $2 billion for something just to alienate all the fans," Reddit user Joebovi wrote.
Aside from gamers, parents are also concerned about Microsoft taking over a game that their kids love, Wired reported.
Brent Smithurst, a father of two, said "Minecraft" taught his sons problem-solving skills and how to be more creative.
"My sons mostly ignore TV and much of their computer time is spent being creative in 'Minecraft,'" he said. "I love it because it teaches them problem solving, logic and creativity."
Another parent, Nate Angell, thinks that the game will lose its creative appeal to children once it is handed over to Microsoft.
"My concern over a [Microsoft] acquisition is that what 'Minecraft' now opens would constrict," he said. "Sudden appearances like rabbits could be less magical if they come from Redmond."