Microsoft Opens Store in 'Minecraft' to Outside Sellers

By Sarah E. Needleman 

Microsoft plans to launch a new marketplace inside its hit block-building videogame "Minecraft," where other businesses can sell virtual game-related goods to players.

The software giant already sells its own virtual goods in "Minecraft," a game in which players construct any object imaginable -- the Taj Mahal, even entire worlds -- with Lego-style blocks. Different versions of the game allow players to fight zombies with friends and go on other adventures within the "Minecraft" universe.

For the first time, though, Microsoft will open the store to third-party content creators, effectively turning the game into a kind of app-store for outside developers. The move creates a moneymaking opportunity for Microsoft while potentially helping it add to its base of 55 million people who play "Minecraft" each month.

Microsoft plans to open the store later this spring, the company said Monday in a blog post. At the start, Microsoft is partnering with nine privately held sellers, though other businesses -- not individuals -- can apply to sell goods in the marketplace. Microsoft said it is being selective to ensure only high-quality items are sold in the store.

Players will be able buy a "Minecraft" digital currency, which then can be spent in the game on character costumes, maps, new story lines and other content -- a typical experience for games, particularly mobile games such as "Pokémon Go."

The "Minecraft Marketplace" will be available on Windows 10 personal computers, mobile devices and virtual-reality headsets. App stores such as Alphabet Inc.'s Google Play will take a 30% cut of sales, with content creators receiving an unspecified "majority" of the balance, Microsoft said.

Notably absent is Microsoft's own Xbox One console and rival machines such as Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 4. Microsoft said the marketplace won't be available on game consoles because "Minecraft" is more popular on mobile devices and PCs. The company declined to say whether it will come to consoles at a later date.

Microsoft in 2014 bought Mojang AB, the maker of the "Minecraft," for $2.5 billion. More than 122 million copies have been sold as of February, the company said. A classroom edition was released for schools in November.

Write to Sarah E. Needleman at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 10, 2017 16:23 ET (20:23 GMT)

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