Microsoft Won't Interfere With Minecraft Convention Following Buyout

Following Microsoft's blockbuster $2.5 billion acquisition of Mojang and the Minecraft franchise last year, some wondered if the Minecraft show--Minecon--would go on, and if it did, if things might change now that Microsoft is in charge. As it turns out, the show will go on and Microsoft has now pledged to let Mojang operate the event however it wants to.

"Mojang is running Minecon 2015 in the same manner as their past events," a Microsoft spokesperson told GamesBeat, adding that it never hesitated one bit to allow the show to go on. “We're playing a supporting role; we want to listen, learn, and be inspired by the community that has made Minecraft great."

After taking 2014 off, this year's Minecon will be held in London over the Fourth of July weekend. Tickets go on sale through two batches, the first of which will be available tomorrow, March 27.

Programming information for this year's Minecon has not been published yet, but Microsoft says some "high-profile YouTubers as well as your favorite Mojangstas" will be in attendance. Mojang is also planning "some new surprises," the Microsoft representative teased.

"We're extremely thankful for our passionate community of players, builders, and content creators who have made Minecraft the global phenomenon it is today," the Microsoft spokesperson continued. “It was important to us to help where needed but let Mojang carry on the tradition of Minecon as a meaningful celebration of the Minecraft community."

In the wake of Microsoft's Minecraft buyout, some also worried that the PlayStation versions of the game might be removed or negatively impacted in some way. But this hasn't really proven to be the case. Though some content is released first on Xbox platforms (The Simpsons texture pack is one example), it appears Microsoft isn't giving preferential treatment to its own platforms in every case. This week's latest texture pack was released simultaneously for Xbox and PlayStation platforms.