Microsoft announced that it will be closing a $2.5 billion deal to acquire Minecraft developer Mojang. It isn’t the first major gaming acquisition this year, with Oculus being bought by Facebook for $2 billion and Twitch to Amazon for almost $1 billion.

Minecraft, which lets users build in and explore a Lego-like virtual multiplayer world, has been downloaded 100 million times on PC alone since its launch in 2009. It is the most popular online game on Xbox, and the top paid app for both iOS and  Android operating systems in the U.S.

“Minecraft is more than a great game franchise – it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

The deal is expected to close in late 2014. Microsoft expects the acquisition to be break-even in fiscal 2015.

In a blog post, Mojang stated that its founders, Markus Persson, Carl Manneh, and Jakob Porsér are in fact leaving the company.

Microsoft is primarily known for business software like Word and Outlook E-mail. But this acquisition will help Microsoft expand its gaming division. Microsoft said it will to continue to make Minecraft available across all the platforms on which it is available today: PC, iOS, Android, Xbox and PlayStation.

If you were at the helm of the Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo ships, how would you spend that kind of money? Better still how would you spend that kind of money if someone just handed it to you today? I’m not sure Minecraft would be my first purchase but for Microsoft, I’m sure it’ll work out in their favor.