Minecraftdeveloper Mojang Studios is set to move its popular game away from Amazon Web Services in favor of Microsoft Azure. The Microsoft owned developer has been using Amazon Web Services to host the game’s online infrastructure since 2014. This change finally brings the game fully in line withMicrosoft and its subsequent services. Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing service that allows building, testing and application management all via Microsoft-managed data centers.
Mojang used Amazon Web Services forMinecraft Realms- a subscription service that allowed players to make private spaces for themselves and their friends without the hassle of setting up or hosting a private server to do so. The service setMinecraftgamers back $8 a month.
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A Mojang Studios spokesperson told CNBC how it is currently in the process of migrating all its cloud services to Azure. According to them, the studio has been in the process of moving across for a few years and shared how everything will be “fully transitioned” by the end of the year.
Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, addressed Microsoft’s decision to stay with Amazon Web Services for so long, despite Azure offering a ready alternative that also happens to be Microsoft owned. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Booty explained how Microsoft didn’t want to enforce or meddle with how Mojang wanted to support its game, which extends to giving gamers thefreedom to create withinMinecraft’s world.
He acknowledged how it would be easy for an organization like Microsoft to have stepped in and instructed Mojang to change its process, but added how “[…] it’s important to realize that the conditions that createdMinecraft, how it came to be, are likely to be things that are difficult to recreate within a more corporate structure.”
Minecraftis one of the most popular games available and sees almost 126 active players every month.
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