Minecraft#Other game modes

{{About|the video game|the franchise|Minecraft (franchise){{!}}Minecraft (franchise)|other uses}}

{{Controversy-section|date=April 2025}}{{Infobox video game

| image = Minecraft 2024 cover art.png

| caption = Cover art since 2024

| developer = {{ubl|

|Mojang Studios{{efn|The original versions of the game for consoles (known as "legacy console" editions) were developed by 4J Studios. Additional studios responsible for helping develop specific versions of the game include Xbox Game Studios Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and SkyBox Labs for the Bedrock Edition, Other Ocean Interactive for the version on New Nintendo 3DS, and NetEase for the localized version released in mainland China.}}

}}

| publisher = {{ubl|

| Mojang Studios

| Xbox Game Studios{{efn|Versions of the game on PlayStation consoles were published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, while the localized version of the game in mainland China is published by NetEase.}}

}}

| designer = {{ubl|

| Markus Persson{{efn|Left Mojang Studios in 2014}}

| Jens Bergensten

}}

| artist = {{ubl|

| Markus Toivonen

| Jasper Boerstra

| Kristoffer Zetterstrand

}}

| composer = {{ubl|

| C418

| Lena Raine

| Kumi Tanioka

| Aaron Cherof

}}

| series = Minecraft

| platforms = {{Collapsible list

| title = {{Nobold|Linux
Mac OS X
Windows}}

| Android

| iOS

| iPadOS

| Fire OS

| Wii U

| tvOS

| Xbox Series X and S

| Nintendo Switch 2

}}

| released = {{Collapsible list

| title = {{nobold|18 November 2011}}{{efn|Minecraft was first publicly available on 17 May 2009,{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |author-link=Markus Persson |date=17 May 2009 |title=Minecraft 0.0.11a for public consumption |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/109000107/minecraft-0-0-11a-for-public-consumption |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716115516/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/109000107/minecraft-0-0-11a-for-public-consumption |archive-date=16 July 2015 |access-date=1 April 2018 |website=The Word of Notch |via=Tumblr}} and, following many developmental phases over the next two years, was fully released on 18 November 2011.}}

| Android

| {{Video game release|WW|7 October 2011}}

| iOS

| {{Video game release|WW|17 November 2011}}

| Linux, Mac OS X, Windows

| {{Video game release|WW|18 November 2011}}

| Xbox 360

| {{Video game release|WW|9 May 2012}}

| Raspberry Pi

| {{Video game release|WW|11 February 2013}}

| PlayStation 3

| {{Video game release|NA|17 December 2013|EU|18 December 2013}}

| Fire OS

| {{Video game release|WW|2 April 2014}}

| PlayStation 4

| {{Video game release|WW|4 September 2014}}

| Xbox One

| {{Video game release|WW|5 September 2014}}

| PlayStation Vita

| {{Video game release|NA|14 October 2014|EU|15 October 2014}}

| Windows Phone

| {{Video game release|WW|10 December 2014}}

| Windows 10

| {{Video game release|WW|29 July 2015}}

| Wii U

| {{Video game release|WW|17 December 2015}}

| tvOS

| {{Video game release|WW|19 December 2016}}

| Nintendo Switch

| {{Video game release|NA|11 May 2017|PAL|12 May 2017}}

| New Nintendo 3DS

| {{Video game release|WW|13 September 2017}}

| ChromeOS

| {{Video game release|WW|8 June 2023}}

| PlayStation 5

| {{Video game release|WW|22 October 2024}}

}}

| genre = Sandbox, survival

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Minecraft is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by the Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios. Originally created by Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java programming language, the first public alpha build was released on 17 May 2009. The game was continuously developed from then on, receiving a full release on 18 November 2011. Afterwards, Persson left Mojang and gave Jens "Jeb" Bergensten control over development. In the years since its release, it has been ported to several platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and various video game consoles. In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for {{US$|2.5}} billion.

In Minecraft, players explore a procedurally generated, three-dimensional world with virtually infinite terrain made up of voxels. Players can discover and extract raw materials, craft tools and items, and build structures, earthworks, and machines. Depending on their chosen game mode, players can fight hostile mobs, as well as cooperate with or compete against other players in multiplayer. The game has two main modes: survival mode, where players must acquire resources to survive, and a creative mode where players have unlimited resources and the ability to fly. Three more game modes exist: the spectator mode allows players to spectate others, the adventure mode forbids players from mining blocks, and the hardcore mode plays identically to survival mode on hard difficulty but features permadeath. The game's large community offers a wide variety of user-generated content, such as modifications, servers, skins, texture packs, and custom maps, which add new game mechanics and possibilities. Speedrunning is another popular community activity.

Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, with over 350 million copies sold and nearly 170 million monthly active players as of 2025. In addition, it has received critical acclaim, winning several awards and being cited as one of the greatest video games of all time; social media, parodies, adaptations, merchandise, and the annual Minecon conventions have played prominent roles in popularizing the game. Minecraft has been used in educational environments to teach chemistry, computer-aided design, and computer science. The game spawned a franchise, which includes several spin-off games including Minecraft: Story Mode, Minecraft Earth, Minecraft Dungeons, and Minecraft Legends. A live-action film adaptation, titled A Minecraft Movie, was released in theaters on 4 April 2025.

Gameplay

Minecraft is a 3D sandbox video game that has no required goals to accomplish, allowing players a large amount of freedom in choosing how to play the game.{{Cite web |last=Gallegos |first=Anthony |date=23 November 2011 |title=Minecraft Review — PC Review at IGN |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/11/24/minecraft-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106165908/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/11/24/minecraft-review |archive-date=6 November 2015 |access-date=18 December 2011 |website=IGN}} The game also features an optional achievement system.{{Cite news |last=Meer |first=Alec |date=30 March 2011 |title=Minecraft:Wolves, Achievements, Mods, Merch |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/03/30/minecraft-mods/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093516/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/03/30/minecraft-mods/ |archive-date=2 April 2015}} Gameplay is in the first-person perspective by default, but players have the option of a second and third-person perspective.{{Cite web |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=23 November 2011 |title=Minecraft 1.0 launch patch notes |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-23-minecraft-1-0-launch-patch-notes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203113330/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-23-minecraft-1-0-launch-patch-notes |archive-date=3 February 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Eurogamer Network}} The game world is composed of rough 3D objects—mainly cubes, referred to as blocks—representing various materials, such as dirt, stone, ores, tree trunks, water, and lava. The core gameplay revolves around picking up and placing these objects. These blocks are arranged in a 3D grid, while players can move freely around the world. Players can break, or mine, blocks and then place them elsewhere, enabling them to build things.{{Cite web |last=Ashdown |first=Jeremy |date=11 November 2010 |title=This is Minecraft |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/11/this-is-minecraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127020048/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/11/this-is-minecraft |archive-date=27 January 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013 |website=IGN}} The game also contains a material called redstone, which can be used to make primitive mechanical devices, electrical circuits, and logic gates, allowing for the construction of many complex systems.{{Cite web |last=Tito |first=Greg |date=4 October 2010 |title=Player Creates Working Computer in Minecraft |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104029-Player-Creates-Working-Computer-in-Minecraft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008064435/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104029-Player-Creates-Working-Computer-in-Minecraft |archive-date=8 October 2010 |access-date=4 January 2011 |publisher=Alloy Digital |magazine=The Escapist}}{{Cite news |last=updated |first=Katie Wickens last |date=8 September 2022 |title=Someone crafted a redstone PC in Minecraft to play Minecraft inside Minecraft |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraftception-redstone-pc-chungus/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202053949/https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraftception-redstone-pc-chungus/ |url-status=live }} Comparatively, the game's physics system has been described as unrealistic, with nearly all blocks unaffected by gravity.{{Cite web |last=Walton |first=Mark |date=25 November 2012 |title=Minecraft In Education: How Video Games Are Teaching Kids |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-in-education-how-video-games-are-teaching-kids/1100-6400549/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010082122/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-in-education-how-video-games-are-teaching-kids/1100-6400549/ |archive-date=10 October 2013 |access-date=15 December 2012 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive}}

File:Minecraft explore landscape.png|alt=The default player skin, Steve, stands on a cliffside overlooking a village in a forest. In the distance, there is a small mountain range. The sun is setting to the right, making the sky turn pink and blue.|left]]

Players can also craft a wide variety of items, such as armor, which mitigates damage from attacks; weapons (such as swords or axes), which allows monsters and animals to be killed more easily; and tools (such as pickaxes or shovels), which break certain types of blocks more quickly. Some items have multiple tiers depending on the material used to craft them, with higher-tier items being more effective and durable. They may also freely construct helpful blocks—such as furnaces which can cook food and smelt ores,{{Cite web |last=Geere |first=Duncan |date=15 September 2017 |title=Block of the Week: Furnace |url=https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/block-week-furnace |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802223406/https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/block-week-furnace |archive-date=2 August 2018 |access-date=21 September 2017 |website=Minecraft.net}} and torches that produce light—or exchange items with a villager (NPC) through trading emeralds for different goods and vice versa.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Mark |date=6 July 2012 |title=Gaming Minecraft update combines single and multiplayer, adds trading and tripwires |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/06/minecraft-update |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123141217/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/06/minecraft-update |archive-date=23 January 2013 |access-date=21 November 2012 |magazine=Wired UK}} The game has an inventory system, allowing players to carry a limited number of items.{{Cite news |title=Using the Minecraft Inventory and Crafting Grid |url=https://www.dummies.com/programming/programming-games/minecraft/using-the-minecraft-inventory-and-crafting-grid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204072407/https://www.dummies.com/programming/programming-games/minecraft/using-the-minecraft-inventory-and-crafting-grid/ |archive-date=4 February 2021 |access-date=11 August 2020 |work=dummies |language=en}}

The game world is virtually infinite and procedurally generated as players explore it, using a map seed that is obtained from the system clock at the time of world creation (or manually specified by the player).{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=10 March 2011 |title=Terrain generation, Part 1 |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/3746989361/terrain-generation-part-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312082752/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/3746989361/terrain-generation-part-1 |archive-date=12 March 2011 |access-date=24 October 2010 |publisher=Mojang}}{{Cite web |last=Bergensten |first=Jens |date=23 February 2011 |title=A Short Demystification of the 'Map Seed' |url=http://www.mojang.com/2011/02/a-short-demystification-of-the-map-seed |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007083324/http://www.mojang.com/2011/02/a-short-demystification-of-the-map-seed/ |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=6 October 2012 |publisher=Mojang}}{{Cite web |last=Miller-Watt |first=Josh |title=Minecraft beginner's guide |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-beginners-guide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711051549/http://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-beginners-guide/ |archive-date=11 July 2012 |access-date=24 October 2012 |website=GamesRadar |publisher=Future plc}} While there are limits on the world's verticality, Minecraft allows an infinitely large game world to be generated on the horizontal plane, though the player is limited to traversing up to 30 million blocks from the world's center.{{Cite web |last=Guthrie |first=Robert |date=17 August 2016 |title=Minecraft's 'Infinite World' Versus No Man's Sky's 'Infinite World' |url=https://kotaku.com/minecraft-s-infinite-world-versus-no-man-s-skys-infi-1785395707 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Kotaku |language=en}} The world is divided into biomes ranging from deserts to jungles to snowfields;{{Cite news |last=Meer |first=Alec |date=27 October 2010 |title=BiomeShock: The New Minecraft Worlds |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/10/27/biomeshock-the-new-minecraft-worlds/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112224440/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/10/27/biomeshock-the-new-minecraft-worlds/ |archive-date=12 November 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=20 January 2012 |title=Minecraft jungle biome, creatures coming soon |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-20-minecraft-jungle-biome-creatures-coming-soon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203113322/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-20-minecraft-jungle-biome-creatures-coming-soon |archive-date=3 February 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Eurogamer Network}} the terrain includes plains, mountains, forests, caves, and bodies of water or lava. The in-game time system follows a day and night cycle, with one full cycle lasting for 20 real-time minutes.{{Cite web |last=Maillot |first=Anastasia |date=30 May 2021 |title=Minecraft: Everything You Need To Know About The Daylight Cycle |url=https://www.thegamer.com/minecraft-daylight-cycle-guide/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=TheGamer |language=en |archive-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114162835/https://www.thegamer.com/minecraft-daylight-cycle-guide/ |url-status=live }}

File:Minecraft Mobs.png, and a skeleton. All can spawn in the Overworld.|alt=Standing on a flat grassy plain against a blue sky, there is a green zombie wearing a blue shirt and purple pants; a large spider with red eyes; a tall, black, slender creature with purple eyes; a green, four-legged creature; and a skeleton.]]

New players are given a randomly selected default character skin out of nine possibilities, including Steve or Alex,{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=27 April 2015 |title=You can finally choose to play as a girl in Minecraft |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/27/8503863/minecraft-female-default-character |website=The Verge |access-date=20 September 2019 |archive-date=28 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428175512/https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/27/8503863/minecraft-female-default-character |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=CJ Wheeler Former News |last2=Wheeler |first2=C. J. |date=30 November 2022 |title=Minecraft Bedrock Edition now has seven more default skins |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/minecraft-bedrock-edition-now-has-seven-more-default-skins |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102050842/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/minecraft-bedrock-edition-now-has-seven-more-default-skins |url-status=live }} but are able to create and upload their own skins.{{Cite magazine |last=Quach |first=Michael |date=7 October 2010 |title=How to edit your skin in Minecraft |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-edit-your-skin-in-minecraft/ |magazine=PC Gamer |language=en-US |access-date=19 March 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616112500/https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-edit-your-skin-in-minecraft/ |url-status=live }} Players encounter various mobs (short for mobile entities) including animals, villagers, and hostile creatures.{{Cite web |last=Senior |first=Tom |date=24 May 2012 |title=Minecraft update snapshot includes trading, currency, new item and sandstone stairs |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/24/minecraft-update-snapshot-includes-trading-currency-new-item-and-sandstone-stairs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203114023/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/24/minecraft-update-snapshot-includes-trading-currency-new-item-and-sandstone-stairs/ |archive-date=3 February 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}}{{Cite web |last1=Gutierrez |first1=Luis Joshua |last2=Hammill |first2=Dan |last3=Heaney |first3=Samuel |last4=Moreupdated |first4=+39 9k |title=All Minecraft Mobs - Minecraft Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/minecraft/All_Minecraft_Mobs |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=IGN |date=26 August 2011 |language=en |archive-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107140354/https://www.ign.com/wikis/minecraft/All_Minecraft_Mobs |url-status=live }} Passive mobs, such as cows, pigs, and chickens, can be hunted for food and crafting materials. They spawn in the daytime, while hostile mobs—including large spiders, witches, skeletons, and zombies—spawn during nighttime or in dark places such as caves.{{Cite book |last1=Stay |first1=Jesse |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jf_9BQAAQBAJ&q=Minecraft+For+Dummies |title=Minecraft For Dummies |last2=Stay |first2=Thomas |last3=Cordeiro |first3=Jacob |date=2015-01-20 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-118-96823-9 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Talley |first=Trevor |url=https://archive.org/details/minecrafter20adv0000tall/mode/2up?q=hostile |title=Minecrafter 2.0 advanced |date=2014 |publisher=Chicago, Illinois : Triumph Books |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-60078-998-4}} Some hostile mobs, such as zombies, skeletons and drowned (underwater versions of zombies), burn under the sun if they have no headgear and are not standing in water.{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Megan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PzGCDwAAQBAJ |title=The Big Book of Hacks for Minecrafters: The Biggest Unofficial Guide to Tips and Tricks That Other Guides Won't Teach You |date=2015-11-03 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-63450-952-7 |language=en}} Other creatures unique to Minecraft include the creeper (an exploding creature that sneaks up on the player) and the enderman (a creature with the ability to teleport as well as pick up and place blocks). There are also variants of mobs that spawn in different conditions; for example, zombies have husk and drowned variants that spawn in deserts and oceans, respectively.{{Cite book |last1=Milton |first1=Stephanie |title=Minecraft: Guide to Exploration |last2=Davies |first2=Marsh |date=17 December 2018 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-399-18201-3 |language=en}}

= Dimensions =

Minecraft has two alternative dimensions besides the Overworld (the main world where the player spawns): the Nether and the End.

== The Nether ==

The Nether is a hell-like underworld dimension accessed via a player-built obsidian portal; newer versions of the game feature naturally generated damaged portals that the player can repair.{{Cite web |date=23 June 2023 |title=Minecraft Nether portal dimensions and calculator |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/nether-portal-dimensions |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} The Nether contains many unique resources and can be used to travel great distances in the Overworld, due to every block traveled in the Nether being equivalent to 8 blocks traveled in the Overworld.{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Tom |date=10 October 2010 |title=A clearer look at Minecraft's new hell dimension |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/a-clearer-look-at-minecrafts-new-hell-dimension/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101113601/http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/a-clearer-look-at-minecrafts-new-hell-dimension/ |archive-date=1 November 2012 |access-date=30 October 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}} Mobs that populate the Nether include shrieking, fireball-shooting ghasts, alongside anthropomorphic mobs called piglins and their zombified counterparts.{{Cite web |last=Geere |first=Duncan |date=11 October 2019 |title=Visit the Nether! |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/visit-nether- |access-date=12 October 2022 |website=The Minecraft Official Site |series=Deep Dives |publisher=Microsoft |archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012174721/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/visit-nether- |url-status=live }} The piglins in particular have a bartering system, where players can give them gold ingots and receive items in return.{{cite web|last=Marshall|first=Cass|date=1 July 2020|title=Everybody loves Minecraft's new Piglin, the rudest new NPCs|website=Polygon|url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/1/21310370/minecraft-nether-update-piglin-fan-reaction-trading-gold-looting|access-date=22 September 2023|archive-date=3 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003222747/https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/1/21310370/minecraft-nether-update-piglin-fan-reaction-trading-gold-looting|url-status=live}} Structures known as Nether Fortresses generate in the Nether, containing unique mobs such as wither skeletons and blazes, which can drop blaze rods needed to access the End dimension.{{Cite web |last=Zalace |first=Jacqueline |date=2021-08-28 |title=Minecraft: How To Find And Conquer A Nether Fortress |url=https://www.thegamer.com/minecraft-find-conquer-nether-fortress-guide/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=TheGamer |language=en}} The dimension also features bastion remnants, a structure that occasionally contains the netherite upgrade smithing template. This item is required to upgrade diamond equipment to netherite, the most durable material in the game.{{Cite web |last=Bullard |first=Brielle |date=2023-08-15 |title=Minecraft: How To Get And Duplicate Netherite Smithing Template |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-how-get-duplicate-netherite-smithing-template-gear/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} The player can also choose to build an optional boss mob known as the Wither, using skulls obtained from wither skeletons and soul sand.{{Cite web |last=Birsner |first=Chris |date=2021-11-21 |title=Minecraft: How To Easily Defeat The Wither |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-how-to-defeat-wither/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Staff |first1=Mojang AB (Firm) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jrb4MAAACAAJ&q=guide+to+nether+and+the+end |title=Minecraft Guide to the Nether and the End |last2=Milton |first2=Stephanie |date=1 September 2017 |publisher=Egmont UK Limited |isbn=978-1-4052-8599-5 |pages=32–33 |access-date=29 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505020425/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jrb4MAAACAAJ&q=guide+to+nether+and+the+end |archive-date=5 May 2024 |url-status=live |via=Google Books}}

== The End ==

The End can be reached through an end portal, consisting of twelve end portal frames. End portals are found in underground structures in the Overworld known as strongholds. To find strongholds, players must craft eyes of ender using an ender pearl and blaze powder. Eyes of ender can then be thrown, traveling in the direction of the stronghold. Once the player reaches the stronghold, they can place eyes of ender into each portal frame to activate the end portal.{{Cite web |date=2011-12-18 |title=The End - Minecraft Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/minecraft/The_End |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=IGN |language=en}} The dimension consists of islands floating in a dark, bottomless void. A boss enemy called the Ender Dragon guards the largest, central island.{{Cite web |last=Liebl |first=Matt |date=5 May 2012 |title=Minecraft: The End, Ender Dragons, and Goop Portal All Explained |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/2011/10/11/minecraft-the-end-ender-dragons-and-goop-portal-all-explained |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615001422/http://www.gamezone.com/news/2011/10/11/minecraft-the-end-ender-dragons-and-goop-portal-all-explained |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=31 October 2012 |website=GameZone |publisher=GameZone Online}} Killing the dragon opens access to an exit portal, which, when entered, cues the game's ending credits and the End Poem, a roughly 1,500-word work written by Irish novelist Julian Gough,{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=James |date=22 May 2014 |title=Minecraft: The Most Creative Game Ever Made |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-game-that-conquered-the-world/361615/ |access-date=1 May 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502010808/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-game-that-conquered-the-world/361615/ |url-status=live }} which takes about nine minutes to scroll past,{{cite web |last1=Litchfield |first1=Ted |title=The writer of Minecraft's ending poem wants to 'liberate it from the corporate economy' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-writer-of-minecrafts-ending-poem-wants-to-liberate-it-from-the-corporate-economy/ |website=PC Gamer |access-date=2 May 2023 |language=en |date=12 December 2022 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211223315/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-writer-of-minecrafts-ending-poem-wants-to-liberate-it-from-the-corporate-economy/ |url-status=live }} is the game's only narrative text,{{cite news |last1=Moloney |first1=Eoghan |title=Irishman who wrote Minecraft's revered 'End Poem' gives words away for free after declining to sign over rights to Microsoft |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irishman-who-wrote-minecrafts-revered-end-poem-gives-words-away-for-free-after-declining-to-sign-over-rights-to-microsoft/42206699.html |access-date=1 May 2023 |work=Irish Independent |date=8 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502010807/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irishman-who-wrote-minecrafts-revered-end-poem-gives-words-away-for-free-after-declining-to-sign-over-rights-to-microsoft/42206699.html |url-status=live }} and the only text of significant length directed at the player.{{Cite journal |last=Anthony |first=Jason |date=2015 |title=Current Key Perspectives in Video Gaming and Religion |url=https://media.suub.uni-bremen.de/bitstream/elib/3156/1/00104919-1.pdf |journal=Gamevironments |publisher=University of Bremen |issue=3 |pages=7–15 |access-date=1 May 2023 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502010810/https://media.suub.uni-bremen.de/bitstream/elib/3156/1/00104919-1.pdf |url-status=live }}{{rp|pp=10–12}} At the conclusion of the credits, the player is teleported back to their respawn point and may continue the game indefinitely.{{Cite web |last=Plafke |first=James |date=26 December 2012 |title=How to find the Ender Portal in Minecraft |url=https://www.geek.com/games/how-to-find-the-ender-portal-in-minecraft-1533760/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118175047/https://www.geek.com/games/how-to-find-the-ender-portal-in-minecraft-1533760/ |archive-date=18 November 2018 |access-date=21 September 2017 |website=Geek.com}} Players can also explore further regions of the End beyond the main island, which can harbor structures known as end cities or ships to find valuable loot as well.

= Game modes =

== Survival mode ==

File:Minecraft Beta 1.8.1 – Crafting a Wooden Sword.png as well as some other blocks and items in the player's inventory|alt=The player attempting to make a wooden sword by placing the required materials into the crafting grid, a 3x3 block of item spaces hovering over the standard inventory, which is filled with other items.]]

In survival mode, players have to gather natural resources such as wood and stone found in the environment in order to craft certain blocks and items. Depending on the difficulty, monsters spawn in darker areas outside a certain radius of the character, requiring players to build a shelter in order to survive at night. The mode also has a health bar which is depleted by attacks from mobs, falls, drowning, falling into lava, suffocation, starvation, and other events. Players also have a hunger bar, which must be periodically refilled by eating food in-game unless the player is playing on peaceful difficulty.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Julia |date=20 August 2020 |title=How to regain health in Minecraft |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/20/21373772/how-to-regain-health-hp-food-potions |access-date=26 July 2021 |website=Polygon |language=en |archive-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726120127/https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/20/21373772/how-to-regain-health-hp-food-potions |url-status=live }} If the hunger bar is empty, automatic healing stops and depletes. Health replenishes when players have a full hunger bar or continuously on peaceful.

Upon losing all health, items in the players' inventories are dropped unless the game is reconfigured not to do so. Players then re-spawn at their spawn point, which by default is where players first spawn in the game and can be reset by sleeping in a bed or using a respawn anchor.{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=John |date=18 February 2011 |title=Minecraft Is Getting Ready For Bed |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/02/18/minecraft-is-getting-ready-for-bed/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109010753/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/02/18/minecraft-is-getting-ready-for-bed/ |archive-date=9 November 2012}}{{Cite web |last=James |first=Ford |date=30 June 2020 |title=Minecraft Respawn Anchor: How to get one and set your spawn point in the Nether |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-respawn-anchor/ |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=gamesradar |language=en |archive-date=22 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122110123/https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-respawn-anchor/ |url-status=live }} Dropped items can be recovered if players can reach them before they despawn after 5 minutes. Players may acquire experience points (commonly referred to as "xp" or "exp") to as by killing mobs and other players, mining, smelting ores, breeding animals, and cooking food.{{Cite web |last=Fillery |first=Jake |date=2023-02-03 |title=Minecraft: 8 Best Ways To Get XP |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-best-ways-earn-xp/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=Game Rant |language=en}} Experience can then be spent on enchanting tools, armor and weapons. Enchanted items are generally more powerful, last longer, or have other special effects.

The game features two more game modes based on survival, known as "hardcore mode" and "adventure mode". Hardcore mode plays identically to survival mode, but features permadeath, meaning players only have one life, forcing them to delete the world or explore it as a spectator after death.{{Cite magazine |last=Senior |first=Tom |date=23 September 2011 |title=Minecraft hardcore mode teased. When you die, the world dies with you |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/09/23/minecraft-hardcore-mode-teased-when-you-die-the-world-dies-with-you/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004093330/http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/09/23/minecraft-hardcore-mode-teased-when-you-die-the-world-dies-with-you/ |archive-date=4 October 2012 |access-date=25 September 2012 |magazine=PC Gamer}} Adventure mode was added to the game in a post-launch update,{{cite web |last1=Co-Founder |first1=John Walker |last2=Walker |first2=John |date=August 2012 |title=Minecraft Updates To 1.3 With Adventure Mode, Trading |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/08/01/minecraft-updates-with-adventure-mode/ |access-date=4 January 2013 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun}} and prevents the player from directly modifying the game's world. It was designed primarily for use in custom maps, allowing map designers to let players experience it as intended.

== Creative mode ==

In creative mode, players have access to an infinite number of nearly all resources and items in the game through the inventory menu and can place or mine them instantly.{{Cite web |last=Steinlage |first=Tate |date=26 September 2012 |title=Creative Mode coming to Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition |url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/2012/09/26/creative-mode-coming-to-minecraft-xbox-360-edition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519125126/http://www.gamezone.com/news/2012/09/26/creative-mode-coming-to-minecraft-xbox-360-edition |archive-date=19 May 2013 |access-date=1 December 2012 |website=GameZone |publisher=GameZone Online}} Players can toggle the ability to fly freely around the game world at will, while their characters do not take any damage nor are affected by hunger.{{Cite web |last=Haley |first=Sebastian |date=5 September 2012 |title=Creative Mode 'weeks away' for Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/09/05/creative-mode-weeks-away-for-minecraft-xbox-360-edition/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118033545/http://venturebeat.com/2012/09/05/creative-mode-weeks-away-for-minecraft-xbox-360-edition/ |archive-date=18 November 2012 |access-date=1 December 2012 |website=VentureBeat}}{{Cite web |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=5 September 2012 |title=Minecraft Xbox 360 update: Creative Mode still "weeks away", 4J dresses Cliffy B up as Creeper |url=http://www.totalxbox.com/45572/minecraft-xbox-360-update-creative-mode-still-weeks-away-4j-dresses-cliffy-b-up-as-creeper/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430033503/http://www.totalxbox.com/45572/minecraft-xbox-360-update-creative-mode-still-weeks-away-4j-dresses-cliffy-b-up-as-creeper/ |archive-date=30 April 2014 |access-date=1 December 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine}} The game mode helps players focus on building and creating projects of any size without disturbance.

= Multiplayer =

Multiplayer in Minecraft enables multiple players to interact and communicate with each other on a single world. It is available through direct game-to-game multiplayer, LAN play, local split screen (console-only), and servers (player-hosted and business-hosted).{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Lee |date=10 September 2012 |title=Blocks with friends: How to run your own Minecraft server |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/09/blocks-with-friends-how-to-run-your-own-minecraft-server/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115100732/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/09/blocks-with-friends-how-to-run-your-own-minecraft-server/ |archive-date=15 November 2012 |access-date=24 November 2012 |website=Ars Technica |pages=1–4}} Players can run their own servers, use a hosting provider, or connect directly to another player's game via Xbox Live. Single-player worlds have local area network support, allowing players to join a world on locally interconnected computers without a server setup.{{Cite news |last=Meer |first=Alec |date=18 June 2012 |title=Modern! Minecraft Adds 'Local Area Network' Support |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/06/18/modern-minecraft-adds-local-area-network-support/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918113739/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/06/18/modern-minecraft-adds-local-area-network-support/ |archive-date=18 September 2012}} Minecraft multiplayer servers are guided by server operators, who have access to server commands such as setting the time of day and teleporting players. Operators can also set up restrictions concerning which usernames or IP addresses are allowed or disallowed to enter the server. Multiplayer servers have a wide range of activities, with some servers having their own unique rules and customs. The largest and most popular server is Hypixel, which has been visited by over 14 million unique players.{{Cite web |last=Fogel |first=Stefanie |date=13 December 2018 |title=Creators of Popular 'Minecraft' Server Announce New Game 'Hytale' |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/hypixel-studios-reveals-hytale-1203089201/ |access-date=15 December 2018 |website=Variety |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022409/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/hypixel-studios-reveals-hytale-1203089201/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=13 December 2018 |title=Riot Games Leads Investment in Hypixel Game Studio |work=The Hollywood Reporter |department=Tech |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/riot-games-leads-investment-hypixel-game-studio-1168889 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221000646/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/riot-games-leads-investment-hypixel-game-studio-1168889 |url-status=live }} Player versus player combat (PvP) can be enabled to allow fighting between players.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Marsh |date=24 November 2012 |title=The Future of Minecraft: what lies ahead for the all-conquering sandbox game? |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/11/the-future-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124024439/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/11/the-future-of-minecraft/ |archive-date=24 November 2012 |access-date=24 November 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}}

== ''Minecraft Realms'' ==

In 2013, Mojang announced Minecraft Realms, a server hosting service intended to enable players to run server multiplayer games easily and safely without having to set up their own.{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=18 March 2013 |title=Minecraft Realms hopes to make an increasingly complex game more family-friendly |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/18/4118526/minecraft-realms-hopes-to-make-an-increasingly-complex-game-more |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321113627/http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/18/4118526/minecraft-realms-hopes-to-make-an-increasingly-complex-game-more |archive-date=21 March 2013 |access-date=26 March 2013 |website=Polygon}}{{Cite news |last=Peel |first=Jeremy |date=14 March 2013 |title=Minecraft Realms is a subscription service for families that will "bring in more money than the game itself" |work=PCGamesN |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/minecraft-realms-subscription-service-families-will-bring-more-money-game-itself |access-date=2 December 2019 |archive-date=19 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719142423/http://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/minecraft-realms-subscription-service-families-will-bring-more-money-game-itself |url-status=live }} Unlike a standard server, only invited players can join Realms servers, and these servers do not use IP addresses. Minecraft: Java Edition Realms server owners can invite up to twenty people to play on their server, with up to ten players online at a time. Minecraft Realms server owners can invite up to 3,000 people to play on their server, with up to ten players online at one time.{{Cite web |date=31 July 2017 |title=Minecraft Realms |url=https://minecraft.net/realms/ |access-date=8 March 2018 |website=Minecraft.net |archive-date=23 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323043639/https://minecraft.net/realms |url-status=live }} The Minecraft: Java Edition Realms servers do not support user-made plugins, but players can play custom Minecraft maps.{{Cite web |last=Owen |date=24 October 2014 |title=Realms is packed with awesome maps |url=https://www.mojang.com/2014/10/realms-is-packed-with-awesome-maps/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710014841/https://mojang.com/2014/10/realms-is-packed-with-awesome-maps/ |archive-date=10 July 2019 |access-date=18 September 2017 |website=mojang.com}} Minecraft Bedrock Realms servers support user-made add-ons, resource packs, behavior packs, and custom Minecraft maps. At Electronic Entertainment Expo 2016, support for cross-platform play between Windows 10, iOS, and Android platforms was added through Realms starting in June 2016,{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=13 June 2016 |title=Minecraft gets cross-platform play later this year |url=http://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/13/11922908/minecraft-cross-platform-e3-2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616111115/http://www.polygon.com/e3/2016/6/13/11922908/minecraft-cross-platform-e3-2016 |archive-date=16 June 2016 |access-date=13 June 2016 |website=Polygon}} with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch support to come later in 2017,{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chris |date=11 June 2017 |title=Minecraft is unifying nearly all of its versions across all platforms, except Sony |url=https://www.destructoid.com/minecraft-is-unifying-nearly-all-of-its-versions-across-all-platforms-except-sony-439216.phtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617092549/https://www.destructoid.com/minecraft-is-unifying-nearly-all-of-its-versions-across-all-platforms-except-sony-439216.phtml |archive-date=17 June 2017 |access-date=11 June 2017 |website=Destructoid}} and support for virtual reality devices. On 31 July 2017, Mojang released the beta version of the update allowing cross-platform play.{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Marsh |date=31 July 2017 |title=Beta Test Better Together! |work=Minecraft.net |url=https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/beta-test-better-together |access-date=1 August 2017 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810150645/https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/beta-test-better-together |url-status=live }} Nintendo Switch support for Realms was released in July 2018.{{Cite web |date=10 July 2018 |title=Minecraft's Aquatic Update Phase Two Gets Wet And Wild Today On Switch |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/minecrafts_aquatic_update_phase_two_gets_wet_and_wild_today_on_switch |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=12 February 2019 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922123236/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/minecrafts_aquatic_update_phase_two_gets_wet_and_wild_today_on_switch |url-status=live }}

= Modification =

File:Tinkers Construct smeltery.png

The modding community consists of fans, users and third-party programmers. Using a variety of application program interfaces that have arisen over time, they have produced a wide variety of downloadable content for Minecraft, such as modifications, texture packs and custom maps. Modifications of the Minecraft code, called mods, add a variety of gameplay changes, ranging from new blocks, items, and mobs to entire arrays of mechanisms.{{Cite magazine |last=Peckham |first=Matt |date=8 May 2012 |title=The 10 Best Minecraft Mods |url=https://techland.time.com/2012/05/08/the-10-best-minecraft-mods/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030095454/http://techland.time.com/2012/05/08/the-10-best-minecraft-mods/ |archive-date=30 October 2012 |access-date=28 October 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Senior |first=Tom |date=29 February 2012 |title=Minecraft mod API to be developed by new team at Mojang |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/29/minecraft-mod-api-to-be-developed-by-new-team-at-mojang/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203114102/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/29/minecraft-mod-api-to-be-developed-by-new-team-at-mojang/ |archive-date=3 February 2013 |access-date=28 October 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}} The modding community is responsible for a substantial supply of mods from ones that enhance gameplay, such as mini-maps, waypoints, and durability counters, to ones that add to the game elements from other video games and media.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=The 56 best Minecraft mods September 2024 |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/twenty-best-minecraft-mods |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} While a variety of mod frameworks were independently developed by reverse engineering the code, Mojang has also enhanced vanilla Minecraft with official frameworks for modification, allowing the production of community-created resource packs, which alter certain game elements including textures and sounds.{{Cite web |last=Dyer |first=Mitch |date=4 July 2013 |title=Minecraft 1.6 'Horse Update' Launching in July |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/25/minecraft-16-horse-update-launching-in-july |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708124020/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/25/minecraft-16-horse-update-launching-in-july |archive-date=8 July 2013 |publisher=IGN}} Players can also create their own "maps" (custom world save files) that often contain specific rules, challenges, puzzles and quests, and share them for others to play.{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Phil |title=The 25 best Minecraft custom maps |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/10/20/the-25-best-minecraft-custom-maps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023211322/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/10/20/the-25-best-minecraft-custom-maps/ |archive-date=23 October 2012 |access-date=28 October 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}} Mojang added an adventure mode in August 2012{{Cite news |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=6 July 2012 |title=Minecraft 1.3 Adding LAN, Adventure Mode In August |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/06/minecraft-1-3-adding-lan-adventure-mode-in-august/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112203224/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/06/minecraft-1-3-adding-lan-adventure-mode-in-august/ |archive-date=12 November 2012}} and "command blocks" in October 2012,{{Cite web |last=Gallegos |first=Anthony |date=27 July 2012 |title=Minecraft Adding New Block |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/27/minecraft-adding-new-block |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216094902/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/27/minecraft-adding-new-block |archive-date=16 December 2012 |access-date=28 October 2012 |website=IGN}} which were created specially for custom maps in Java Edition. Data packs, introduced in version 1.13 of the Java Edition, allow further customization, including the ability to add new achievements, dimensions, functions, loot tables, predicates, recipes, structures, tags, and world generation.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Nathan |date=25 October 2017 |title=Minecraft Snapshot 17w43b |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-snapshot-17w43a |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=Minecraft.net |language=en-US |archive-date=19 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719235854/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-snapshot-17w43a |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Östergård |first=Adrian |date=8 July 2020 |title=Minecraft Snapshot 20w28a |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-snapshot-20w28a |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=Minecraft.net |language=en-US |archive-date=19 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719235857/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-snapshot-20w28a |url-status=live }}

The Xbox 360 Edition supported downloadable content, which was available to purchase via the Xbox Games Store; these content packs usually contained additional character skins.{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=3 July 2012 |title=Minecraft XBLA adding DLC costumes |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/74638/minecraft-xbla-adding-dlc-costumes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204212358/http://www.shacknews.com/article/74638/minecraft-xbla-adding-dlc-costumes |archive-date=4 December 2012 |access-date=4 November 2012 |website=Shacknews |publisher=GameFly}} It later received support for texture packs in its twelfth title update while introducing "mash-up packs", which combined texture packs with skin packs and changes to the game's sounds, music and user interface.{{Cite web |last=Borthwick |first=Ben |date=24 August 2013 |title=Minecraft Xbox 360 Title Update 12 out now |url=http://www.totalxbox.com/60999/minecraft-xbox-360-title-update-12-out-now/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824122949/http://www.oxm.co.uk/60999/minecraft-xbox-360-title-update-12-out-now/ |archive-date=24 August 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013 |publisher=OXM UK}} The first mash-up pack (and by extension, the first texture pack) for the Xbox 360 Edition was released on 4 September 2013, and was themed after the Mass Effect franchise.{{Cite web |last=Conditt |first=Jessica |date=2 September 2013 |title=Mass Effect texture pack lands on Minecraft Xbox 360 |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/02/mass-effect-texture-pack-lands-on-minecraft-xbox-360/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906040913/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/02/mass-effect-texture-pack-lands-on-minecraft-xbox-360 |archive-date=6 September 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013 |publisher=Joystiq}} Unlike Java Edition, however, the Xbox 360 Edition did not support player-made mods or custom maps. A cross-promotional resource pack based on the Super Mario franchise by Nintendo was released exclusively for the Wii U Edition worldwide on 17 May 2016,{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=9 May 2016 |title=Super Mario is coming to Minecraft |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/9/11604492/super-mario-new-content-minecraft-wii-u-nintendo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509123452/http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/9/11604492/super-mario-new-content-minecraft-wii-u-nintendo |archive-date=9 May 2016 |access-date=9 May 2016 |website=The Verge}} and later bundled free with the Nintendo Switch Edition at launch. Another based on Fallout was released on consoles that December,{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Marsh |date=15 December 2016 |title=Fallout Mash-up Pack Incoming! |url=https://minecraft.net/en/article/fallout-mash-pack-incoming |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217135954/https://minecraft.net/en/article/fallout-mash-pack-incoming |archive-date=17 December 2016 |access-date=15 December 2016 |website=Minecraft}} and for Windows and Mobile in April 2017.{{Cite web |title=Fallout Mash-Up now on Pocket and Win 10 |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/fallout-mash-now-pocket-and-win-10}} In April 2018, malware was discovered in several downloadable user-made Minecraft skins for use with the Java Edition of the game. Avast stated that nearly 50,000 accounts were infected, and when activated, the malware would attempt to reformat the user's hard drive.{{Cite web |last=Fogel |first=Stefanie |date=18 April 2018 |title=Nearly 50,000 'Minecraft' Accounts Infected With Malware Thanks to Modified 'Skins' |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/minecraft-malware-1202757936/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210205116/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/minecraft-malware-1202757936/ |archive-date=10 December 2020 |access-date=3 April 2021 |website=Variety |publisher=Variety Media}}{{Cite magazine |last=Lilly |first=Paul |date=18 April 2018 |title=Beware of malicious Minecraft skins that attempt to erase your hard drive |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/beware-of-malicious-minecraft-skins-that-attempt-to-erase-your-hard-drive/ |url-status=live |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Future Publishing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403155908/https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/beware-of-malicious-minecraft-skins-that-attempt-to-erase-your-hard-drive/ |archive-date=3 April 2021}} Mojang promptly patched the issue, and released a statement stating that "the code would not be run or read by the game itself", and would run only when the image containing the skin itself was opened.{{Cite web |last=Fogel |first=Stefanie |date=19 April 2018 |title='Minecraft' Developer Issues Fix for Skins Virus |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/minecraft-virus-skins-fix-1202761270/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907125202/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/minecraft-virus-skins-fix-1202761270/ |archive-date=7 September 2018 |access-date=3 April 2021 |website=Variety |publisher=Variety Media}}

In June 2017, Mojang released an update known as the "Discovery Update" to the Bedrock version of the game.{{Cite web |last=Lazarides |first=Tasos |date=June 2017 |title='Minecraft PE' 1.1 Discovery Update Is Out, Adds Minecraft Marketplace, Skyrim Pack, Woodland Mansions, and More |url=http://toucharcade.com/2017/06/01/minecraft-pe-1-1-discovery-update-is-out-adds-minecraft-marketplace-skyrim-pack-woodland-mansions-and-more/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620220401/https://toucharcade.com/2017/06/01/minecraft-pe-1-1-discovery-update-is-out-adds-minecraft-marketplace-skyrim-pack-woodland-mansions-and-more/ |archive-date=20 June 2022 |access-date=16 July 2017 |website=TouchArcade}} The update includes a new map, a new game mode, the "Marketplace", a catalogue of user-generated content that gives Minecraft creators "another way to make a living from the game", and more.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Colin |date=10 April 2017 |title=Minecraft Marketplace offers a new place to buy maps and more |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/10/15224014/minecraft-marketplace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706075115/https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/10/15224014/minecraft-marketplace |archive-date=6 July 2022 |access-date=17 September 2017 |website=Polygon}}{{Cite web |date=10 April 2017 |title=It's time to discover... Marketplace! |url=https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/its-time-discover-marketplace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707015248/https://minecraft.net/en-us/article/its-time-discover-marketplace |archive-date=7 July 2022 |access-date=17 September 2017 |website=Minecraft.net}}{{Cite web |date=10 April 2017 |title=Minecraft: New marketplace for community creators |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39553631/minecraft-new-marketplace-for-community-creators |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112041306/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39553631/minecraft-new-marketplace-for-community-creators |archive-date=12 November 2020 |website=newsbeat |publisher=BBC}}

Development

File:GDC 2016 awards 16-20 42 56-01-7D2 0739 (cropped).jpg at the GDC in 2016]]

Before creating Minecraft, Markus "Notch" Persson was a game developer at King, where he worked until March 2009. At King, he primarily developed browser games and learned several programming languages. During his free time, he prototyped his own games, often drawing inspiration from other titles, and was an active participant on the TIGSource forums for independent developers.{{Cite magazine |last=Cheshire |first=Tom |date=15 September 2014 |title=Changing the game: how Notch made Minecraft a cult hit |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/changing-the-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102229/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/changing-the-game |archive-date=18 November 2018 |access-date=7 May 2020 |magazine=Wired}}

One such project was "RubyDung," a base-building game inspired by Dwarf Fortress, but with an isometric, three-dimensional perspective similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon.{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Alex |date=13 June 2018 |title=The history of Minecraft |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/the-history-of-minecraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809090837/https://www.techradar.com/news/the-history-of-minecraft |archive-date=9 August 2018 |access-date=17 January 2019 |website=TechRadar}} Among the features in RubyDung that he explored was a first-person view similar to Dungeon Keeper, though he ultimately discarded this idea, feeling the graphics were too pixelated at the time.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=30 October 2009 |title=The origins of Minecraft |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/227922045/the-origins-of-minecraft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212110808/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/1144331509/seecret-saturday-1-but-i-failed-biomes-again |archive-date=12 December 2018 |access-date=7 May 2020 |publisher=Tumblr}}{{Cite web |last=Handy |first=Alex |date=23 March 2010 |title=Interview: Markus 'Notch' Persson Talks Making Minecraft |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509113422/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |archive-date=9 May 2010 |access-date=26 June 2010 |publisher=Gamasutra}} Around March 2009, Persson left King and joined jAlbum, while continuing to work on his prototypes.{{Cite web |last=2 Player Productions |date=8 November 2013 |title=Minecraft: The Story of Mojang |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503013353/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014 |website=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Kristoff |date=5 March 2012 |title=Minecraft Mastermind Markus Persson to Receive Bafta Special Award |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127205331/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php |archive-date=27 November 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020 |website=Gamasutra}} Infiniminer, a block-based open-ended mining game first released in April 2009, inspired Persson's vision for RubyDung{{'}}s future direction. Infiniminer heavily influenced the visual style of gameplay, including bringing back the first-person mode, the "blocky" visual style and the block-building fundamentals. However, unlike Infiniminer, Persson wanted Minecraft to have RPG elements.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Marsh |date=10 November 2012 |title=Blockbuster – The Making of Minecraft |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/10/the-making-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215122902/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/10/the-making-of-minecraft/ |archive-date=15 December 2012 |access-date=20 December 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}}

File:Jeb at PAX Prime 2012 (cropped).jpg in 2011]]

The first public alpha build of Minecraft was released on 17 May 2009 on TIGSource.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=6 February 2012 |title=The First Moments of Minecraft |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/06/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227001022/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/06/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |archive-date=27 December 2012 |access-date=1 January 2013 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}}{{Cite web |title=Minecraft (alpha) |url=https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=6273.0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241109011242/https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=6273.0 |archive-date=9 November 2024 |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=forums.tigsource.com}} Over the years, Persson regularly released test builds that added new features, including tools, mobs, and entire new dimensions. In 2011, partly due to the game's rising popularity, Persson decided to release a full 1.0 version—later known as the "Adventure Update"—on 18 November 2011.{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Carlo |date=17 November 2012 |title=Minecraft Full Version Available; MineCon Live Streaming |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/251231/20111117/minecraft-version-available-minecon-live-streaming.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119224143/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/251231/20111117/minecraft-version-available-minecon-live-streaming.htm |archive-date=19 November 2011 |access-date=17 October 2012 |website=International Business Times}} Shortly after, Persson stepped down from development, handing the project's lead to Jens "Jeb" Bergensten.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=2 December 2011 |title=Och med dom orden så passar jag micken |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/13633493969/och-med-dom-orden-sa-passar-jag-micken |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227053605/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/13633493969/och-med-dom-orden-sa-passar-jag-micken |archive-date=27 December 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |website=The Word of Notch |publisher=Mojang |language=sv}}

On 15 September 2014, Microsoft, the developer behind the Windows operating system and Xbox video game console, announced a $2.5 billion acquisition of Mojang, which included the Minecraft intellectual property.{{Cite news |last1=Stuart |first1=Keith |last2=Hern |first2=Alex |date=15 September 2014 |title=Minecraft sold: Microsoft buys Mojang for $2.5bn |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/microsoft-buys-minecraft-creator-mojang-for-25bn |access-date=9 August 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929140935/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/15/microsoft-buys-minecraft-creator-mojang-for-25bn |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=15 September 2014 |title=Minecraft to join Microsoft |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/09/15/minecraft-join-microsoft/ |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=The Official Microsoft Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527233735/https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/09/15/minecraft-join-microsoft/ |url-status=live }} Persson had suggested the deal on Twitter, asking a corporation to buy his stake in the game after receiving criticism for enforcing terms in the game's end-user license agreement (EULA), which had been in place for the past three years.{{Cite news |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=24 June 2014 |title=Minecraft: how a change to the rules is tearing the community apart |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/24/minecraft-how-a-change-to-the-rules-is-tearing-the-community-apart |access-date=1 January 2021 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715224605/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/24/minecraft-how-a-change-to-the-rules-is-tearing-the-community-apart |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Bogart |first=Nicole |date=15 September 2014 |title=Updated: September 15, 2014 8:35 pm Microsoft acquires 'Minecraft' maker for $2.5 billion |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1563546/microsoft-acquires-minecraft-maker-for-2-5-billion/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082220/http://globalnews.ca/news/1563546/microsoft-acquires-minecraft-maker-for-2-5-billion/ |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=2 May 2015 |publisher=Shaw Media |agency=Global News}} According to Persson, Mojang CEO Carl Manneh received a call from a Microsoft executive shortly after the tweet, asking if Persson was serious about a deal. Mojang was also approached by other companies including Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts. The deal with Microsoft was arbitrated on 6 November 2014 and led to Persson becoming one of Forbes{{'}} "World's Billionaires".{{Cite web |last=Mac |first=Ryan |date=3 March 2015 |title=Inside The Post-Minecraft Life Of Billionaire Gamer God Markus Persson |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320155201/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/ |archive-date=20 March 2015 |access-date=25 March 2015 |website=Forbes}}{{Cite web |last=Peckham |first=Matt |date=15 September 2014 |title=Minecraft Is Now Part of Microsoft, and It Only Cost $2.5 Billion |url=https://time.com/3377886/microsoft-buys-mojang/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915180920/http://time.com/3377886/microsoft-buys-mojang/ |archive-date=15 September 2014 |access-date=15 September 2014 |magazine=Time}}{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Samit |date=6 November 2014 |title=Microsoft officially owns Minecraft and developer Mojang now |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/6/7167349/microsoft-owns-minecraft-mojang-acquisition-closes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130141926/http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/6/7167349/microsoft-owns-minecraft-mojang-acquisition-closes |archive-date=30 November 2014 |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media}}

For many years, Minecraft received annual major updates{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Danielle |date=2025-03-05 |title=Minecraft Live 2025 and how to watch |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/live-how-to-watch |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}—free to players who have purchased the game—{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=18 January 2011 |title=The web server is struggling, we're migrating |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/2812089385/the-web-server-is-struggling-were-migrating |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121031049/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/2812089385/the-web-server-is-struggling-were-migrating |archive-date=21 January 2011 |access-date=26 January 2011 |publisher=Mojang}}each primarily centered around a specific theme. For instance, version 1.13, the Update Aquatic, focused on ocean-related features,{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |last2= |first2= |date=2018-04-12 |title=Minecraft gets better down where it's wetter |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/minecraft-update-aquatic-dolphins |access-date=2025-03-08 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |language=en}} while version 1.16, the Nether Update, introduced significant changes to the Nether dimension.{{Cite web |last1=James |first1=Sarah |last2=Hurley |first2=Leon |last3=published |first3=Ford James |date=2022-07-04 |title=Everything added in the Minecraft Nether update |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-nether-update/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=GamesRadar |language=en}} However, in late 2024, Mojang announced a shift in their update strategy; rather than releasing large updates annually, they opted for a more frequent release schedule with smaller, incremental updates, stating, "We know that you want new Minecraft content more often."{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Ryan |date=2024-09-08 |title=The Future of Minecraft's Development |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-future-of-minecrafts-development |website=minecraft.net}} The Bedrock Edition has also received regular updates, now matching the themes of the Java Edition updates. Other versions of the game, such as various console editions and the Pocket Edition, were either merged into Bedrock or discontinued and have not received further updates.{{Cite news |last=Corden |first=Jez |date=2 August 2017 |title=Minecraft "Better Together" FAQ: Xbox and Windows questions answered |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-better-together-faq-xbox-and-windows-questions-answered |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901190136/https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-better-together-faq-xbox-and-windows-questions-answered |archive-date=1 September 2022 |access-date=5 November 2019 |work=Windows Central |language=en}}

On 7 May, 2019, coinsiding with Minecraft's 10th anniversary, a JavaScript recreation of an old 2009 Java Edition build named Minecraft Classic was made available to play online for free.{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=2019-05-07 |title=You can now play Minecraft Classic in your browser |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/7/18535625/minecraft-classic-anniversary-browser-game |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-09 |title=Play the original 'Minecraft' in your browser, for free |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/2019-05-09-minecraft-classic-browser.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Franey |first1=Leon Hurley Contributions from Joel |last2=Stella |first2=Marloes Valentina |last3=updated |first3=Will Sawyer last |date=2022-06-28 |title=How to play Minecraft for free at home, legally |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/how-to-play-minecraft-for-free/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}

On 16 April 2020, a Bedrock Edition-exclusive beta version of Minecraft, called Minecraft RTX, was released by Nvidia. It introduced physically-based rendering, real-time path tracing,{{Cite web |last=Leadbetter |first=Richard |date=22 August 2019 |title=Hands on with Minecraft RTX - the most astonishing ray tracing demo yet? |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2019-hands-on-with-minecraft-rtx-path-tracing |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}} and DLSS for RTX-enabled GPUs.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2020 |title=Minecraft ray tracing is now live on PC—and it's a must-play, if you can |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/04/the-minecraft-ray-tracing-guide-how-does-it-work-can-you-actually-play-it/ |access-date=19 April 2020 |publisher=Ars Technica |quote='Currently, that limits interested players to Nvidia's "RTX" line of GPUs, since AMD has not yet released its own compatible line. Strangely, a Mojang representative told Ars last week that this week's beta would function on non-RTX graphics cards, albeit at an abysmal frame rate.' |archive-date=2 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602123859/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/04/the-minecraft-ray-tracing-guide-how-does-it-work-can-you-actually-play-it/ |url-status=live}} The public release was made available on 8 December 2020.{{Cite web |last=Lilly |first=Paul |date=8 December 2020 |title=Minecraft with RTX launches out of beta with a built-in benchmark scene |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-with-rtx-launches-out-of-beta-with-a-built-in-benchmark-scene/ |access-date=8 December 2020 |publisher=PC Gamer |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225054419/https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-with-rtx-launches-out-of-beta-with-a-built-in-benchmark-scene/ |url-status=live }} Path tracing can only be enabled in supported worlds, which can be downloaded for free via the in-game Minecraft Marketplace, with a texture pack from Nvidia's website,{{Cite news |last=Hefford |first=Hayden |last2= |first2= |date=29 September 2021 |title=Minecraft: how to enable RTX ray tracing |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/minecraft-ray-tracing |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}} or with compatible third-party texture packs.{{Cite web |last=Lennox |first=Jesse |date=12 March 2024 |title=How to Enable Ray Tracing in Minecraft for Better Graphics |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-turn-on-ray-tracing-in-minecraft/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Digital Trends |language=en}} It cannot be enabled by default with any texture pack on any world.{{Cite web |last=Chiappetta |first=Marco |date=16 April 2020 |title=Minecraft With RTX May Be Ray Tracing's Killer App |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcochiappetta/2020/04/16/minecraft-with-rtx-may-be-ray-tracings-killer-app/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Initially, Minecraft RTX was affected by many bugs, display errors, and instability issues.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Matt |date=16 April 2020 |title=List of Minecraft RTX ray tracing known bugs and launch issues |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-rtx-ray-tracing-beta-bugs-issues |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zachary |first=Boddy |date=14 September 2020 |title=Minecraft with RTX gets 1.16.30.53 beta, fixes a few bugs and improves stability |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-rtx-gets-1163053-beta-fixes-few-bugs-and-improves-stability |access-date=24 August 2024 |website=Windows Central |language=en}}

On 22 March, 2025, a new visual mode called Vibrant Visuals, an optional graphical overhaul similar to Minecraft RTX, was announced. It promises modern rendering features—such as dynamic shadows, screen space reflections, volumetric fog, and bloom—without the need of RTX-capable hardware. The update is planned to be released in 2025 for Bedrock Edition first, coming to Java Edition at a later date.{{Cite web |last=Cardy |first=Simon |date=2025-03-22 |title=Minecraft's 'Vibrant Visuals' Upgrade the Start of a New 'Graphical Journey' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/minecrafts-vibrant-visuals-upgrade-the-start-of-a-new-graphical-journey |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Minecraft's Vibrant Visuals Update Is A Massive Step Forward For The 15-Year-Old Game |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecrafts-vibrant-visuals-update-is-a-massive-step-forward-for-the-14-year-old-game/1100-6530266/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=2025-03-24 |title=Minecraft is getting vibrant with its visuals |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/634690/minecraft-vibrant-visuals-update-minecraft-live |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

= Editions =

== ''Java Edition'' ==

{{Video game timeline

|title=Java Edition major update release timeline

|subtitle=Pre-release years in red

|range1=2009–2010

|range2=2011–2024

|range1_color=red

|range2_color=green

|2009a=Pre-Classic

|2009b=Classic

|2009c=Survival Test

|2009d=Indev

|2010b=Infdev

|2010c=Alpha

|2010d=Alpha v1.2.0 - v1.2.6: "Halloween Update"

|2010e=Beta

|2011a=Beta

|2011b=Release 1.0: "Adventure Update"

|2012a=1.1

|2012b=1.2

|2012c=1.3

|2012d=1.4: "Pretty Scary Update"

|2013a=1.5: "Redstone Update"

|2013b=1.6: "Horse Update"

|2013c=1.7: "The Update that Changed the World"

|2014=1.8: "Bountiful Update"

|2016a=1.9: "Combat Update"

|2016b=1.10: "Frostburn Update"

|2016c=1.11: "Exploration Update"

|2017=1.12: "World of Color Update"

|2018=1.13: "Update Aquatic"

|2019a=1.14: "Village & Pillage"

|2019b=1.15: "Buzzy Bees"

|2020=1.16: "Nether Update"

|2021a=1.17: "Caves & Cliffs: Part I"

|2021b=1.18: "Caves & Cliffs: Part II"

|2022=1.19: "The Wild Update"

|2023a=1.20: "Trails & Tales"

|2023b=1.20.3: "Bats and Pots"

|2024a=1.20.5: "Armored Paws"

|2024b=1.21: "Tricky Trials"

|2024c=1.21.2: "Bundles of Bravery"

|2024d=1.21.4: "The Garden Awakens"

|2025=1.21.5: "Spring to Life"

}}

Development began for the original edition of Minecraft—then known as Cave Game, and now known as the Java Edition—on 10,{{Cite web |title=About the game |url=http://www.minecraft.net/about.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615065538/http://www.minecraft.net/about.jsp |archive-date=15 June 2009 |access-date=5 January 2025 |website=Minecraft }} 11{{Cite web |date=25 May 2009 |title=#minecraft.20090525.log |url=https://ia803208.us.archive.org/12/items/Rotab-Minecraft-IRC-logs/%23minecraft.20090525.log |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Archive.org}} or 12 May 2009,{{Cite web |date=13 May 2009 |title=lwjgl IRC logs [May 13 - 2009] |url=https://echelog.com/logs/browse/lwjgl/1242165600 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208190915/https://echelog.com/logs/browse/lwjgl/1242165600 |archive-date=8 February 2014 |access-date=5 January 2025}} and ended on 13 May, when Persson released a test video on YouTube of an early version of the game, dubbed the "Cave game tech test " or the "Cave game tech demo".{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=30 October 2009 |title=The origins of Minecraft |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/227922045/the-origins-of-minecraft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212110808/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/1144331509/seecret-saturday-1-but-i-failed-biomes-again |archive-date=12 December 2018 |access-date=7 May 2020 |publisher=Tumblr}}{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=13 May 2009 |title=Cave game tech demo |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/107315028/cave-game-tech-demo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111034406/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/107315028/cave-game-tech-demo |archive-date=11 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Tumblr}} The game was named Minecraft: Order of the Stone the next day, after a suggestion made by a player.{{Cite web |date=2009-05-18 |title=Minecraft (alpha) |url=https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=6273.msg201261#msg201261 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=forums.tigsource.com}} "Order of the Stone" came from the webcomic The Order of the Stick, and "Minecraft" was chosen "because it's a good name".{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |author-link=Markus Persson |date=2009-05-14 |title=Minecraft: Order of the Stone |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/107676487/minecraft-order-of-the-stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314014848/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/107676487/minecraft-order-of-the-stone |archive-date=2012-03-14 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Tumblr}}

Persson completed the game's base programming over a weekend in May 2009, and private testing began on TigIRC on 16 May.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=16 May 2009 |title=Early private singleplayer alpha coming very soon |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/108652448/early-private-singleplayer-alpha-coming-very-soon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117122145/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/108652448/early-private-singleplayer-alpha-coming-very-soon |archive-date=17 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Tumblr}} The first public release followed on 17 May 2009 as a developmental version shared on the TIGSource forums.{{Cite web |title=Minecraft (alpha) |url=https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=6273.0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241109011242/https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=6273.0 |archive-date=9 November 2024 |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=forums.tigsource.com}} Based on feedback from forum users, Persson continued updating the game.{{Cite magazine |last=Cheshire |first=Tom |date=15 September 2014 |title=Changing the game: how Notch made Minecraft a cult hit |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/changing-the-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102229/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/changing-the-game |archive-date=18 November 2018 |access-date=7 May 2020 |magazine=Wired}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=6 February 2012 |title=The First Moments of Minecraft |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/06/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227001022/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/06/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |archive-date=27 December 2012 |access-date=1 January 2013 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}} This initial public build later became known as Classic.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=28 June 2010 |title=The server is back up! |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/746938105/the-server-is-back-up |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620024927/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/746938105/the-server-is-back-up |archive-date=20 June 2021 |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Tumblr}} Further developmental phases—dubbed Survival Test, Indev, and Infdev—were released throughout 2009 and 2010.{{Cite web |last=Handy |first=Alex |date=23 March 2010 |title=Interview: Markus 'Notch' Persson Talks Making Minecraft |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509113422/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |archive-date=9 May 2010 |access-date=26 June 2010 |publisher=Gamasutra}}

The first major update, known as Alpha, was released on 30 June 2010.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=30 June 2020 |title=I fixed a few bugs in /game/, and the game is now playable offline |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/754041531/i-fixed-a-few-bugs-in-game-and-the-game-is-now |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111092942/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/754041531/i-fixed-a-few-bugs-in-game-and-the-game-is-now |archive-date=11 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Tumblr}}{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=2 July 2010 |title=Seecret Friday update the third! OooooOOOoo! |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/763147353/seecret-friday-update-the-third-oooooooooo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113154059/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/763147353/seecret-friday-update-the-third-oooooooooo |archive-date=13 November 2020 |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=Tumblr}} At the time, Persson was still working a day job at jAlbum but later resigned to focus on Minecraft full-time as sales of the alpha version surged.{{Cite web |last=McDougal |first=Jaz |date=29 July 2010 |title=Community heroes: Notch, for Minecraft |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/community-heroes-notch-for-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012151922/http://www.pcgamer.com/community-heroes-notch-for-minecraft/ |archive-date=12 October 2014 |access-date=3 August 2010 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}} Updates were distributed automatically, introducing new blocks, items, mobs, and changes to game mechanics such as water flow. With revenue generated from the game, Persson founded Mojang, a video game studio,{{Cite magazine |last=Cheshire |first=Tom |date=6 June 2012 |title=Changing the game: how Notch made Minecraft a cult hit |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/07/features/changing-the-game?page=all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124095359/http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/07/features/changing-the-game?page=all |archive-date=24 November 2012 |access-date=18 October 2012 |magazine=Wired UK}} alongside former colleagues Jakob Porser and Carl Manneh.

On 11 December 2010, Persson announced that Minecraft would enter its beta phase on 20 December.{{Cite web |title=Minecraft Beta: December 20, 2010 |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/2175441966/minecraft-beta-december-20-2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206183106/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/2175441966/minecraft-beta-december-20-2010 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=The Word of Notch}} He assured players that bug fixes and all pre-release updates would remain free.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |author-link=Markus Persson |date=11 December 2010 |title=Minecraft Beta: December 20, 2010 |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/2175441966/minecraft-beta-december-20-2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214061702/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/2175441966/minecraft-beta-december-20-2010 |archive-date=14 December 2010 |access-date=21 December 2010 |publisher=Mojang}} As development progressed, Mojang expanded, hiring additional employees to work on the project.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |author-link=Markus Persson |date=3 January 2011 |title=2011, here we go! |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/2582321901/2011-here-we-go |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106050104/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/2582321901/2011-here-we-go |archive-date=6 January 2011 |access-date=3 January 2011 |publisher=Mojang}}

The game officially exited beta and launched in full on 18 November 2011.{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Carlo |date=17 November 2012 |title=Minecraft Full Version Available; MineCon Live Streaming |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/251231/20111117/minecraft-version-available-minecon-live-streaming.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119224143/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/251231/20111117/minecraft-version-available-minecon-live-streaming.htm |archive-date=19 November 2011 |access-date=17 October 2012 |website=International Business Times}} On 1 December 2011, Jens "Jeb" Bergensten took full creative control over Minecraft, replacing Persson as lead designer.{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=2 December 2011 |title=Och med dom orden så passar jag micken |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/13633493969/och-med-dom-orden-sa-passar-jag-micken |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227053605/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/13633493969/och-med-dom-orden-sa-passar-jag-micken |archive-date=27 December 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |website=The Word of Notch |publisher=Mojang |language=sv}} On 28 February 2012, Mojang announced the hiring of the developers behind Bukkit, a popular developer API for Minecraft servers,{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Marsh |date=24 November 2012 |title=The Future of Minecraft: what lies ahead for the all-conquering sandbox game? |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/11/the-future-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124024439/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/11/the-future-of-minecraft/ |archive-date=24 November 2012 |access-date=24 November 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=PC Gamer}} to improve Minecraft{{'s}} support of server modifications.{{Cite web |last=Bergensten |first=Jens |date=28 February 2012 |title=Minecraft Team Strengthened! |url=https://www.mojang.com/2012/02/minecraft-team-strengthened/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927162025/https://mojang.com/2012/02/minecraft-team-strengthened/ |archive-date=27 September 2013 |access-date=22 September 2013 |publisher=Mojang}} This move included Mojang taking apparent ownership of the CraftBukkit server mod,{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=21 August 2014 |title=Minecraft Bukkit team lead tries to end development, but Mojang steps in |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/08/21/minecraft-bukkit-team-lead-tries-to-end-development-but-mojang-steps-in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824103031/http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/08/21/minecraft-bukkit-team-lead-tries-to-end-development-but-mojang-steps-in/ |archive-date=24 August 2014 |access-date=18 March 2020 |magazine=PC Gamer}} though its legitimacy was questioned due to its open-source nature and licensing under the GNU General Public License and Lesser General Public License.{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Alex |date=5 September 2014 |title=Minecraft's CraftBukkit mod taken down by DMCA claim |url=http://games.on.net/2014/09/minecrafts-craftbukkit-mod-taken-down-by-dmca-claim/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123142709/http://games.on.net/2014/09/minecrafts-craftbukkit-mod-taken-down-by-dmca-claim/ |archive-date=23 November 2015 |access-date=29 May 2017 |work=games.on.net}}

== ''Pocket Edition'' ==

In August 2011, Minecraft: Pocket Edition was released as an early alpha for the Xperia Play via the Android Market, later expanding to other Android devices on 8 October 2011.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Mike |date=21 February 2011 |title=Official Minecraft iOS, Android Release Coming Later This Year |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33130/Official_Minecraft_iPhone_and_iPad_Release_Coming_Later_This_Year.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223004043/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33130/Official_Minecraft_iPhone_and_iPad_Release_Coming_Later_This_Year.php |archive-date=23 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011 |website=Gamasutra}}{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=21 February 2011 |title=Official Minecraft Coming to iPhone, iPad, Android |url=http://kotaku.com/#!5766336/official-minecraft-coming-to-iphone-ipad-android |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106085901/http://kotaku.com/ |archive-date=6 November 2010 |access-date=22 February 2011 |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media}} The iOS version followed on 17 November 2011.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Mark |date=16 November 2011 |title=Minecraft: Pocket Edition arrives on iPhone and iPad |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-11/16/minecraft-ios |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118083636/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-11/16/minecraft-ios |archive-date=18 November 2011 |access-date=18 November 2011 |magazine=Wired UK}} A port was made available for Windows Phones shortly after Microsoft acquired Mojang.{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=10 December 2014 |title=Minecraft Now Available for Windows Phones, See First Images Here |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-now-available-for-windows-phones-see-fir/1100-6424138/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228072451/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-now-available-for-windows-phones-see-fir/1100-6424138/ |archive-date=28 February 2015 |access-date=27 April 2015 |website=GameSpot}} Unlike Java Edition, Pocket Edition initially focused on Minecraft’s creative building and basic survival elements but lacked many features of the PC version.{{Cite web |last=Boyes |first=Emma |date=2011-08-16 |title=Minecraft Pocket Edition Now Available |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/16/minecraft-pocket-edition-now-available |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=IGN |language=en}} Bergensten confirmed on Twitter that the Pocket Edition was written in C++ rather than Java, as iOS does not support Java.{{Cite web |date=8 October 2011 |title=jeb_: PE is in C++ |url=https://twitter.com/jeb_/statuses/122618933604925440 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024133240/https://twitter.com/jeb_/statuses/122618933604925440 |archive-date=24 October 2013 |access-date=25 September 2012 |publisher=Twitter}}

On 10 December 2014, a port of Pocket Edition was released for Windows Phone 8.1.{{Cite web |last=Seppala |first=Timothy J. |date=11 December 2014 |title=Finally, you can now play 'Minecraft' on Windows Phone too |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/12/11/finally-you-can-now-play-minecraft-on-windows-phone-too/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211145205/http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/11/finally-you-can-now-play-minecraft-on-windows-phone-too/ |archive-date=11 December 2014 |access-date=11 December 2014 |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL}} In January 2017, Microsoft announced that it would no longer maintain the Windows Phone versions of Pocket Edition.{{Cite web |last=Bright |first=Peter |date=18 January 2017 |title=Microsoft-owned Minecraft no longer supported on Microsoft-owned Windows Phone/Mobile |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/01/microsoft-owned-minecraft-no-longer-supported-on-microsoft-owned-windows-phonemobile/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118231144/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/01/microsoft-owned-minecraft-no-longer-supported-on-microsoft-owned-windows-phonemobile/ |archive-date=18 January 2017 |access-date=19 January 2017 |website=Ars Technica}} Pocket Edition was rebranded as Bedrock Edition in 2017, enabling cross-platform play with the new Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions.{{Cite web |last=Thielenhaus |first=Kevin |date=13 June 2017 |title=The Better Together Update Is Coming To Minecraft – Here's Everything It Does |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-better-together-update-is-coming-to-minecraft-heres-everything-it-does/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618013301/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/walkthroughs/17777-Minecraft-Better-Together-Update-Everything-You-Need-To-Know |archive-date=18 June 2017 |access-date=8 March 2018 |website=Escapist Magazine}}

{{Anchor|Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition|14=PS4|23=Nintendo Switch|22=Nintendo Switch Edition|21=Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition|20=Wii U|19=Wii U Edition|18=Minecraft: Wii U Edition|17=PSV|16=Minecraft: PSV Edition|15=Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition|13=Minecraft: PS4 Edition|Xbox 360 Edition|12=Minecraft: PlayStaion 4 Edition|11=PS3|10=PS3 Edition|9=Minecraft: PS3 Edition|8=Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition|7=Xbox One|6=Xbox One Edition|5=Minecraft: Xbox One Edition|4=360|Xbox 360|24=Minecraft: Nintendo 3DS Edition|25=Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition}}

== ''Bedrock Edition'' and ''Console Editions'' ==

The console versions of Minecraft debuted with the Xbox 360 edition, developed by 4J Studios and released on 9 May 2012.{{Cite web |date=6 June 2011 |title=Minecraft will feature cross-functionality between the PC and Xbox 360 versions. |url=https://minecraftserver.net/news.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113180440/https://minecraftserver.net/news.php |archive-date=13 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |website=Microsoft New Center |publisher=Microsoft}}{{Cite web |last=Hryb |first=Larry |author-link=Larry Hryb |date=22 March 2012 |title=Xbox Live's Major Nelson |url=http://majornelson.com/2012/03/22/announcing-arcade-next/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119085736/http://majornelson.com/2012/03/22/announcing-arcade-next/ |archive-date=19 January 2013 |access-date=11 January 2013 |website=majornelson.com}} Announced as part of the Xbox Live Arcade NEXT promotion, this version introduced a redesigned crafting system, a new control interface, in-game tutorials, split-screen multiplayer, and online play via Xbox Live.{{Cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Adam |date=7 May 2012 |title=Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition review at Digital Trends |url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/minecraft-xbox-360-edition-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510035555/http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/minecraft-xbox-360-edition-review/ |archive-date=10 May 2012 |website=Digital Trends}} Unlike the PC version, its worlds were finite, bordered by invisible walls. Initially, the Xbox 360 version resembled earlier PC versions but received updates to bring it closer to Java Edition before its eventual discontinuation.{{Cite web |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=2 October 2012 |title=Minecraft Xbox 360 update 1.8.2 – 4J releases enormous final contents list |url=http://www.totalxbox.com/46307/minecraft-xbox-360-update-182-4j-releases-enormous-final-contents-list/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430023804/http://www.totalxbox.com/46307/minecraft-xbox-360-update-182-4j-releases-enormous-final-contents-list/ |archive-date=30 April 2014 |access-date=27 October 2012 |publisher=Future plc |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine}} The Xbox One version launched on 5 September 2014, featuring larger worlds and support for more players.{{Cite web |last=Sinha |first=Ravi |date=2014-09-03 |title=Minecraft: Xbox One Edition Releasing on September 5th |url=https://gamingbolt.com/minecraft-xbox-one-edition-releasing-on-september-5th |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=GamingBolt |language=en-US}} Minecraft expanded to PlayStation platforms with PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 editions released on 17 December 2013 and 4 September 2014, respectively.{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Jenna |date=3 September 2014 |title=Minecraft PS4 Edition Release Date Confirmed |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/04/minecraft-ps4-edition-release-date-confirmed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001124534/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/04/minecraft-ps4-edition-release-date-confirmed |archive-date=1 October 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014 |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc.}} Originally planned as a PS4 launch title, it was delayed before its eventual release.{{Cite web |date=20 August 2013 |title=Gamescom: Minecraft Coming to PS4, PS3, Vita – IGN |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/08/20/gamescom-minecraft-coming-to-ps4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121072700/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/08/20/gamescom-minecraft-coming-to-ps4 |archive-date=21 November 2014 |access-date=9 December 2013 |publisher=Uk.ign.com}}{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=12 November 2013 |title=Minecraft not launching with PS4 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-not-launching-with-playstation-4/1100-6416102/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114094958/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-not-launching-with-playstation-4/1100-6416102/ |archive-date=14 November 2013 |access-date=12 November 2013 |website=GameSpot}} A PlayStation Vita version followed in October 2014.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Evan |date=10 October 2014 |title=Minecraft: PS Vita Edition Release Date Revealed for North America |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/10/10/minecraft-ps-vita-edition-release-date-revealed-for-north-america |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106170435/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/10/10/minecraft-ps-vita-edition-release-date-revealed-for-north-america |archive-date=6 November 2015 |access-date=15 February 2015 |website=IGN}} Like the Xbox versions, the PlayStation editions were developed by 4J Studios.{{cite news |last1=Partis |first1=Danielle |date=27 October 2022 |title=4J Studios on its pivot into publishing |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/4j-studios-on-its-pivot-into-publishing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102151322/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/4j-studios-on-its-pivot-into-publishing |archive-date=2 November 2023 |access-date=8 October 2023 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}

Nintendo platforms received Minecraft: Wii U Edition on 17 December 2015, with a physical release in North America on 17 June 2016{{Cite web |last=Jenni |date=9 May 2016 |title=Super Mario Is Coming To The Minecraft: Wii U Edition This Month |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/05/09/super-mario-coming-minecraft-wii-u-edition-month/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514043603/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/05/09/super-mario-coming-minecraft-wii-u-edition-month/ |archive-date=14 May 2016 |access-date=13 May 2016 |website=Siliconera}} and in Europe on 30 June.{{Cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Thomas |date=June 2016 |title=Minecraft: Wii U Edition Gets Its European Retail Release On 30th June |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/06/minecraft_wii_u_edition_gets_its_european_retail_release_on_30th_june |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602123234/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/06/minecraft_wii_u_edition_gets_its_european_retail_release_on_30th_june |archive-date=2 June 2016 |access-date=2 June 2016 |website=Nintendo Life}} The Nintendo Switch version launched via the eShop on 11 May 2017.{{Cite web |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |date=12 April 2017 |title=Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Version Release Date Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/12/minecraft-nintendo-switch-version-release-date-announced |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413063117/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/12/minecraft-nintendo-switch-version-release-date-announced |archive-date=13 April 2017 |access-date=13 April 2017 |website=IGN}} During a Nintendo Direct presentation on 13 September 2017, Nintendo announced that Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition, based on the Pocket Edition,{{Cite web |last=Brian |date=2017-09-14 |title=Minecraft: New 3DS Edition details - local multiplayer to be added later, made by Other Ocean, more |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/minecraft-new-3ds-edition-details-local-multiplayer-to-be-added-later-made-by-other-ocean-more/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Nintendo Everything |language=en}} would be available for download immediately after the livestream, and a physical copy available on a later date. The game is compatible only with the New Nintendo 3DS or New Nintendo 2DS XL systems and does not work with the original 3DS or 2DS systems.{{Cite web |last=Pereira |first=Chris |date=13 September 2017 |title=New 3DS Version Of Minecraft Announced, Release Date Set For Today |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-3ds-version-of-minecraft-announced-release-dat/1100-6453329/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914034352/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-3ds-version-of-minecraft-announced-release-dat/1100-6453329/ |archive-date=14 September 2017 |access-date=13 September 2017 |website=GameSpot}}

On 20 September 2017, the Better Together Update introduced Bedrock Edition across Xbox One, Windows 10, VR, and mobile platforms, enabling cross-play between these versions.{{Cite web |last=Gilyadov |first=Alex |date=2017-09-20 |title=Minecraft's Better Together Update Is Here |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/20/minecrafts-better-together-update-is-here |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Corden |first1=Jez |last2=Brown |first2=Matt |date=2017-07-31 |title=Minecraft's 'Better Together' Xbox and Windows beta is rolling out, this is what you need to know |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/minecrafts-better-together-beta-xbox-windows |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Windows Central |language=en}} Bedrock Edition later expanded to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, with the latter receiving the update in December 2019, allowing cross-platform play for users with a free Xbox Live account.{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=9 December 2019 |title=Finally, PlayStation gets cross-platform Minecraft tomorrow |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-12-09-finally-playstation-gets-cross-platform-minecraft-tomorrow |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209170647/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-12-09-finally-playstation-gets-cross-platform-minecraft-tomorrow |archive-date=9 December 2019 |access-date=9 December 2019 |work=Eurogamer}} The newest console version to launch as part of Bedrock Edition is the PlayStation 5 version, which released on October 22, 2024.{{Cite news |last=Wales |first=Matt |date=9 September 2024 |title=Minecraft ditching single summer update for more regular releases, PS5 version incoming |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/minecraft-ditching-single-summer-update-for-more-regular-releases-ps5-version-incoming |access-date=9 September 2024 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}} On 18 December 2018, the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, and Wii U versions of Minecraft received their final update and would later become known as "Legacy Console Editions".{{Cite web |last=Santana |first=Steven |date=20 December 2018 |title=Minecraft No Longer Receiving Updates on Legacy Hardware |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/minecraft-legacy-hardware-shutdown/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516150020/https://www.dualshockers.com/minecraft-legacy-hardware-shutdown/ |archive-date=16 May 2020 |access-date=19 March 2020 |website=DualShockers |language=en}} On 15 January 2019, the New Nintendo 3DS version of Minecraft received its final update, effectively becoming discontinued as well.{{Cite web |last=Franzese |first=Tomas |date=15 January 2019 |title=Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition Receives its Final Update Only Two Years After Launch |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/minecraft-new-nintendo-3ds-edition-final-update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312185723/https://www.dualshockers.com/minecraft-new-nintendo-3ds-edition-final-update/ |archive-date=12 March 2023 |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=DualShockers |language=en}}

== Other versions ==

=== ''Minecraft Education'' ===

An educational version of Minecraft, designed for use in schools, launched on 1 November 2016.{{Cite web |last=September 2016 |first=Darren Allan 22 |date=22 September 2016 |title=Minecraft: Education Edition starts schooling students on November 1 |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/minecraft-education-edition-starts-schooling-students-on-november-1-1329192 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612115459/http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/minecraft-education-edition-starts-schooling-students-on-november-1-1329192 |archive-date=12 June 2023 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} It is available on Android, ChromeOS, iPadOS, iOS, MacOS, and Windows,{{Cite web |title=Minecraft: Education Edition Is Now Available On Chromebooks |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-education-edition-is-now-available-on-ch/1100-6480894/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203012425/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-education-edition-is-now-available-on-ch/1100-6480894/ |archive-date=3 February 2023 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=GameSpot}} It was built on the Bedrock Edition codebase, and beta testing ran from 9 June to 1 November 2016,{{Cite web |title=Beta Version of Minecraft: Education Edition Available for Download for Schools and Educators! Education World |url=https://www.educationworld.com/a_news/beta-version-minecraft-education-edition-available-download-schools-and-educators-822001136 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617054211/https://www.educationworld.com/a_news/beta-version-minecraft-education-edition-available-download-schools-and-educators-822001136 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=www.educationworld.com |language=en}} with the full release available on macOS and Windows 10 by November. On 20 August 2018, Mojang announced that it would bring Education Edition to iPadOS in Autumn 2018. It was released to the App Store on 6 September 2018.{{Cite web |date=8 August 2019 |title='Minecraft: Education Edition' arrives on iPad in September |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018-08-20-minecraft-education-edition-arrives-ipad-september.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205183733/https://www.engadget.com/2018-08-20-minecraft-education-edition-arrives-ipad-september.html |archive-date=5 December 2022 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=Engadget}} On 27 March 2019, it was announced that it would be operated by JD.com in China.{{Cite web |title=JD.com purchases rights to Minecraft: Education Edition in China |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-11-jd-com-purchases-rights-to-minecraft-education-edition-in-china |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531143435/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-11-jd-com-purchases-rights-to-minecraft-education-edition-in-china |archive-date=31 May 2022 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}} On 26 June 2020, a public beta for the Education Edition was made available to Google Play Store compatible Chromebooks. The full game was released to the Google Play Store for Chromebooks on 7 August 2020.

=== ''China Edition'' ===

On 20 May 2016, China Edition (also known as My World) was announced as a localized edition for China, where it was released under a licensing agreement between NetEase and Mojang.{{Cite web |last=Wilhelm |first=Parker |date=20 May 2016 |title=Minecraft is finally coming to China, but it's not the version you know |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/minecraft-is-finally-coming-to-china-but-it-s-not-the-version-you-know-1321862 |access-date=21 March 2019 |website=TechRadar |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610203106/https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/minecraft-is-finally-coming-to-china-but-it-s-not-the-version-you-know-1321862 |url-status=live }} The PC edition was released for public testing on 8 August 2017.{{Cite web |script-title=zh:欢迎回家！《我的世界》中国版PC Java版今日开测 |url=http://mc.163.com/news/2017/08/08/25510_704938.html |access-date=21 March 2019 |website=mc.163.com |language=zh |archive-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415013709/http://mc.163.com/news/2017/08/08/25510_704938.html |url-status=live }} The iOS version was released on 15 September 2017,{{Cite web |script-title=zh:《我的世界》手游今日App Store独家首发 |url=http://mc.163.com/news/2017/09/15/25510_712984.html |access-date=21 March 2019 |website=mc.163.com |language=zh |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610203404/http://mc.163.com/news/2017/09/15/25510_712984.html |url-status=live }} and the Android version was released on 12 October 2017.{{Cite web |script-title=zh:《我的世界》中国版全平台公测今日开启 |url=http://mc.163.com/news/2017/10/12/25510_717885.html |access-date=12 October 2017 |website=mc.163.com |language=zh |archive-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415013708/http://mc.163.com/news/2017/10/12/25510_717885.html |url-status=live }} The PC edition is based on the original Java Edition, while the iOS and Android mobile versions are based on the Bedrock Edition. The edition is free-to-play and had over 700 million registered accounts by September 2023.{{Cite web |date=28 September 2023 |title=共同探索无限未来，2023开发者大会圆满落幕！ |url=https://mc.163.com/m/news/20230928/29175_1112811.html |website=The official site of Minecraft: China Edition}}

{{Anchor|Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition|Windows 10 Edition|Windows 10|Minecraft 4K|}}

=== ''Minecraft for Windows'' ===

This version of Bedrock Edition is exclusive to Microsoft's Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. The beta release for Windows 10 launched on the Windows Store on 29 July 2015.{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen S. |date=4 July 2015 |title=Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition announced; beta begins July 29 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/4/8892897/minecraft-windows-10-edition-beta-july-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708133352/http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/4/8892897/minecraft-windows-10-edition-beta-july-29 |archive-date=8 July 2015 |access-date=10 July 2015 |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media}} After nearly a year and a half in beta, Microsoft fully released the version on 19 December 2016. Called the "Ender Update", this release implemented new features to this version of Minecraft like world templates and add-on packs.{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Kit |date=20 December 2016 |title=Minecraft 1.0 release for Windows 10 and Pocket Editions brings Add-On Packages and World Templates |url=https://www.onmsft.com/news/minecraft-1-0-release-for-windows-10-and-pocket-editions-brings-add-on-packages-and-world-templates |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420200634/https://www.onmsft.com/news/minecraft-1-0-release-for-windows-10-and-pocket-editions-brings-add-on-packages-and-world-templates |archive-date=20 April 2021 |access-date=25 December 2021 |website=OnMSFT.com }} On 7 June 2022, the Java and Bedrock Editions of Minecraft were merged into a single bundle for purchase on Windows; those who owned one version would automatically gain access to the other version. Both game versions would otherwise remain separate.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/java-and-bedrock-edition |title=Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions are no more… separately |first=Chris |last=Capel |date=5 June 2022 |access-date=5 June 2022 |work=PCGamesN |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605135728/https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/java-and-bedrock-edition |url-status=live }}

= Variants =

{{Main|Minecraft (franchise)|l1=Minecraft (franchise)}}Around 2011, prior to Minecraft's full release, Mojang collaborated with The Lego Group to create a Lego brick-based Minecraft game called Brickcraft. This would have modified the base Minecraft game to use Lego bricks, which meant adapting the basic 1×1 block to account for larger pieces typically used in Lego sets. Persson worked on an early version called "Project Rex Kwon Do," named after a Napoleon Dynamite joke. Although Lego approved the project and Mojang assigned two developers for six months, it was canceled due to the Lego Group's demands, according to Mojang's Daniel Kaplan. Lego considered buying Mojang to complete the game, but when Microsoft offered over $2 billion for the company, Lego stepped back, unsure of Minecraft{{'s}} potential.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-lego-minecraft-videogame-brickcraft-that-was-greenlit-and-why-it-never-happened/ |title=A Lego Minecraft game called 'Brickcraft' was prototyped and greenlit – here's why it never happened |first=Rich |last=Stanton |date=9 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |work=PC Gamer |archive-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209155302/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-lego-minecraft-videogame-brickcraft-that-was-greenlit-and-why-it-never-happened/ |url-status=live }}

== Virtual reality ==

Initially, Persson planned to support the Oculus Rift with a Minecraft port. However, after Facebook acquired Oculus in 2013, he abruptly canceled the plans, stating, "Facebook creeps me out."{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title='Minecraft' creator cancels Oculus Rift version following Facebook acquisition |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/25/5547626/minecraft-oculus-vr-cancelled |website=The Verge |access-date=14 September 2017 |date=25 March 2014 |archive-date=10 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510054553/https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/25/5547626/minecraft-oculus-vr-cancelled |url-status=live }} In 2016, a community-made mod, Minecraft VR, added VR support for Java Edition, followed by Vivecraft for HTC Vive.{{cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=15 August 2016 |title=Minecraft VR mod shuts down as Microsoft adds official Rift support |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/08/minecraft-vr-mod-shuts-down-as-microsoft-adds-official-rift-support/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816002328/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/08/minecraft-vr-mod-shuts-down-as-microsoft-adds-official-rift-support/ |archive-date=16 August 2016 |access-date=16 August 2016 |website=Ars Technica}} Later that year, Microsoft introduced official Oculus Rift support for Windows 10 Edition,{{Cite web |last=Minotti |first=Mike |date=2016-08-15 |title=Minecraft now works with the Oculus Rift |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/minecraft-now-works-with-the-oculus-rift/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} leading to the discontinuation of the Minecraft VR mod due to trademark complaints. Vivecraft was endorsed by Minecraft VR contributors for its Rift support. Also available is a Gear VR version, titled Minecraft: Gear VR Edition.{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/04/27/minecraft-gear-vr-edition/ |title='Minecraft' arrives on Samsung's Gear VR headset |date=19 July 2019 |publisher=Engadget |access-date=6 October 2017 |archive-date=7 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007021352/https://www.engadget.com/2016/04/27/minecraft-gear-vr-edition/ |url-status=live }} Windows Mixed Reality support was added in 2017. On September 7, 2020, Mojang Studios announced that the PlayStation 4 version would receive PlayStation VR support later that month.{{cite web |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2020/09/07/minecraft-adds-ps-vr-support-this-month/ |title=Minecraft adds PS VR support this month |date=7 September 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020 |publisher=PlayStation |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928093258/https://blog.playstation.com/2020/09/07/minecraft-adds-ps-vr-support-this-month/ |url-status=live }} In September 2024, the Minecraft team announced they would no longer support PlayStation VR, which will receive its final update by March 2025.{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Ryan |date=2024-09-19 |title=Minecraft Dropping PlayStation VR Support Next Year |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/minecraft-dropping-playstation-vr-support-next-year# |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=IGN |language=en}}

Music and sound design

File:Daniel_Rosenfeld.jpg in 2011|thumb]]

Minecraft{{'s}} music and sound effects were produced by German musician Daniel Rosenfeld, better known as C418.{{cite web |url=https://minecraft.net/game/credits |title=Minecraft.net Credits |website=Mojang |access-date=1 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226231247/http://minecraft.net/game/credits |archive-date=26 December 2012}} To create the sound effects for the game, Rosenfeld made extensive use of foley techniques. On learning the processes for the game, he remarked, "Foley’s an interesting thing, and I had to learn its subtleties. Early on, I wasn’t that knowledgeable about it. It’s a whole trial-and-error process. You just make a sound and eventually you go, 'Oh my God, that’s it! Get the microphone!' There’s no set way of doing anything at all."{{Cite magazine |date=5 September 2015 |title=Can You Dig It: FACT meets Minecraft composer C418 |url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/09/05/minecraft-c418-interview/ |access-date=21 March 2018 |magazine=Fact |archive-date=30 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630161810/http://www.factmag.com/2015/09/05/minecraft-c418-interview/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Todd L |date=21 August 2015 |title=Interview: Minecraft's Soundtrack Composer C418 |url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/08/c418-interview |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=Red Bull Music Academy |language=en |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402013327/https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/08/c418-interview/ |url-status=live }} He reminisced on creating the in-game sound for grass blocks, stating "It turns out that to make grass sounds you don’t actually walk on grass and record it, because grass sounds like nothing. What you want to do is get a VHS, break it apart, and just lightly touch the tape." According to Rosenfeld, his favorite sound to design for the game was the hisses of spiders. He elaborates, "I like the spiders. Recording that was a whole day of me researching what a spider sounds like. Turns out, there are spiders that make little screeching sounds, so I think I got this recording of a fire hose, put it in a sampler, and just pitched it around until it sounded like a weird spider was talking to you."

Many sounds for the game were created accidentally or spontaneously. On the creation for the sound for the creeper, Rosenfeld recalled, "That was just a complete accident by Markus and me {{sic}}. We just put in a placeholder sound of burning a matchstick. It seemed to work hilariously well, so we kept it."{{Cite web |last=Keith |first=Stuart |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/07/how-daniel-rosenfeld-wrote-minecraft-music |title=How Daniel Rosenfeld wrote Minecraft's music |date=7 November 2014 |website=The Guardian |access-date=28 February 2024 |archive-date=6 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106014049/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/07/how-daniel-rosenfeld-wrote-minecraft-music |url-status=live }} On other sounds, such as those of the zombie, Rosenfeld remarked, "I actually never wanted the zombies so scary. I intentionally made them sound comical. It’s nice to hear that they work so well [...]." Rosenfeld remarked that the sound engine was "terrible" to work with, remembering "If you had two song files at once, it [the game engine] would actually crash. There were so many more weird glitches like that the guys never really fixed because they were too busy with the actual game and not the sound engine."

The background music in Minecraft is instrumental ambient music.{{Cite web |date=29 June 2015 |title=Minecraft's Composer Explains Why the Music Is 'So Weird' |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d73q5a/minecrafts-composer-explains-why-the-music-is-so-weird |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=Vice |language=en |archive-date=16 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416160218/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d73q5a/minecrafts-composer-explains-why-the-music-is-so-weird |url-status=live }} To compose the music of Minecraft, Rosenfeld used the package from Ableton Live, along with several additional plug-ins. Speaking on them, Rosenfeld said "They can be pretty much everything from an effect to an entire orchestra. Additionally, I’ve got some synthesizers that are attached to the computer. Like a Moog Voyager, Dave Smith Prophet 08 and a Virus TI." On 4 March 2011, Rosenfeld released a soundtrack titled Minecraft – Volume Alpha; it includes most of the tracks featured in Minecraft, as well as other music not featured in the game.{{cite web |url=http://c418.bandcamp.com/album/minecraft-volume-alpha |title=Minecraft Volume Alpha on Bandcamp |date=4 March 2011 |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919182020/http://c418.bandcamp.com/album/minecraft-volume-alpha |archive-date=19 September 2012}} Kirk Hamilton of Kotaku chose the music in Minecraft as one of the best video game soundtracks of 2011.{{cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Kirk |title=All of the Best Video Game Music of 2011 |url=http://kotaku.com/gamemusic2011 |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |access-date=14 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120215837/http://kotaku.com/gamemusic2011 |archive-date=20 November 2012}} On 9 November 2013, Rosenfeld released the second official soundtrack, titled Minecraft – Volume Beta, which includes the music that was added in later versions of the game.{{cite web |url=http://c418.bandcamp.com/album/minecraft-volume-beta |title=Minecraft Volume Beta on Bandcamp |date=9 November 2013 |access-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109190435/http://c418.bandcamp.com/album/minecraft-volume-beta |archive-date=9 November 2013}} A physical release of Volume Alpha, consisting of CDs, black vinyl, and limited-edition transparent green vinyl LPs, was issued by indie electronic label Ghostly International on 21 August 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/06/23/a-minecraft-soundtrack-coming-this-summer-on-vinyl/ |title=Minecraft soundtrack to receive vinyl release this summer |website=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702034538/http://www.factmag.com/2015/06/23/a-minecraft-soundtrack-coming-this-summer-on-vinyl/ |archive-date=2 July 2015 |date=23 June 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://ghostly.com/releases/minecraft-volume-alpha |title=C418 presents Minecraft Volume Alpha |website=Ghostly International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629204833/http://ghostly.com/releases/minecraft-volume-alpha |archive-date=29 June 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 November 2015}} On 14 August 2020, Ghostly released Volume Beta on CD and vinyl, with alternate color LPs and lenticular cover pressings released in limited quantities.{{Citation |title=C418 – Minecraft Volume Beta |date=14 August 2020 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15791461-C418-Minecraft-Volume-Beta |language=en |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923114746/https://www.discogs.com/release/15791461-C418-Minecraft-Volume-Beta |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Ghostly |date=18 June 2020 |title=Announcing the first-ever pressing of C418's Minecraft Volume Beta... |url=https://twitter.com/ghostly/status/1273261013782138880 |access-date=23 September 2022 |website=Twitter |language=en |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721081941/https://twitter.com/ghostly/status/1273261013782138880 |url-status=live }}

The last update Rosenfeld worked on was Update Aquatic. His music remained the only music in the game until 2020's "The Nether Update", introducing pieces from Lena Raine. Since then, other composers have made contributions, including Kumi Tanioka, Samuel Åberg, and Aaron Cherof, with Raine remaining as the new primary composer. Ownership of all music besides Rosenfeld's independently released albums has been retained by Microsoft, with their label publishing all of the other artists' releases. Gareth Coker also composed some of the music for the game's mini games from the Legacy Console editions.{{cite web |last1=Wiborgh |first1=Thomas |title=The Sound of Scary |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-sound-scary |website=Minecraft.net |date=9 April 2020 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004191505/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-sound-scary |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecrafts-nether-update-will-have-music-from-cele/1100-6475797/ |title=Minecraft's Nether Update Will Have Music From Celeste Composer |last=Wakeling |first=Richard |date=8 April 2020 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US |access-date=8 April 2020 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408232854/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecrafts-nether-update-will-have-music-from-cele/1100-6475797/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Landin |first=Per |date=17 June 2020 |title=The Nether Update has a date! |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-nether-update-has-date- |access-date=17 June 2020 |website=Minecraft.net |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617180330/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-nether-update-has-date- |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Leston |first1=Ryan |title='Minecraft' just added some new music |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/minecraft-just-added-some-new-music-3075321 |website=NME |access-date=28 March 2022 |date=20 October 2021 |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020201018/https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/minecraft-just-added-some-new-music-3075321 |url-status=live }}

Rosenfeld had stated his intent to create a third album of music for the game in a 2015 interview with Fact, and confirmed its existence in a 2017 tweet, stating that his work on the record as of then had tallied up to be longer than the previous two albums combined, which in total clocks in at over 3 hours and 18 minutes.{{Cite tweet|number=829667788897783809|user=C418|title=I'm still far from done, but I tallied up a few numbers, and the third Minecraft soundtrack is gonna be longer than Alpha and Beta combined.|author=Daniel Rosenfeld|date=9 February 2017|access-date=21 March 2018}} However, due to licensing issues with Microsoft, the third volume has since not seen release. On 8 January 2021, Rosenfeld was asked in an interview with Anthony Fantano whether or not there was still a third volume of his music intended for release. Rosenfeld responded, saying, "I have something—I consider it finished—but things have become complicated, especially as Minecraft is now a big property, so I don't know."{{Cite interview |last=Rosenfeld |first=Daniel |interviewer=Anthony Fantano |title=10 Years of the Minecraft Soundtrack {{pipe}} C418 INTERVIEW |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mn47MqhbFY |work=The Needle Drop |date=8 January 2021 |author-link=C418 |via=YouTube |time=31:40 |access-date=21 February 2024 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421231151/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mn47MqhbFY |url-status=live }}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (PC) 93/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft |type=game |vgtype=pc |title=Minecraft |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419114328/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/minecraft/critic-reviews |archive-date=19 April 2012}}
(PS4) 89/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-playstation-4-edition |type=game |vgtype=playstation-4 |title=Minecraft: Playstation 4 Edition |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321044636/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/minecraft-playstation-4-edition |archive-date=21 March 2015}}
(XONE) 88/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-xbox-one-edition |type=game |vgtype=xbox-one |title=Minecraft: Xbox One Edition |access-date=14 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504140422/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/minecraft-xbox-one-edition |archive-date=4 May 2015}}
(PS3) 86/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-playstation-3-edition |type=game |vgtype=playstation-3 |title=Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131080310/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/minecraft-playstation-3-edition |archive-date=31 January 2014}}
(NS) 86/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft |type=game |vgtype=switch |title=Minecraft (Switch) |access-date=15 February 2021}}
(VITA) 84/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-playstation-vita-edition |type=game |vgtype=playstation-vita |title=Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508194752/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-vita/minecraft-playstation-vita-edition |archive-date=8 May 2015}}
(X360) 82/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-xbox-360-edition |type=game |vgtype=xbox-360 |title=Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429092920/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/minecraft-xbox-360-edition |archive-date=29 April 2012}}
(WIIU) 77/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-wii-u-edition |type=game |vgtype=wii-u |title=Minecraft: Wii U Edition |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709015435/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii-u/minecraft-wii-u-edition |archive-date=9 July 2016}}
(3DS) 62/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-new-nintendo-3ds-edition |type=game |vgtype=3ds |title=Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition |access-date=15 February 2021}}
(iOS) 53/100{{cite Metacritic |id=minecraft-pocket-edition |type=game |vgtype=ios |title=Minecraft: Pocket Edition |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612064826/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/minecraft-pocket-edition |archive-date=12 June 2013}}

| 1UP = (PC) A+{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/minecraft-pc |title=Minecraft PC Reviews |website=1UP.com |access-date=18 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118232644/http://www.1up.com/reviews/minecraft-pc |archive-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}

| Edge = (PC) 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/minecraft-review/ |title=Minecraft review |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404021304/http://www.edge-online.com/review/minecraft-review/ |archive-date=4 April 2013}}

| EuroG = (PC) 10/10{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-18-minecraft-review |title=Minecraft Review • Reviews • |publisher=Eurogamer Network |website=Eurogamer |date=18 November 2011 |access-date=18 December 2011 |last=Meer |first=Alec |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218211020/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-18-minecraft-review |archive-date=18 December 2011}}
(X360) 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-09-minecraft-xbox-360-edition-review |title=Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Review |publisher=Eurogamer Network |website=Eurogamer |date=18 November 2011 |access-date=18 December 2011 |last=Meer |first=Alec |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512033504/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-09-minecraft-xbox-360-edition-review |archive-date=12 May 2012}}

| GI = (PC) 9.25/10{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/minecraft_xbox_360_edition/b/pc/archive/2011/11/22/review.aspx |title=More Toy Than Game, But That's Okay − Minecraft − PC |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |first=Adam |last=Biessener |date=22 November 2011 |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807043745/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/minecraft_xbox_360_edition/b/pc/archive/2011/11/22/review.aspx |archive-date=7 August 2012}}
(X360) 8.75/10{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/minecraft_xbox_360_edition/b/xbox360/archive/2012/05/09/minecraft-xbox-360-edition-review.aspx |title=Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition |publisher=GameStop |magazine=Game Informer |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=2 January 2013 |last=Cork |first=Jeff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111052356/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/minecraft_xbox_360_edition/b/xbox360/archive/2012/05/09/minecraft-xbox-360-edition-review.aspx |archive-date=11 January 2013}}

| GSpot = (PC) 8.5/10
(X360) 7.0/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/minecraft-xbox-360-edition/ |title=Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=10 May 2009 |last=Meunier |first=Nathan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052841/http://www.gamespot.com/minecraft-xbox-360-edition/ |archive-date=15 December 2013 |access-date=18 December 2011}}

| GSpy = (PC) 5/5{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/minecraft/1213179p1.html |title=GameSpy: Minecraft Review — Page 1 |website=GameSpy |publisher=Glu Mobile |access-date=18 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601021713/http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/minecraft/1213179p1.html |archive-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}

| IGN = (PC) 9.0/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/24/minecraft-review |title=Minecraft Review |website=IGN |date=24 November 2011 |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710014717/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/24/minecraft-review |url-status=live }}
(iOS) 7.5/10
(X360) 8.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/09/minecraft-xbox-360-review |title=Minecraft (Xbox 360 Edition) |website=IGN |access-date=18 December 2011 |first=Anthony |last=Gallegos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511194605/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/09/minecraft-xbox-360-review |archive-date=11 May 2012}}
(PS3) 9.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/24/minecraft-review-2 |title=Minecraft PlayStation 3 Review – IGN |website=IGN |access-date=30 January 2014 |first=Brian |last=Albert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130074516/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/24/minecraft-review-2 |archive-date=30 January 2014 |date=24 January 2014}}
(PS4) 9.7/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/06/minecraft-ps4-and-xbox-one-review |title=Minecraft PS4 And Xbox One Review – IGN |website=IGN |date=5 September 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014 |first=Brian |last=Albert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922054507/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/06/minecraft-ps4-and-xbox-one-review |archive-date=22 September 2014}}
(XONE) 9.7/10
(VITA) 9.5/10
(NS) 9.5/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/07/minecraft-switch-edition-review |title=Minecraft Switch Edition Review |website=IGN |date=7 June 2017 |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309062512/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/07/minecraft-switch-edition-review |url-status=live }}

| PCGUS = (PC) 96/100{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-review/ |title=Minecraft review |first=Jaz |last=McDougall |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Future US |date=24 December 2011 |access-date=19 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424114602/http://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-review/ |archive-date=24 April 2015}}

| rev1 = TouchArcade

| rev1Score = (iOS) 3.5/5{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2011/11/18/minecraft-pocket-edition-review/ |title='Minecraft – Pocket Edition' Review – Bigger May Be Better |last=Khaw |first=Cassandra |date=18 November 2011 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212133204/https://toucharcade.com/2011/11/18/minecraft-pocket-edition-review/ |url-status=live }}
(Version 0.12) 5/5{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2015/10/01/minecraft-pocket-edition-version-0-12-review |title='Minecraft – Pocket Edition Version 0.12' Review – You've Come A Long Way, Stevie |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=1 October 2015 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=20 September 2018 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920235009/https://toucharcade.com/2015/10/01/minecraft-pocket-edition-version-0-12-review |url-status=live }}

| NLife = (WII U) 7.5/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/wiiu-eshop/minecraft_wii_u_edition/reviews |title=Minecraft: Wii U Edition |website=Nintendo Life |date=5 February 2016 |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922080238/https://www.nintendolife.com/games/wiiu-eshop/minecraft_wii_u_edition/reviews |url-status=live }}
(3DS) 6.6/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/new-3ds/minecraft_new_nintendo_3ds_edition/reviews |title=Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition |website=Nintendo Life |date=30 August 2018 |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203035313/https://www.nintendolife.com/games/new-3ds/minecraft_new_nintendo_3ds_edition/reviews |url-status=live }}
(NS) 8.2/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/minecraft |title=Minecraft (Switch) |website=Nintendo Life |language=en |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315042653/https://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/minecraft |url-status=live }}

}}

= Critics =

Minecraft has received critical acclaim, with praise for the creative freedom it grants players in-game, as well as the ease of enabling emergent gameplay.{{cite magazine |first=Jim |last=Rossignol |author-link=Jim Rossignol |title=Building-block World |magazine=PC Gamer UK |issue=204}}{{cite journal |first=Daniel |last=Hindes |title=Trouble Down Mine |journal=PC PowerPlay |issue=169}}{{cite web |url=http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4130&p=1 |title=Is that an Equalizer in your pocket? |last=Reinhart |first=Brandon |publisher=Valve |date=28 July 2010 |access-date=28 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705053419/http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4130&p=1 |archive-date=5 July 2011}} Critics have expressed enjoyment in Minecraft{{'s}} complex crafting system, commenting that it is an important aspect of the game's open-ended gameplay.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/minecraft-review/1900-6346734/ |title=Minecraft Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=10 May 2009 |access-date=18 December 2011 |last=Meunier |first=Nathan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015220630/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/minecraft-review/1900-6346734/ |archive-date=15 October 2013}} Most publications were impressed by the game's "blocky" graphics, with IGN describing them as "instantly memorable". Reviewers also liked the game's adventure elements, noting that the game creates a good balance between exploring and building. The game's multiplayer feature has been generally received favorably, with IGN commenting that "adventuring is always better with friends". Jaz McDougall of PC Gamer said Minecraft is "intuitively interesting and contagiously fun, with an unparalleled scope for creativity and memorable experiences". It has been regarded as having introduced millions of children to the digital world, insofar as its basic game mechanics are logically analogous to computer commands.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/magazine/the-minecraft-generation.html?_r=0 |title=The Minecraft Generation How a clunky Swedish computer game is teaching millions of children to master the digital world. |date=14 April 2016 |access-date=14 April 2016 |author=Thompson, Clive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422050838/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/magazine/the-minecraft-generation.html?_r=0 |archive-date=22 April 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times}}

IGN was disappointed about the troublesome steps needed to set up multiplayer servers, calling it a "hassle". Critics also said that visual glitches occur periodically. Despite its release out of beta in 2011, GameSpot said the game had an "unfinished feel", adding that some game elements seem "incomplete or thrown together in haste".

A review of the alpha version, by Scott Munro of the Daily Record, called it "already something special" and urged readers to buy it.{{cite web |last=Munro |first=Scott |title=Minecraft (Alpha Review) |url=http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/gaming/2010/07/minecraft-alpha-review.html |newspaper=Daily Record |publisher=Trinity Mirror |access-date=3 August 2010 |date=27 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206150152/http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/gaming/2010/07/minecraft-alpha-review.html |archive-date=6 December 2010 |url-status=dead}} Jim Rossignol of Rock Paper Shotgun also recommended the alpha of the game, calling it "a kind of generative 8-bit Lego Stalker".{{cite news |last=Rossignol |first=Jim |title=Chockablock: Minecraft Revisited |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/10/chockablock-minecraft-revisited/ |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=3 September 2010 |author-link=Jim Rossignol |date=10 August 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914100037/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/10/chockablock-minecraft-revisited/ |archive-date=14 September 2010}} On 17 September 2010, gaming webcomic Penny Arcade began a series of comics and news posts about the addictiveness of the game.{{cite web |last=Holkins |first=Jerry |title=Mine All Mine, Part One |url=http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/9/17/ |access-date=17 September 2010 |author-link=Jerry Holkins |publisher=Penny Arcade |date=17 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918055932/http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/9/17/ |archive-date=18 September 2010}} The Xbox 360 version was generally received positively by critics, but did not receive as much praise as the PC version. Although reviewers were disappointed by the lack of features such as mod support and content from the PC version, they acclaimed the port's addition of a tutorial and in-game tips and crafting recipes, saying that they make the game more user-friendly. The Xbox One Edition was one of the best received ports, being praised for its relatively large worlds.{{cite web |last1=Albert |first1=Brian |title=Minecraft PS4 and Xbox One Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/06/minecraft-ps4-and-xbox-one-review |website=Imagine Games Network |date=6 September 2014 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922054507/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/06/minecraft-ps4-and-xbox-one-review |url-status=live }}

The PlayStation 3 Edition also received generally favorable reviews, being compared to the Xbox 360 Edition and praised for its well-adapted controls.{{cite web |last1=Woolsey |first1=Cameron |title=Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/minecraft-playstation-3-edition-review/1900-6415767/ |website=Game Spot |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721155812/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/minecraft-playstation-3-edition-review/1900-6415767/ |url-status=live }} The PlayStation 4 edition was the best received port to date, being praised for having 36 times larger worlds than the PlayStation 3 edition and described as nearly identical to the Xbox One edition.{{cite web |last1=Nunes |first1=Timothy |title=Minecraft PS4 Review: A creator's and Creeper's playground |url=https://www.psu.com/reviews/minecraft-ps4-review-a-creators-and-creepers-playground/ |website=Play Station Universe |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628223646/https://www.psu.com/reviews/minecraft-ps4-review-a-creators-and-creepers-playground/ |url-status=live }} The PlayStation Vita Edition received generally positive reviews from critics but was noted for its technical limitations.{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Sammy |title=Minecraft: PS Vita Edition Review |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psvita/minecraft_ps_vita_edition |website=Push Square |date=24 October 2014 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521115916/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psvita/minecraft_ps_vita_edition |url-status=live }}

The Wii U version received generally positive reviews from critics but was noted for a lack of GamePad integration.{{cite web |last1=Minuz |first1=Allesandra |title=Minecraft – Review |url=https://it.ign.com/minecraft/105970/review/minecraft-wii-u-edition-la-recensione |website=Imagine Games Network Italy |date=24 December 2015 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618132135/https://it.ign.com/minecraft/105970/review/minecraft-wii-u-edition-la-recensione |url-status=live }} The 3DS version received mixed reviews, being criticized for its high price, technical issues, and lack of cross-platform play.{{cite web |last1=Sean |first1=Anthony |title=Minecraft on the go, again!, Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition Review |url=https://gamingtrend.com/feature/reviews/minecraft-on-the-go-again-minecraft-new-nintendo-3ds-edition-review/ |website=Gaming Trend |date=21 September 2017 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630200259/https://gamingtrend.com/feature/reviews/minecraft-on-the-go-again-minecraft-new-nintendo-3ds-edition-review/ |url-status=live }} The Nintendo Switch Edition received fairly positive reviews from critics, being praised, like other modern ports, for its relatively larger worlds.{{cite web |last1=Brandt |first1=Oliver |title=Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition (eShop) Review |url=https://www.vooks.net/minecraft-nintendo-switch-edition-review/ |website=Vooks |date=30 May 2017 |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704050916/https://www.vooks.net/minecraft-nintendo-switch-edition-review/ |url-status=live }}

Minecraft: Pocket Edition initially received mixed reviews from critics. Although reviewers appreciated the game's intuitive controls, they were disappointed by the lack of content. The inability to collect resources and craft items, as well as the limited types of blocks and lack of hostile mobs, were especially criticized.{{cite web |last=Albert |first=Brian |title=Minecraft: Pocket Edition Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/13/minecraft-pocket-edition-review-2 |website=IGN |publisher=IGN Entertainment |access-date=28 February 2014 |date=13 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301203048/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/13/minecraft-pocket-edition-review-2 |archive-date=1 March 2014}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-11/23/minecraft-pocket-edition-review |title=Minecraft: Pocket Edition review |magazine=Wired UK |date=23 November 2011 |access-date=2 January 2013 |last=Geere |first=Duncan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123141226/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-11/23/minecraft-pocket-edition-review |archive-date=23 January 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/254349/minecraft_pocket_edition_review_build_blocky_masterpieces_on_the_go.html |title=Minecraft Pocket Edition Review: Build Blocky Masterpieces on the Go |publisher=IDG |magazine=PC World |date=25 April 2012 |access-date=2 January 2013 |last=Purewal |first=Sarah |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117041436/http://www.pcworld.com/article/254349/minecraft_pocket_edition_review_build_blocky_masterpieces_on_the_go.html |archive-date=17 November 2015}} After updates added more content, Pocket Edition started receiving more positive reviews. Reviewers complimented the controls and the graphics, but still noted a lack of content.

= Sales =

Minecraft surpassed over a million purchases less than a month after entering its beta phase in early 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.minecraft.net/stats.jsp |last=Persson |first=Markus |author-link=Markus Persson |publisher=Mojang |title=Minecraft – Statistics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114032123/http://www.minecraft.net/stats.jsp |archive-date=14 January 2011 |access-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/12/minecraft-sales-pass-one-million |title=Minecraft Sales Pass One Million |first=Jim |last=Reilly |website=IGN |date=12 January 2011 |access-date=26 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618031021/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/12/minecraft-sales-pass-one-million |archive-date=18 June 2013}} At the same time, the game had no publisher backing and has never been commercially advertised except through word of mouth,{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5724989/why-minecraft-is-so-damn-popular |title=Why Minecraft Is So Damn Popular |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=12 January 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109012135/http://kotaku.com/5724989/why-minecraft-is-so-damn-popular |archive-date=9 January 2011}} and various unpaid references in popular media such as the Penny Arcade webcomic.{{cite web |url=http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/9/17/ |title=Mine All Mine, Part One |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723105817/http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/9/17/ |archive-date=23 July 2012}} By April 2011, Persson estimated that Minecraft had made €23 million (US$33 million) in revenue, with 800,000 sales of the alpha version of the game, and over 1 million sales of the beta version.{{cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |title=Minecraft Draws Over $33 Million In Revenue From 1.8M Paying Customers |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33961/Minecraft_Draws_Over_33_Million_In_Revenue_From_18M_Paying_Customers.php |website=Gamasutra |access-date=6 April 2011 |date=6 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408063046/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33961/Minecraft_Draws_Over_33_Million_In_Revenue_From_18M_Paying_Customers.php |archive-date=8 April 2011}} In November 2011, prior to the game's full release, Minecraft beta surpassed 16 million registered users and 4 million purchases.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-beta-cracks-4-million/1100-6344310/ |title=Minecraft beta cracks 4 million |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=9 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301153546/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-beta-cracks-4-million/1100-6344310/ |archive-date=1 March 2014 |date=7 November 2011}} By March 2012, Minecraft had become the 6th best-selling PC game of all time.{{cite web |url=http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/52470-Top_15_best_selling_PC_games_of_all_time |title=Top 15 best selling PC games of all time |publisher=SK Gaming |date=22 March 2012 |access-date=16 January 2013 |author=Shields, Duncan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312064404/http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/52470-Top_15_best_selling_PC_games_of_all_time |archive-date=12 March 2013}} {{As of|2014|10|10}}, the game had sold 17 million copies on PC, becoming the best-selling PC game of all time.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/built-to-last-the-minecraft-model-9788669.html |title=Built to last: the Minecraft model |newspaper=The Independent |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123074259/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/built-to-last-the-minecraft-model-9788669.html |archive-date=23 November 2014}} On 25 February 2014, the game reached 100 million registered users.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/26/original-minecraft-reaches-100-million-registered-users |title=Original Minecraft Reaches 100 Million Registered Users |last=Reilly |first=Luke |date=25 February 2014 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227055809/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/26/original-minecraft-reaches-100-million-registered-users |archive-date=27 February 2014}} By May 2019, 180 million copies had been sold across all platforms, making it the single best-selling video game of all time. The free-to-play Minecraft China version had over 700 million registered accounts by September 2023. {{Cite web |date=April 2021 |title=Minecraft Franchise Fact Sheet |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Minecraft-Franchise-Fact-Sheet_April-2021.pdf |access-date=27 October 2021 |website=news.xbox.com |archive-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809155838/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Minecraft-Franchise-Fact-Sheet_April-2021.pdf |url-status=live }} By 2023, the game had sold over 300 million copies.{{Cite web |last=Boddy |first=Zachary |date=15 October 2023 |title=Minecraft crosses 300 million copies sold as it prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/minecraft/minecraft-crosses-300-million-copies-sold-as-it-prepares-to-celebrate-its-15th-anniversary |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=Windows Central |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015182946/https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/minecraft/minecraft-crosses-300-million-copies-sold-as-it-prepares-to-celebrate-its-15th-anniversary |url-status=live }} As of April 2025, Minecraft has sold over 350 million copies.{{cite book |author=Mojang AB |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7nv0AEACAAJ |title=Minecraft Annual 2026 |date=2025 |publisher=Farshore | isbn=978-0-00-868220-0 |access-date=April 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405083536/https://books.google.com/books/about/Minecraft_Annual_2026.html?id=a7nv0AEACAAJ |archive-date=April 5, 2025 |url-status=live |via=Google Books}}

The Xbox 360 version of Minecraft became profitable within the first day of the game's release in 2012, when the game broke the Xbox Live sales records with 400,000 players online.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/10/minecraft-breaks-xbox-live-sales-records.aspx |title=Minecraft Breaks Xbox Live Sales Records |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |date=10 May 2012 |access-date=11 May 2012 |last=Reilly |first=Jim |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512040304/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/10/minecraft-breaks-xbox-live-sales-records.aspx |archive-date=12 May 2012}} Within a week of being on the Xbox Live Marketplace, Minecraft sold a million copies.{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/news/minecraft-for-xbox-live-arcade-sells-1-million-copies/4145/ |title=Minecraft for Xbox Live Arcade Sells 1 Million Copies |website=Giant Bomb |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=18 May 2012 |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516235205/http://www.giantbomb.com/news/minecraft-for-xbox-live-arcade-sells-1-million-copies/4145/ |archive-date=16 May 2012}} GameSpot announced in December 2012 that Minecraft sold over 4.48 million copies since the game debuted on Xbox Live Arcade in May 2012.{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/minecraft-franchise-sales-hit-175-million-6401538 |title=Minecraft franchise sales hit 17.5 million |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=13 December 2012 |access-date=14 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217083605/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/minecraft-franchise-sales-hit-175-million-6401538 |archive-date=17 December 2012}} In 2012, Minecraft was the most purchased title on Xbox Live Arcade; it was also the fourth most played title on Xbox Live based on average unique users per day.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a453025/black-ops-2-minecraft-top-2012-xbox-live-activity-charts.html |title='Black Ops 2', 'Minecraft' top 2012 Xbox Live activity charts |website=Digital Spy |first=Scott |last=Nichols |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=26 January 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123210404/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a453025/black-ops-2-minecraft-top-2012-xbox-live-activity-charts.html |archive-date=23 January 2013}} {{As of|2014|04|04}}, the Xbox 360 version has sold 12 million copies.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-04-minecraft-xbox-360-edition-sales-hit-12m |title=Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition sales hit 12 m |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=4 April 2014 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=4 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406130301/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-04-minecraft-xbox-360-edition-sales-hit-12m |archive-date=6 April 2014}} In addition, Minecraft: Pocket Edition has reached a figure of 21 million in sales.{{cite web |url=https://www.mojang.com/2014/04/watch-our-pocket-edition-dev-stream/ |title=Watch our Pocket Edition stream. Now with footage! |publisher=Mojang |date=14 April 2014 |access-date=31 July 2014 |last=Hill |first=Owen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725020154/https://mojang.com/2014/04/watch-our-pocket-edition-dev-stream/ |archive-date=25 July 2014}} The PlayStation 3 Edition sold one million copies in five weeks.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/209293/Minecraft_on_PS3_breaks_1_million_sales_in_five_weeks.php |title=Minecraft on PS3 breaks 1 million sales in five weeks |last=Wawro |first=Alex |date=24 January 2014 |website=Gamasutra |publisher=Think Services |access-date=25 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129202621/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/209293/Minecraft_on_PS3_breaks_1_million_sales_in_five_weeks.php |archive-date=29 January 2014}} The release of the game's PlayStation Vita version boosted Minecraft sales by 79%, outselling both PS3 and PS4 debut releases and becoming the largest Minecraft launch on a PlayStation console.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-17-assassins-creed-unity-launch-beats-black-flags-in-uk-chart |title=Assassin's Creed: Unity launch beats Black Flag's in UK chart |date=17 November 2014 |author=Wesley Yin-Poole |website=Eurogamer |access-date=7 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118025436/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-17-assassins-creed-unity-launch-beats-black-flags-in-uk-chart |archive-date=18 November 2014}} The PS Vita version sold 100,000 digital copies in Japan within the first two months of release, according to an announcement by SCE Japan Asia.2014-12-17, [http://www.siliconera.com/2014/12/17/minecraft-on-vita-sells-100000-via-downloads-in-japan/ Minecraft On Vita Sells 100,000 Via Downloads In Japan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224171052/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/12/17/minecraft-on-vita-sells-100000-via-downloads-in-japan/ |date=24 February 2015 }}, Siliconera By January 2015, 500,000 digital copies of Minecraft were sold in Japan across all PlayStation platforms, with a surge in primary school children purchasing the PS Vita version.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201502/25072536.html |script-title=ja:国内PS版の『マインクラフト』が50万DLを突破、PS Vita版が牽引し小学生のあいだでブームの兆し |trans-title=Domestic PlayStation version of Minecraft tops 500,000 downloads, signs of the PS Vita version booming amongst elementary school students |date=25 February 2015 |magazine=Famitsu |language=ja |access-date=25 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225083620/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201502/25072536.html |archive-date=25 February 2015}} As of 2022, the Vita version has sold over 1.65 million physical copies in Japan, making it the best-selling Vita game in the country.{{cite book|title=2022ゲーム産業白書 (2022 Game Industry White Paper)|publisher=Media Create|year=2022|isbn=978-4909977199}} Minecraft helped improve Microsoft's total first-party revenue by $63 million for the 2015 second quarter.{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=Xbox Sales Rising, as Minecraft Continues to Perform Well for Microsoft |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-sales-rising-as-minecraft-continues-to-perfor/1100-6429074/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=22 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722222728/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-sales-rising-as-minecraft-continues-to-perfor/1100-6429074/ |archive-date=22 July 2015 |url-status=live |date=21 July 2015}}

The game, including all of its versions, had over 112 million monthly active players by September 2019.{{cite web |last1=Fingas |first1=Jon |title='Minecraft' now has 112 million monthly players |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/15/minecraft-112-million-monthly-players/ |website=Engadget |date=16 September 2019 |access-date=16 September 2019 |archive-date=16 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916062326/https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/15/minecraft-112-million-monthly-players/ |url-status=live }} On its 11th anniversary in May 2020, the company announced that Minecraft had reached over 200 million copies sold across platforms with over 126 million monthly active players.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/18/21262045/minecraft-sales-monthly-players-statistics-youtube |title=Minecraft still incredibly popular as sales top 200 million and 126 million play monthly |first=Tom |last=Warren |date=18 May 2020 |access-date=18 May 2020 |work=The Verge |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518192410/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/18/21262045/minecraft-sales-monthly-players-statistics-youtube |url-status=live }} By April 2021, the number of active monthly users had climbed to 140 million.{{cite web |title=Minecraft Reached 140 Million Monthly Users And Generated Over $350 Million To Date |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-reached-140-million-monthly-users-and-generated-over-350-million-to-date/1100-6490962/ |access-date=9 September 2021 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213054/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-reached-140-million-monthly-users-and-generated-over-350-million-to-date/1100-6490962/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-microsoft-fy21-q3-report |title=Minecraft now has nearly 140 million monthly active users and over 1 billion mod and add-on downloads |work=Windows Central |date=27 April 2021 |access-date=9 September 2021 |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609151429/https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-microsoft-fy21-q3-report |url-status=live }}

= Awards =

In July 2010, PC Gamer listed Minecraft as the fourth-best game to play at work.{{cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Jim |title=50 Games to Play at Work |magazine=PC Gamer |date=5 July 2010 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/07/05/50-games-to-play-at-work/5/ |author-link=Jim Rossignol |publisher=Future plc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709153851/http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/07/05/50-games-to-play-at-work/5 |archive-date=9 July 2010}} In December of that year, Good Game selected Minecraft as their choice for Best Downloadable Game of 2010,{{cite episode |title=GG Awards 2010: Best Downloadable Game |series=Good Game |credits=Bendixsen, Stephanie; O'Donnell, Steven |website=ABC Television |airdate=6 December 2010 |season=5 |number=43 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s3085956.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211083934/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s3085956.htm |archive-date=11 December 2010}} Gamasutra named it the eighth best game of the year as well as the eighth best indie game of the year,{{cite web |website=Gamasutra |title=Gamasutra's Best Of 2010: The Top 10 Games of the Year |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31930/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2010_The_Top_10_Games_Of_The_Year.php |date=23 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225133934/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31930/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2010_The_Top_10_Games_Of_The_Year.php |archive-date=25 December 2010}}{{cite web |website=Gamasutra |title=Gamasutra's Best of 2010: Top 10 Indie Games |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31924/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2010_Top_10_Indie_Games.php |date=17 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220105238/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/31924/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2010_Top_10_Indie_Games.php |archive-date=20 December 2010}} and Rock, Paper, Shotgun named it the "game of the year".{{cite web |title=The Games Of Christmas '10: Day 24 |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/24/the-games-of-christmas-%E2%80%9910-day-24/ |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=24 December 2010 |date=25 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226032010/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/24/the-games-of-christmas-%E2%80%9910-day-24/ |archive-date=26 December 2010}} Indie DB awarded the game the 2010 Indie of the Year award as chosen by voters, in addition to two out of five Editor's Choice awards for Most Innovative and Best Singleplayer Indie.{{cite web |title=Winners – 2010 Indie of the Year Awards – Indie DB |url=http://www.indiedb.com/events/2010-indie-of-the-year-awards/winners/ |publisher=Indie DB |access-date=27 December 2010 |date=24 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030104126/http://www.indiedb.com/events/2010-indie-of-the-year-awards/winners |archive-date=30 October 2010}} It was also awarded Game of the Year by PC Gamer UK.{{cite web |title=Minecraft – PC Gamer UK's Game of the Year |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/12/31/pc-gamer-uks-game-of-the-year/ |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=31 December 2010 |date=31 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103020509/http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/12/31/pc-gamer-uks-game-of-the-year |archive-date=3 January 2011}} The game was nominated for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, Technical Excellence, and Excellence in Design awards at the March 2011 Independent Games Festival and won the Grand Prize and the community-voted Audience Award.{{cite web |title=2011 Independent Games Festival Reveals Main Competition Finalists |url=http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2011/01/2011_independent_games_festiva_10.html |publisher=IndieGames |last=Carless |first=Simon |access-date=3 January 2011 |date=3 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106020831/http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2011/01/2011_independent_games_festiva_10.html |archive-date=6 January 2011}}{{cite web |title=Minecraft, Amnesia Top Winners At 13th Annual IGF Awards |url=http://igf.com/2011/03/minecraft_amnesia_top_winners_.html |publisher=IndieGames |access-date=3 March 2011 |date=1 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306073641/http://igf.com/2011/03/minecraft_amnesia_top_winners_.html |archive-date=6 March 2011}} At Game Developers Choice Awards 2011, Minecraft won awards in the categories for Best Debut Game, Best Downloadable Game and Innovation Award, winning every award for which it was nominated.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5849209/game-developers-choice-online-awards-honor-rift-minecraft-and-everquest |title=Game Developers' Choice Online Awards Honor Rift, Minecraft, and Everquest |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=23 April 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320185943/http://kotaku.com/5849209/game-developers-choice-online-awards-honor-rift-minecraft-and-everquest |archive-date=20 March 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_11th.html |title=Game Developers Choice Awards |publisher=Gamechoiceawards.com |access-date=23 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127063748/http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_11th.html |archive-date=27 January 2013}} It also won GameCity's video game arts award.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15509330 |title=Minecraft awarded GameCity videogame arts prize |date=29 October 2011 |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214054940/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15509330 |archive-date=14 December 2012 |work=BBC News |last1=Kelion |first1=Leo}} On 5 May 2011, Minecraft was selected as one of the 80 games that would be displayed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of The Art of Video Games exhibit that opened on 16 March 2012.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/#!5799017/the-smithsonian-has-picked-the-games-of-its-art-of-video-games-exhibit |title=The Smithsonian Has Picked the Games of Its Art of Video Games Exhibit |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |date=5 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106085901/http://kotaku.com/ |archive-date=6 November 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/ |title=The Art of Video Games |publisher=Smithsonian American Art Museum |access-date=23 November 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110015838/http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/ |archive-date=10 January 2011}} At the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards, Minecraft won the award for Best Independent Game and was nominated in the Best PC Game category.{{cite press release |title=Spike Announces VGA Nominees & Honors "Legend Of Zelda" With First Ever Video Game Hall Of Fame Award |publisher=Spike TV |date=16 November 2011 |url=http://www.spike.com/press/2011/11/16/spike-announces-first-video-game-hall-of-fame-award-and-complete-list-of-vga-nominees/ |access-date=2 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921091444/http://www.spike.com/press/2011/11/16/spike-announces-first-video-game-hall-of-fame-award-and-complete-list-of-vga-nominees/ |archive-date=21 September 2013}}{{cite press release |title=SPIKE TV ANNOUNCES 2011 "VIDEO GAME AWARDS" WINNERS |publisher=Spike TV |date=10 December 2011 |url=http://www.spike.com/press/2011/12/10/spike-tv-announces-2011-%E2%80%9Cvideo-game-awards%E2%80%9D-winners/ |access-date=2 August 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927112411/http://www.spike.com/press/2011/12/10/spike-tv-announces-2011-%E2%80%9Cvideo-game-awards%E2%80%9D-winners/ |archive-date=27 September 2013}} In 2012, at the British Academy Video Games Awards, Minecraft was nominated in the GAME Award of 2011 category and Persson received The Special Award.{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/nominees-winners-2012,2892,BA.html |title=Video Games Awards Winners & Nominees in 2012 |publisher=British Academy of Film and Television Arts |date=12 February 2012 |access-date=30 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307203408/http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/nominees-winners-2012,2892,BA.html |archive-date=7 March 2012}} In 2012, Minecraft XBLA was awarded a Golden Joystick Award in the Best Downloadable Game category,{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Andy |title=GJA: Minecraft XBLA awarded Best Downloadable Game |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/374469/gja-minecraft-xbla-awarded-best-downloadable-game/ |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=Future plc |access-date=5 November 2012 |date=26 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031142158/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/374469/gja-minecraft-xbla-awarded-best-downloadable-game/ |archive-date=31 October 2012}} and a TIGA Games Industry Award in the Best Arcade Game category.{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Liam |title=TIGA Games Industry Awards 2012 winners revealed, Dear Esther wins big |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a435365/tiga-games-industry-awards-2012-winners-revealed-dear-esther-wins-big.html |website=Digital Spy |access-date=5 November 2012 |date=2 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509110339/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a435365/tiga-games-industry-awards-2012-winners-revealed-dear-esther-wins-big.html |archive-date=9 May 2013}} In 2013, it was nominated as the family game of the year at the British Academy Video Games Awards.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/feb/12/bafta-video-game-awards-nominations-2013 |title=Bafta Video Game Awards 2013 – nominees announced |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 February 2013 |access-date=1 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026045239/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/feb/12/bafta-video-game-awards-nominations-2013 |archive-date=26 October 2014 |last1=Stuart |first1=Keith}} During the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated the Xbox 360 version of Minecraft for "Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year".{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2013&idGameAwardType=129 |title=2013 Awards Category Details Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=27 November 2023}} Minecraft Console Edition won the award for TIGA Game Of The Year in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg247.com/2014/11/07/minecraft-forza-horizon-2-tiga-awards/ |title=Minecraft console takes out TIGA game of the year award |date=7 November 2014 |last=Hillier |first=Brenna |website=VG247 |access-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226083405/http://www.vg247.com/2014/11/07/minecraft-forza-horizon-2-tiga-awards/ |archive-date=26 February 2015}} In 2015, the game placed 6th on USgamer{{'s}} The 15 Best Games Since 2000 list.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Mike |title=The 15 Best Games Since 2000, Number 6: Minecraft |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-15-best-games-since-2000-number-6-minecraft |website=USgamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=4 August 2015 |date=3 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804142519/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-15-best-games-since-2000-number-6-minecraft |archive-date=4 August 2015 |url-status=dead}} In 2016, Minecraft placed 6th on Time's The 50 Best Video Games of All Time list.{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Video Games of All Time |url=https://time.com/4458554/best-video-games-all-time/ |magazine=Time |access-date=19 September 2016 |date=23 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826010703/http://time.com/4458554/best-video-games-all-time/ |archive-date=26 August 2016 |url-status=live}}

Minecraft was nominated for the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite App, but lost to Temple Run.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Amy |date=24 March 2013 |title=Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2013: Winners in full |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a468014/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-2013-winners-in-full/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817213139/https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a468014/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-2013-winners-in-full/ |archive-date=17 August 2020 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=Digital Spy}} It was nominated for the 2014 Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Video Game, but lost to Just Dance 2014.{{cite web|title=Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards: The Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/kids-choice-awards-2014-winners-692089/ |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=29 March 2014 |first1=Aaron |last1=Couch |first2=Arlene |last2=Washington |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401021126/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/kids-choice-awards-2014-winners-692089/ |archive-date=1 April 2022 }} The game later won the award for the Most Addicting Game at the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2015 |title=Full List: Winners, 2015 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/88278-nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-2015-winners-full-list/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510221835/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/88278-nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-2015-winners-full-list/ |archive-date=10 May 2022 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=Rappler}} In addition, the Java Edition was nominated for "Favorite Video Game" at the 2018 Kids' Choice Awards,{{Cite web |date=24 March 2018 |title=Kids' Choice Awards: Complete List of Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/kids-choice-awards-complete-list-winners-2018-1089562 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513082453/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/kids-choice-awards-complete-list-winners-2018-1089562 |archive-date=13 May 2018 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} while the game itself won the "Still Playing" award at the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards,{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/Golden-Joystick-awards-2019-winners/ |title=Here's every winner from this year's Golden Joystick Awards, including the Ultimate Game of the Year |date=15 November 2019 |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=16 November 2019}} as well as the "Favorite Video Game" award at the 2020 Kids' Choice Awards.{{Cite web |last=Gennis |first=Sadie |date=3 May 2020 |title=Kids Choice Awards 2020: Full Winners List |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/kids-choice-awards-2020-full-winners-list/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221133810/https://www.tvguide.com/news/kids-choice-awards-2020-full-winners-list/ |archive-date=21 February 2021 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=TV Guide}} Minecraft also won "Stream Game of the Year" at inaugural Streamer Awards in 2021.{{cite news |url=https://gamerant.com/the-streamer-awards-full-winners-list/ |title=The Streamer Awards Full Winners List |access-date=21 March 2022 |publisher=GameRant |date=13 March 2022}} The game later garnered a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award nomination for Favorite Video Game in 2021,{{Cite web |last=Calvario |first=Liz |date=13 March 2021 |title=2021 Kids' Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List |url=https://www.etonline.com/2021-kids-choice-awards-the-complete-winners-list-161949 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314025743/https://www.etonline.com/2021-kids-choice-awards-the-complete-winners-list-161949 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=Entertainment Tonight}} and won the same category in 2022 and 2023.{{Cite web |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=9 April 2022 |title=Kids' Choice Awards: Spider-Man: No Way Home Wins Big; Dr. Jill Biden Speaks |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kids-choice-awards-2022-winners-list-1235127819/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427034819/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kids-choice-awards-2022-winners-list-1235127819/ |archive-date=27 April 2022 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=4 March 2023 |title=Wednesday, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles Among Winners at 2023 Kids' Choice Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kids-choice-awards-winners-jenna-ortega-taylor-swift-harry-styles-1235341096/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305024337/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kids-choice-awards-winners-jenna-ortega-taylor-swift-harry-styles-1235341096/ |archive-date=5 March 2023 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

= Controversies =

== 2014 EULA changes ==

Microsoft and Mojang announced in June 2014 that it would be changing the Minecraft end-user license agreement (EULA) to prohibit servers from accepting donations or payments in exchange for the donating or paying players receiving in-game advantages on such server, essentially banning "pay-to-win" servers. Mojang spokesperson Owen Hill provided examples of what it would and would not allow, saying company would allow for pay-to-play servers in which a player is required to pay a fee to access the server, or for cosmetic enhancements (such as in-game costumes or pets), but that Mojang would be cracking down on paying to obtain powerful swords or potions (providing a competitive advantage to the player versus other players). The new crackdowns were supported by Persson, citing him receiving multiple emails from parents of children who had spent hundreds of dollars on servers. The Minecraft community and server owners, however, heavily despised the new change in enforcement and protested en masse, which included comparing Mojang to monolithic video game publishers like Electronic Arts and Activision, gaming companies often criticized online for their highly restrictive digital rights management and user license agreements. Many argued that the crackdown would force smaller servers to close their doors, and some blamed the crackdown on Mojang attempting to suppress competition for its own Minecraft Realms subscription service.{{Cite news |date=24 June 2014 |title=Minecraft: how a change to the rules is tearing the community apart |website=The Guardian |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/24/minecraft-how-a-change-to-the-rules-is-tearing-the-community-apart |access-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715224605/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/24/minecraft-how-a-change-to-the-rules-is-tearing-the-community-apart |archive-date=15 July 2022}}

== Account migration ==

In 2020, Mojang Studios revealed that it would begin the process of requiring that Microsoft accounts be used in order to log into the Java Edition of the game, and that older Mojang Studios accounts would be sunsetted. The move to Microsoft accounts also required Java Edition players to create Xbox network Gamertags. Mojang Studios defended the move to Microsoft accounts by saying that improved security could be offered, which included Java accounts being able to use two factor authentication, players could block cyberbullies in chat, and improve parental controls. The community responded with intense backlash against this announcement, particularly taking issue to the various technical difficulties encountered in the process and how account migration would be mandatory, even for those who do not play on servers. As of 10 March 2022, Microsoft required that all players migrate in order to access the Java Edition of Minecraft.{{Cite web |last=Coles |first=Jason |date=14 March 2022 |title=Microsoft's Minecraft migration meets a mixed response |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/account-migration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715032422/https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/account-migration |archive-date=15 July 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=PCGamesN}}{{Cite web |last=Rich |first=Rob |date=10 February 2022 |title=Microsoft Gives Minecraft: Java Edition Players A Deadline To Migrate Accounts |url=https://www.slashgear.com/764466/microsoft-gives-minecraft-java-edition-players-a-deadline-to-migrate-accounts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715032421/https://www.slashgear.com/764466/microsoft-gives-minecraft-java-edition-players-a-deadline-to-migrate-accounts/ |archive-date=15 July 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=SlashGear }} A deadline of 19 September 2023 was announced to complete account migration, after which all legacy Mojang accounts became inaccessible and unable to be migrated.{{Cite web |title=Mojang Account migration completed |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/account-migration-last-call |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919182110/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/account-migration-last-call |archive-date=19 September 2023 |access-date=20 September 2023 |website=Minecraft.net}}

== ''Java Edition'' chat reporting ==

In June 2022, Microsoft and Mojang Studios announced it would be releasing a player reporting feature in all future builds of Java Edition. In earlier development builds, players could report other players on multiplayer servers for sending messages that are prohibited by the Xbox Live Code of Conduct; report categories included profane language, substance abuse, hate speech, threats of violence, and nudity, though Microsoft in later builds has since excluded the profane language category from the player reporting feature. If a player was found to be in violation of Xbox Community Standards, the player would be banned from all servers for a specific period of time or permanently. The update containing the report feature (1.19.1) was released on 27 July 2022.{{Cite web |last=Hedberg |first=Mikael |date=27 July 2022 |title=Minecraft Java Edition 1.19.1 |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-java-edition-1-19-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901221701/https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-java-edition-1-19-1 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |work=Minecraft |publisher=Mojang Studios}}

Microsoft and Mojang Studios received substantial backlash and protest from community members, one of the most common complaints being that banned players would be forbidden from joining any server, even private ones. Others took issue to what they saw as Microsoft increasing control over its player base and exercising censorship,{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=24 June 2022 |title=Microsoft will start banning players from all private Minecraft servers |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/06/microsoft-will-start-banning-players-from-all-private-minecraft-servers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808125630/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/06/microsoft-will-start-banning-players-from-all-private-minecraft-servers/ |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Ars Technica}}{{Cite web |last=Bellingham |first=Hope |date=23 June 2022 |title=The new Minecraft update can totally ban you from all online play |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-1191-pre-release/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917084703/https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-1191-pre-release/ |archive-date=17 September 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=GamesRadar+}}{{Cite web |last=Quick |first=Will |date=22 June 2022 |title=Online Minecraft Bans Will Be Able To Block You From Private Servers |url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/online-minecraft-bans-now-block-you-from-personal-servers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731111427/https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/online-minecraft-bans-now-block-you-from-personal-servers |archive-date=31 July 2022 |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=TechRaptor}} leading some to start a hashtag #saveminecraft, and dub the version "1.19.84", in reference to the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, which deals with similar themes of censorship.{{Cite web |last=Gronich |first=Sara |title='Minecraft' Players Say '1984' Patch Turns Game Into Totalitarian Dystopia |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy777m/minecraft-players-say-1984-patch-turns-game-into-totalitarian-dystopia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813043857/https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy777m/minecraft-players-say-1984-patch-turns-game-into-totalitarian-dystopia |archive-date=13 August 2022 |access-date=5 August 2022 |website=Vice |date=August 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title="Save Minecraft" Trends on Twitter as Fans Protest Controversial Update |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/minecraft-update-1-19-save-twitter/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920035357/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/minecraft-update-1-19-save-twitter/ |archive-date=20 September 2022 |access-date=30 August 2022 |website=GAMING |date=28 July 2022 |language=en}}

== Mob Vote ==

The "Mob Vote" was an online event organized by Mojang in which the Minecraft community voted between three original mob concepts; the winning mob was officially implemented in a future update, while the losing mobs were scrapped, though elements of them would sometimes return in later updates as separate features. The first Mob Vote was held during MINECON Earth 2017 and became an annual event starting with Minecraft Live 2020. The Mob Vote was often criticized for forcing players to choose one mob instead of implementing all three, causing divisions and flaming within the community, and potentially allowing internet bots and Minecraft content creators with large fanbases to conduct vote brigading.{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=10 October 2023 |title=Minecraft players go full propaganda mode as petition demanding the end of the 'mob vote' draws 300,000 signatures in just a few days |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-players-go-full-propaganda-mode-as-petition-demanding-the-end-of-the-mob-vote-draws-300000-signatures-in-just-a-few-days/ |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Currier |first=Sarah |title=After a proposed boycott, Minecraft mob vote faces more controversy in wake of rigging accusations |url=https://iowastatedaily.com/283322/limelight/after-a-proposed-boycott-minecraft-mob-vote-faces-even-more-controversy-in-wake-of-rigging-accusations-iowa-state-university-sarah-currier/ |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=Iowa State Daily}} The Mob Vote was also blamed for a perceived lack of new content added to Minecraft since Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang in 2014.

The 2023 Mob Vote featured three passive mobs—the crab, the penguin, and the armadillo—with voting scheduled to start on 13 October.{{Cite web |last=Sophie |first=Austine |date=13 September 2023 |title=MINECRAFT LIVE IS BACK |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-live-2023-announcement |access-date=28 June 2024 |website=Minecraft.net}}{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Martin |date=8 October 2023 |title=Minecraft's 2023 Mob Vote Explained |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-2023-mob-vote-explained/ |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}

In response, a Change.org petition was created on 6 October, demanding that Mojang eliminate the Mob Vote and instead implement all three mobs going forward. The petition received approximately 445,000 signatures by 13 October{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Savannah |date=17 October 2023 |title=Minecraft players boycott the Mob Vote |url=https://umlconnector.com/2023/10/minecraft-players-boycott-the-mob-vote/ |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=The UMass Lowell Connector |language=en-US}} and was joined by calls to boycott the Mob Vote, as well as a partially-tongue-in-cheek "revolutionary" propaganda campaign in which sympathizers created anti-Mojang and pro-boycott posters in the vein of real 20th century propaganda posters.{{Cite web |last=Dalton |first=Cooper |date=9 October 2023 |title=Petition to End the Minecraft Mob Vote is Blowing Up |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-mob-vote-2023-petition-boycott/ |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=Game Rant}} Mojang did not release an official response to the boycott and the Mob Vote otherwise proceeded normally, with the armadillo winning the vote.{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Sophie |date=15 October 2023 |title=Minecraft Live 2023: The Recap! |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-live-2023--the-recap- |access-date=27 July 2024 |website=Minecraft.net}} In September 2024, as part of a blog post detailing their future plans for Minecraft's development, Mojang announced the Mob Vote would be retired.{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Ryan |date=9 September 2024 |title=The future of Minecraft's development |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/the-future-of-minecrafts-development |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Minecraft}}

Cultural impact

In September 2019, The Guardian classified Minecraft as the best video game of the 21st century to date,{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/sep/19/50-best-video-games-of-the-21st-century |title=The 50 best video games of the 21st century |last1=Stuart |first1=Keith |last2=MacDonald |first2=Keza |date=19 September 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 September 2019}} and in November 2019

Polygon called the game the "most important game of the decade" in its 2010s "decade in review".{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Charlie |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/7/20952214/minecraft-most-important-game-of-the-decade-2010 |title=Why Minecraft is the most important game of the decade |date=7 November 2019 |work=Polygon |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109012513/https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2019/11/7/20952214/minecraft-most-important-game-of-the-decade-2010 |url-status=dead }} In December 2019, Forbes gave Minecraft a special mention in a list of the best video games of the 2010s, stating that the game is "without a doubt one of the most important games of the last ten years."{{cite web |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/12/31/the-best---and-most-important---video-games-of-the-decade-20102019/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101040036/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/12/31/the-best---and-most-important---video-games-of-the-decade-20102019/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 January 2020 |title=The Best — And Most Important — Video Games Of The Decade |last=Kain |first=Erikmine |date=31 December 2019 |work=Forbes |access-date=2 January 2019}} In June 2020, Minecraft was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.{{cite news |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-inducted-into-the-world-video-game-hall-of-fame/ |title=Minecraft inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame |first=Malindy |last=Hetfeld |work=PC Gamer |date=19 June 2020 |access-date=20 June 2020}}

Minecraft is recognized as one of the first successful games to use an early access model to draw in sales prior to its full release version to help fund development. As Minecraft helped to bolster indie game development in the early 2010s, it also helped to popularize the use of the early access model in indie game development.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/design-success-means-knowing-what-to-do-with-feedback |title=Design success means knowing what to do with feedback |publisher=Gamasutra |date=6 February 2012 |access-date=16 October 2013 |first=Soren |last=Johnson}}

File:CaptainSparklez Minecon 2016 1.jpg (known professionally as "CaptainSparklez") is known for his musical Minecraft parodies of popular songs.]]

Social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit have played a significant role in popularizing Minecraft.{{cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2010/10/01/minecraft-social-media/ |title=Minecraft: How Social Media Spawned a Gaming Sensation |website=Mashable |publisher=Mashable Inc. |date=1 October 2010 |access-date=28 December 2012 |last=Silverman |first=Matt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230080505/http://mashable.com/2010/10/01/minecraft-social-media/ |archive-date=30 December 2012}} Research conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School of Communication showed that one-third of Minecraft players learned about the game via Internet videos.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mining-data-from-minecraft/1100-6331569/ |title=Mining data from Minecraft |publisher=CBS Interactive |website=GameSpot |date=28 August 2011 |access-date=28 December 2012 |last=Tong |first=Sophia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204023302/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mining-data-from-minecraft/1100-6331569/ |archive-date=4 December 2013}} In 2010, Minecraft-related videos began to gain influence on YouTube, often made by commentators. The videos usually contain screen-capture footage of the game and voice-overs.{{cite web |title=Inside the geeky, revolutionary world of "Minecraft" |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/12/06/inside_the_geeky_revolutionary_world_of_minecraft/singleton/ |website=Salon |publisher=Salon Media Group |first=Rob |last=Spillman |date=6 December 2011 |access-date=23 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117145332/http://www.salon.com/2011/12/06/inside_the_geeky_revolutionary_world_of_minecraft/singleton/ |archive-date=17 January 2013}} Common coverage in the videos includes creations made by players, walkthroughs of various tasks, and parodies of works in popular culture. By May 2012, over four million Minecraft-related YouTube videos had been uploaded.{{cite web |last=Nunneley |first=Stephany |date=24 March 2012 |title=Minecraft hits $80M in sales with over 5M paid downloads |url=http://www.vg247.com/2012/03/24/minecraft-hits-80m-in-sales-with-over-5m-paid-downloads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326175441/http://www.vg247.com/2012/03/24/minecraft-hits-80m-in-sales-with-over-5m-paid-downloads/ |archive-date=26 March 2012 |access-date=11 November 2012 |website=VG247}} The game would go on to be a prominent fixture within YouTube's gaming scene during the entire 2010s; in 2014, it was the second-most searched term on the entire platform. By 2018, it was still YouTube's biggest game globally.{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/18/17873772/youtube-biggest-top-game-minecraft-fortnite |title=Fortnite is not the biggest game on YouTube this year |work=The Verge |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=5 October 2022}}

Some popular commentators have received employment at Machinima, a now-defunct gaming video company that owned a highly watched entertainment channel on YouTube. The Yogscast is a British company that regularly produces Minecraft videos; their YouTube channel has attained billions of views, and their panel at Minecon 2011 had the highest attendance.{{cite news |title=The TV tycoons you may have missed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18768443 |access-date=10 July 2012 |first=Rory |last=Cellan-Jones |date=10 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805071240/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18768443 |archive-date=5 August 2012 |work=BBC News}} Another well-known YouTube personality is Jordan Maron, known online as Captain Sparklez, who has also created many Minecraft music parodies, including "Revenge", a parody of Usher's "DJ Got Us Falling in Love". Minecraft{{'}}s popularity on YouTube was described by Polygon as quietly dominant, although in 2019, thanks in part to PewDiePie's playthroughs of the game, Minecraft experienced a visible uptick in popularity on the platform.{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/7/20756845/minecraft-pewdiepie-youtube-resurgence-trend-creators-monetization |title=Minecraft's recent surge on YouTube proves that the 'PewDiePie Effect' is still real |work=The Verge |date=7 August 2019 |access-date=5 October 2022}}{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/1/20727946/minecraft-youtube-popularity-memes-pewdiepie-grandayy-keemstar-minecraft-monday |title=Minecraft is having a big comeback in 2019 |work=Polygon |date=1 August 2019 |access-date=5 October 2022}} YouTube later announced that on 14 December 2021 that the total amount of Minecraft-related views on the website have exceeded one trillion.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/minecraft-crosses-1-trillion-views-on-youtube-most-popular-game-ever-on-platform/ |title=Minecraft crosses 1 trillion views on YouTube, most popular game ever on platform |first=Ian |last=Sherr |date=14 December 2021 |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=CNet}}

Minecraft has been referenced by other video games, such as Torchlight II, Team Fortress 2,{{Cite web |title=Team Fortress 2 |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=4130 |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=www.teamfortress.com}}{{Cite web |date=27 November 2011 |title=Only One Man In The World Owns TF2's "Top Notch" Hat |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/11/only-one-man-in-the-world-owns-tf2s-top-notch-hat/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201020420/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/11/only-one-man-in-the-world-owns-tf2s-top-notch-hat/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2011 |access-date=23 October 2022 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU}} Borderlands 2, Choplifter HD, Super Meat Boy, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Binding of Isaac, The Stanley Parable, FTL: Faster Than Light,{{cite web |last=Dean |first=Paul |title=Creeping up on you: The best Minecraft references in video games |url=http://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/creeping-you-best-minecraft-references-video-games |website=PCGamesN |date=24 September 2012 |publisher=Network N |access-date=4 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101121747/http://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/creeping-you-best-minecraft-references-video-games |archive-date=1 November 2012}}{{cite web |title=How The Stanley Parable goes down the rabbit hole of other games |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/81714/the-stanley-parable-creator-says-walkthrough-would-kill-the-magic |website=Shacknews |date=23 October 2013 |access-date=21 September 2017}} and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the latter of which features a downloadable character and stage based on Minecraft.{{cite web |title=Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Next DLC Fighters Are Minecraft Characters |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/super-smash-bros-ultimates-next-dlc-fighter-is-minecrafts-steve |first=Joe |last=Skrebels |date=1 October 2020 |access-date=1 October 2020}} It was also referenced by electronic music artist deadmau5 in his performances.{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Sam |title=Deadmau5 References Minecraft in New Show |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/11/deadmau5-references-minecraft-in-new-show |website=IGN |access-date=4 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110181644/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/11/deadmau5-references-minecraft-in-new-show |archive-date=10 November 2012 |date=11 August 2011}} The game is also referenced heavily in "Informative Murder Porn", the second episode of the seventeenth season of the animated television series South Park.{{cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |url=http://kotaku.com/this-weeks-south-park-is-all-about-minecraft-1427305010 |title=This Week's South Park Is All About Minecraft |date=30 September 2013 |access-date=1 October 2013 |website=Kotaku |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930203114/http://kotaku.com/this-weeks-south-park-is-all-about-minecraft-1427305010 |archive-date=30 September 2013}}

= Applications =

The possible applications of Minecraft have been discussed extensively, especially in the fields of computer-aided design (CAD) and education. In a panel at Minecon 2011, a Swedish developer discussed the possibility of using the game to redesign public buildings and parks, stating that rendering using Minecraft was much more user-friendly for the community, making it easier to envision the functionality of new buildings and parks. In 2012, a member of the Human Dynamics group at the MIT Media Lab, Cody Sumter, said: "Notch hasn't just built a game. He's tricked 40 million people into learning to use a CAD program." Various software has been developed to allow virtual designs to be printed using professional 3D printers or personal printers such as MakerBot and RepRap.{{cite magazine |last=Cheshire |first=Tom |title=Want to learn computer-aided design (CAD)? Play Minecraft |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/11/play/minecrafted |magazine=Wired UK |access-date=23 November 2012 |date=22 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127171214/http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2012/11/play/minecrafted |archive-date=27 November 2012}}

In September 2012, Mojang began the Block by Block project in cooperation with UN Habitat to create real-world environments in Minecraft.{{cite web |last=Eördögh |first=Fruzsina |title=Minecraft Partners With United Nations For Urban Planning |url=http://readwrite.com/2012/09/06/minecraft-partners-with-united-nations-for-urban-planning |website=ReadWrite |publisher=SAY Media |access-date=21 November 2012 |date=6 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124095401/http://readwrite.com/2012/09/06/minecraft-partners-with-united-nations-for-urban-planning |archive-date=24 November 2012}}{{Cite web |title=About Block By Block |url=https://www.blockbyblock.org/about |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915002207/https://www.blockbyblock.org/about |archive-date=15 September 2022 |access-date=9 September 2022 |website=Block by Block}} The project allows young people who live in those environments to participate in designing the changes they would like to see. Using Minecraft, the community has helped reconstruct the areas of concern, and citizens are invited to enter the Minecraft servers and modify their own neighborhood. Carl Manneh, Mojang's managing director, called the game "the perfect tool to facilitate this process", adding "The three-year partnership will support UN-Habitat's Sustainable Urban Development Network to upgrade 300 public spaces by 2016." Mojang signed Minecraft building community, FyreUK, to help render the environments into Minecraft. The first pilot project began in Kibera, one of Nairobi's informal settlements and is in the planning phase. The Block by Block project is based on an earlier initiative started in October 2011, Mina Kvarter (My Block), which gave young people in Swedish communities a tool to visualize how they wanted to change their part of town. According to Manneh, the project was a helpful way to visualize urban planning ideas without necessarily having a training in architecture. The ideas presented by the citizens were a template for political decisions.{{Cite web |title=The Block by Block Playbook: Using Minecraft as a participatory design tool in urban design and governance {{!}} UN-Habitat |url=https://unhabitat.org/the-block-by-block-playbook-using-minecraft-as-a-participatory-design-tool-in-urban-design-and |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915003142/https://unhabitat.org/the-block-by-block-playbook-using-minecraft-as-a-participatory-design-tool-in-urban-design-and |archive-date=15 September 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=unhabitat.org}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/09/05/minecraft-un-block-by-block-project-to-help-young-people-redesign-their-neighbourhoods/ |title=Minecraft UN Block By Block project to help young people redesign their neighbourhoods |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=5 September 2012 |first=Tom |last=Senior |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907235734/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/09/05/minecraft-un-block-by-block-project-to-help-young-people-redesign-their-neighbourhoods/ |archive-date=7 September 2012}}

File:Minecraft sheep (11453641143).jpg

In April 2014, the Danish Geodata Agency generated all of Denmark in fullscale in Minecraft based on their own geodata.{{cite press release |url=http://gst.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2014/apr/geodatastyrelsen-giver-de-unge-hele-danmark-i-3d/ |title=Geodatastyrelsen giver de unge hele Danmark i 3D |trans-title=The Geodata Agency gives the youth whole Denmark in 3D |publisher=The Danish Geodata Agency |date=24 April 2014 |access-date=25 April 2014 |language=da |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426235902/http://gst.dk/nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2014/apr/geodatastyrelsen-giver-de-unge-hele-danmark-i-3d/ |archive-date=26 April 2014}} This is possible because Denmark is one of the flattest countries with the highest point at 171 meters (ranking as the country with the 30th smallest elevation span), where the limit in default Minecraft was around 192 meters above in-game sea level when the project was completed.{{Cite web |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/minecraft-guide-how-find-and-mine-diamond-gold-and-other-rare-ores |title=Minecraft for beginners: How to find diamond, gold, and other rare ores in |last=Boddy |first=Zachary |date=4 January 2020 |website=Windows Central |access-date=14 April 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/minecraft-cheats/ |title=Minecraft commands and cheats: all the console commands you need for crafty success |last=Wilson |first=Iain |date=23 March 2020 |website=GamesRadar |language=en |access-date=14 April 2020}}

Taking advantage of the game's accessibility where other websites are censored, the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders has used an open Minecraft server to create the Uncensored Library, a repository within the game of journalism by authors from countries (including Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam) who have been censored and arrested, such as Jamal Khashoggi.{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-03-13-reporters-without-borders-builds-censorship-free-zone-in-minecraft |title=Reporters Without Borders builds censorship-free zone in Minecraft |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=14 March 2020 |newspaper=GamesIndustry.biz}} The neoclassical virtual building was created over about 250 hours by an international team of 24 people.{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Gerken |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51883247 |title=Minecraft 'loophole' library of banned journalism |work=BBC News |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=14 March 2020}}

Despite its unpredictable nature, Minecraft speedrunning, where players time themselves from being dropped into a new world to reaching The End and defeating the Ender Dragon boss, is popular. Some speedrunners use a combination of mods, external programs, and debug menus, while other runners play the game in a more vanilla or more consistency-oriented way.{{Cite web |last=Maillot |first=Anastasia |date=27 March 2021 |title=Minecraft: How To See The Debug Screen (And What It's Useful For) |url=https://www.thegamer.com/minecraft-debug-screen-keybinds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615150253/https://www.thegamer.com/minecraft-debug-screen-keybinds/ |archive-date=15 June 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022 |website=The Gamer}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/speedrun-world-record |title=A glimpse into the unpredictable world of Minecraft speedrunning |first=Jack |last=Yarwood |date=12 September 2020 |access-date=5 March 2021 |work=PCGamesN}}

== Education ==

File:Minecraft in school.jpg

Minecraft has also been used in educational settings. In 2011, an educational organization named MinecraftEdu was formed with the goal of introducing Minecraft into schools. The group works with Mojang to make the game affordable and accessible to schools. The version of Minecraft through MinecraftEdu includes unique features to allow teachers to monitor the students' progress within the virtual world, such as receiving screenshots from students to show completion of a lesson. In September 2012, MinecraftEdu said that approximately 250,000 students around the world have access to Minecraft through the company. A wide variety of educational activities involving the game have been developed to teach students various subjects, including history, language arts and science. For an example, one teacher built a world consisting of various historical landmarks for students to learn and explore.{{cite magazine |url=https://techland.time.com/2012/09/21/minecraftedu-teaches-students-through-virtual-world-building/ |title=MinecraftEdu Teaches Students Through Virtual World-Building |magazine=Time |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=9 December 2012 |last=Waxman |first=Olivia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023101431/http://techland.time.com/2012/09/21/minecraftedu-teaches-students-through-virtual-world-building/ |archive-date=23 October 2012}} Another teacher created a large-scale representation of an animal cell within Minecraft that student could explore and learn how cell functions work.{{cite web |last=MacGregor |first=Jody |date=22 August 2019 |title=How teachers are using Minecraft in the classroom |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-teachers-are-using-minecraft-in-the-classroom/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706043232/https://www.pcgamer.com/how-teachers-are-using-minecraft-in-the-classroom/ |archive-date=6 July 2022 |access-date=22 August 2014 |work=PC Gamer}} Great Ormond Street Hospital has been recreated in Minecraft, and it proposed that patients can use it to virtually explore the hospital before they visit it in real life.{{cite news |title=GOSH looks to DRIVE healthcare technology forward |url=https://www.digitalhealth.net/2018/10/gosh-drive-healthcare-technology/ |access-date=11 October 2018 |publisher=Digital Health |date=11 October 2018}} Minecraft may also prove as an innovation in computer-aided design.{{cite web |last1=O'Connell |first1=Kim |title=Minecraft Architecture: What Architects Can Learn From a Video Game |url=https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/minecraft-architecture |website=RedShift |date=2 February 2016 |access-date=24 February 2019}} Minecraft offers an outlet of collaboration in design and could have an impact on the industry.{{cite journal |last1=French |last2=Stone |last3=Nysetvold |last4=Hepworth |last5=Red |first1=David |first2=Brett |first3=Thomas |first4=Ammon |first5=Edward |title=Collaborative Design Principles From Minecraft With Applications to Multi-User CAD." Volume 1A: Codes and Standards |url=https://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2090490 |website=asmedigitalcollection |date=13 January 2015 |publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers |doi=10.1115/DETC2014-35279 |access-date=3 March 2019}}

With the introduction of redstone blocks to represent electrical circuits, users have been able to build functional virtual computers within Minecraft.{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5650027/man-builds-computer-inside-computer-game |title=Man Builds Computer Inside Computer Game |first=Mike |last=Fahey |date=28 September 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016 |website=Kotaku |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220075116/http://kotaku.com/5650027/man-builds-computer-inside-computer-game |archive-date=20 December 2016}} Such virtual creations include a working hard drive,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/08/man-builds-working-hard-drive-inside-minecraft/ |title=Man Builds Working Hard Drive Inside Minecraft |first=Klint |last=Finley |date=21 August 2014 |access-date=6 December 2016 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220084221/https://www.wired.com/2014/08/man-builds-working-hard-drive-inside-minecraft/ |archive-date=20 December 2016}} an 8-bit virtual computer,{{cite web |url=http://boingboing.net/2010/11/12/working-8-bit-cpu-in.html |title=Working 8-bit CPU in Minecraft |first=Cory |last=Doctorow |date=12 November 2010 |access-date=6 December 2016 |website=Boing Boing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220120358/http://boingboing.net/2010/11/12/working-8-bit-cpu-in.html |archive-date=20 December 2016}} and even a smaller-scale version of Minecraft that is playable and able to be built completely in survival mode with no external modifications.{{Citation |title=I made Minecraft in Minecraft with redstone! | date=6 September 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BP7DhHTU-I |language=en |access-date=12 October 2022}} In at least one instance, a mod has been created to use this feature to teach younger players how to program within a language set by a virtual computer within a Minecraft world.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/08/learntomod/ |title=New Minecraft Mod Teaches You Code as You Play |first=Klint |last=Finley |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=3 October 2016 |magazine=Wired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005104234/https://www.wired.com/2014/08/learntomod/ |archive-date=5 October 2016}}

Another computational mechanic in Minecraft is the command block, a block that is only accessible in creative mode and can alter game logic. Examples of creations made using command blocks include an emulator for the Atari 2600{{Citation |title=Atari 2600 Emulator in Minecraft | date=6 December 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nViIUfDMJg |language=en |access-date=12 October 2022}}{{Citation |title=1fps Atari 2600 Emulator in Vanilla Minecraft 1.13 | date=26 January 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq7T5_xH24M |language=en |access-date=12 October 2022}} and a reimplementation of Pokémon Red Version.{{Citation |title=Pokémon Red INSIDE Minecraft — An Interview with the Creator, "Mr. Squishy'" | date=30 March 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-U96W89Z90 |language=en |access-date=12 October 2022}}

In September 2014, the British Museum in London announced plans to recreate its building along with all exhibits in Minecraft in conjunction with members of the public.{{Cite web |title=British Museum to be digitally recreated in Minecraft |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29281051 |last1=Miller |first1=Joe |publisher=BBC |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921232006/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29281051 |archive-date=21 September 2014}} Microsoft and the non-profit organisation Code.org had teamed up to offer Minecraft-based games, puzzles, and tutorials aimed to help teach children how to program; by March 2018, Microsoft and Code.org reported that more than 85 million children have used their tutorials.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/minecraft-hour-of-code |title=Minecraft has taught 85 million young people to code |first=Vic |last=Hood |date=5 March 2018 |access-date=5 March 2018 |work=PCGamesN}}

= Clones =

Following the initial surge in popularity of Minecraft in 2010, other video games were criticised for having various similarities to Minecraft, and some were described as being "clones", often due to a direct inspiration from Minecraft, or a superficial similarity. Examples include Ace of Spades, CastleMiner, CraftWorld, FortressCraft, Terraria, BlockWorld 3D, Total Miner,{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |title=Living under a blocky shadow: the world of Minecraft clones |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/07/living-under-a-blocky-shadow-the-world-of-minecraft-clones/ |website=Ars Technica |access-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203103830/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/07/living-under-a-blocky-shadow-the-world-of-minecraft-clones/ |archive-date=3 December 2012 |date=27 July 2011}} and Luanti (formerly Minetest).{{Cite journal |last=Saunders |first=Mike |date=November 2017 |title=Minetest |url=https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2017/204/Minetest |url-status=live |journal=Linux Magazine |issue=204/2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203071242/https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2017/204/Minetest |archive-date=3 February 2021 |access-date=30 July 2020}} David Frampton, designer of The Blockheads, reported that one failure of his 2D game was the "low resolution pixel art" that too closely resembled the art in Minecraft, which resulted in "some resistance" from fans.{{cite web |author=Frampton, David |title=Postmortem: The Blockheads |date=12 October 2013 |publisher=Gamasutra |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/postmortem-the-blockheads |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124102/http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidFrampton/20131012/202246/Postmortem_The_Blockheads.php |archive-date=2 April 2015}} A homebrew adaptation of the alpha version of Minecraft for the Nintendo DS, titled DScraft, has been released; it has been noted for its similarity to the original game considering the technical limitations of the system.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Mark |title=Hands-on with Minecraft for DS, with homebrew version DScraft |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/DS/DScraft+(Minecraft+DS)/news.asp?c=32674 |website=Pocket Gamer |date=24 August 2011 |access-date=20 March 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321083113/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/DS/DScraft%20%28Minecraft%20DS%29/news.asp?c=32674 |archive-date=21 March 2017}} In response to Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang and their Minecraft IP, various developers announced further clone titles developed specifically for Nintendo's consoles, as they were the only major platforms not to officially receive Minecraft at the time.{{cite web |first=Damien |last=McFerran |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/12/rumour_minecraft_is_already_in_development_for_wii_u_gamepad_said_to_be_the_focus |title=Rumour: Minecraft Is Already In Development For Wii U, GamePad Said To Be The Focus |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=24 December 2013 |access-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014900/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/12/rumour_minecraft_is_already_in_development_for_wii_u_gamepad_said_to_be_the_focus |archive-date=29 November 2014}} These clone titles include UCraft (Nexis Games),{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/nexis_games_is_developing_u_craft_a_minecraft_clone_for_the_eshop |title=Nexis Games is Developing U Craft, a Minecraft Clone, for the eShop |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=30 September 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110150412/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/nexis_games_is_developing_u_craft_a_minecraft_clone_for_the_eshop |archive-date=10 November 2014}} Cube Life: Island Survival (Cypronia),{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Calvert |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/01/cube_life_island_survival_is_another_minecraft-inspired_title_heading_to_the_wii_u_eshop |title=Cube Life: Island Survival is Another Minecraft-Inspired Title Heading to the Wii U eShop |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=19 January 2015 |access-date=19 January 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119235034/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/01/cube_life_island_survival_is_another_minecraft-inspired_title_heading_to_the_wii_u_eshop |archive-date=19 January 2015}} Discovery (Noowanda),{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Calvert |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/12/prepare_to_get_creative_with_minecraft-inspired_game_discovery_coming_to_wii_u_eshop_soon |title=Prepare to Get Creative With Minecraft-Inspired Game Discovery Coming to Wii U eShop Soon |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=17 December 2015 |access-date=9 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410025511/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/12/prepare_to_get_creative_with_minecraft-inspired_game_discovery_coming_to_wii_u_eshop_soon |archive-date=10 April 2016}} Battleminer (Wobbly Tooth Games),{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/battleminer_screens_show_some_familiar_block_building_on_the_way_to_3ds |title=Battleminer Screens Show Some Familiar Block Building On the Way to 3DS |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=1 October 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102094010/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/battleminer_screens_show_some_familiar_block_building_on_the_way_to_3ds |archive-date=2 November 2014}} Cube Creator 3D (Big John Games),{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Calvert |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/another_minecraft_clone_cube_creator_3d_coming_to_3ds_eshop |title=Another Minecraft Clone, Cube Creator 3D Coming To 3DS eShop |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102141601/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/another_minecraft_clone_cube_creator_3d_coming_to_3ds_eshop |archive-date=2 November 2014}} and Stone Shire (Finger Gun Games).{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/more_minecraft_mania_looks_set_for_wii_u_with_stone_shire |title=More Minecraft Mania Looks Set for Wii U With Stone Shire |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=1 October 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106014641/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/more_minecraft_mania_looks_set_for_wii_u_with_stone_shire |archive-date=6 November 2014}} Despite this, the fears of fans were unfounded, with official Minecraft releases on Nintendo consoles eventually resuming.{{cite web |first=Alex |last=Calvin |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/mojang-s-block-party-what-is-next-for-minecraft/ |title=Mojang's block party – what is next for Minecraft? |publisher=MCV UK |date=9 July 2015 |access-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712044341/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/mojang-s-block-party-what-is-next-for-minecraft/ |archive-date=12 July 2015}}{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Webster |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/26/9207085/minecraft-story-mode-telltale-games-interview |title=Giving Minecraft a story |website=The Verge |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827005650/http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/26/9207085/minecraft-story-mode-telltale-games-interview |archive-date=27 August 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=7 December 2015 |title=Minecraft Wii U Confirmed, Coming Very Soon |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-wii-u-confirmed-coming-very-soon/1100-6432876/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207140300/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-wii-u-confirmed-coming-very-soon/1100-6432876/ |archive-date=7 December 2015 |access-date=8 December 2015 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive}}

Markus Persson made another similar game, Minicraft, for a Ludum Dare competition in 2011.{{Cite magazine |last=Senior |first=Tom |date=19 December 2011 |title=Notch makes Minicraft in 48 hours for Ludum Dare |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/notch-makes-minicraft-in-48-hours-for-ludum-dare/ |access-date=11 August 2020 |magazine=PC Gamer |language=en-US}} In 2025, Persson announced through a poll on his X account that he was considering developing a spiritual successor to Minecraft. He later clarified that he was "100% serious", and that he had "basically announced Minecraft 2".{{Cite web |last=Stubbs |first=Mike |title=Notch Teases Making 'Minecraft 2' But Also Wants To Make A Roguelike |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikestubbs/2025/01/04/notch-teases-making-minecraft-2-but-also-wants-to-make-a-roguelike/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=2025-01-04 |title=Minecraft creator Notch says that he 'basically announced minecraft 2' with a Twitter poll and a commitment to making a spiritual successor |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/minecraft-creator-notch-says-that-he-basically-announced-minecraft-2-with-a-twitter-poll-and-a-commitment-to-making-a-spiritual-successor/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=2025-01-04 |title=Minecraft 2 'Basically Announced' By Original Creator, But There's a Catch |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-2-spiritual-successor-announced/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}

{{Main|Oasis (Minecraft clone){{!}}Oasis (Minecraft clone)}}

In November 2024, artificial intelligence companies Decart and Etched released Oasis, an artificially generated version of Minecraft, as a proof of concept. Every in-game element is completely AI generated in real time and the model does not store world data, leading to "hallucinations" such as items and blocks appearing that were not there before.{{Cite web |title=This AI-generated version of Minecraft may represent the future of real-time video generation |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/10/31/1106461/this-ai-generated-minecraft-may-represent-the-future-of-real-time-video-generation/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}}

= Minecon (Minecraft Live) =

Minecon, now known as Minecraft Live, is an annual official fan convention dedicated to Minecraft which usually reveals new games or feature drops, among others. The first full Minecon was held in November 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.{{cite news |url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/10/well-whaddaya-know-minecon-is-sold-out/ |title=Well Whaddaya Know: MineCon Is Sold Out |website=Kotaku |publisher=Gawker Media |first=Owen |last=Good |date=31 October 2012 |access-date=11 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203113607/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/10/well-whaddaya-know-minecon-is-sold-out/ |archive-date=3 February 2013}} The event included the official launch of Minecraft; keynote speeches, including one by Persson; building and costume contests; Minecraft-themed breakout classes; exhibits by leading gaming and Minecraft-related companies; commemorative merchandise; and autograph and picture times with Mojang employees and well-known contributors from the Minecraft community.{{cite web |url=http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/minecraft/1187399p1.html |title=GameSpy: Tickets for Minecraft Convention, MineCon, Now On Sale — Page 1 |website=GameSpy |publisher=Glu Mobile |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=18 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203114001/http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/minecraft/1187399p1.html |archive-date=3 February 2013 |url-status=dead}} In 2016, Minecon was held in-person for the last time, with the following years featuring annual livestreams on minecraft.net and YouTube instead.

Notes

References

= Further reading =

{{cite book |first=Colin |last=Gallagher |date=2014 |title=Minecraft in the Classroom: Ideas, Inspiration, and Student Projects for Teachers |location=Berkeley, CA |publisher=Peachpit Press |isbn=978-0-13-385801-3 |ref=none}}
{{cite book |first=Nate |last=Garrelts |author-link=Nate Garrelts |title=Understanding Minecraft: Essays on Play, Community and Possibilities |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=Jefferson, NC |isbn=978-0-7864-7974-0 |ref=none}}
{{cite book |first=Daniel |last=Goldberg |date=2013 |title=Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Markus "Notch" Persson and the Game That Changed Everything |location=New York |publisher=Seven Stories Press |isbn=978-1-60980-537-1 |title-link=Minecraft: The Unlikely Tale of Markus "Notch" Persson and the Game That Changed Everything |ref=none}}

External links

{{Official website}}
[https://minecraft.wiki/ Minecraft Wiki – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠an unofficial encyclopedia documenting the game]
[https://classic.minecraft.net/ Minecraft Classic –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ a remake version based on an old version of Minecraft]

{{navboxes

|list=

}}

Category:2011 video games

Category:2010s fads and trends

Category:2020s fads and trends

Category:4J Studios games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:BAFTA winners (video games)

Category:Construction and management simulation games

Category:Early access video games

Category:Golden Joystick Award winners