Gamers logo

history of Minecraft

history of Minecraft

By Felix AmaziahPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
history of Minecraft
Photo by Nina Rivas on Unsplash

Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all time, with over 200 million copies sold across a wide range of platforms. The game, which was developed by Swedish programmer Markus "Notch" Persson, was first released in 2009 and has since become a cultural phenomenon, with millions of players around the world building and exploring their own virtual worlds. In this article, we'll explore the history of Minecraft, from its origins as a hobby project to its current status as one of the most iconic games of the 21st century.

Origins of Minecraft

Minecraft was initially developed by Markus Persson in his spare time, while working as a game developer for King.com. Persson had previously developed several other games, but Minecraft was different in that it was a hobby project that he worked on in his spare time, without any intention of making it a commercial product.

The first version of Minecraft, which was released in May 2009, was a simple sandbox game that allowed players to build and explore a blocky, procedurally generated world. The game quickly gained a following, as players shared their creations and mods online and developed their own communities and servers.

Development of Minecraft

As Minecraft gained in popularity, Persson decided to leave his job at King.com and focus full-time on the development of Minecraft. In 2010, he founded the company Mojang, which would serve as the home of Minecraft and its associated products.

Over the next few years, Minecraft underwent a series of updates and changes, adding new features and mechanics to the game. In 2011, the game received its first official release, known as Minecraft 1.0, which included a range of new features such as a new dimension called "The End" and an endgame boss called the Ender Dragon.

Minecraft also expanded beyond its initial PC audience, with releases on a range of platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile devices. These versions of the game introduced new features such as split-screen multiplayer and touch controls, making the game more accessible to a wider audience.

Cultural Impact of Minecraft

Minecraft's impact on popular culture has been significant, with the game appearing in movies, TV shows, and even music videos. The game has also been used in education, with teachers and schools incorporating Minecraft into their curriculum as a tool for teaching subjects such as history, geography, and coding.

One of the most notable aspects of Minecraft is its dedicated community, which has developed a range of mods, plugins, and custom maps for the game. These community creations range from simple cosmetic changes to complex gameplay overhauls, and have helped to keep the game fresh and engaging for players.

Conclusion

Minecraft has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a hobby project, and has become one of the most iconic and influential video games of all time. The game's success can be attributed to its open-ended gameplay, which allows players to explore and create in a way that is both creative and relaxing. As the game continues to evolve and expand, it will likely continue to inspire and captivate players for years to come.

Minecraft has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a hobby project, and has become one of the most iconic and influential video games of all time. The game's success can be attributed to its open-ended gameplay, which allows players to explore and create in a way that is both creative and relaxing. As the game continues to evolve and expand, it will likely continue to inspire and captivate players for years to come.

adventure games

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.