Minecraft is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by Swedish video game
developer Mojang Studios. Originally created by Markus "Notch" Persson using the
Java programming language, the first public build was released on 17 May 2009. The
game would continue to be developed over the span of two years, until its full
release on 18 November 2011. Afterwards, Persson left Mojang and gave Jens "Jeb"
Bergensten control over the game's development. In the years since its release, it
has been ported to several platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and various
video game consoles, primarily by 4J Studios. In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft
intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion. Minecraft has
since become the best-selling video game of all-time, with over 300 million copies
sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players as of 2023.
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. The game has two main
modes; one being survival mode, where players must acquire resources to survive,
and a creative mode where players have unlimited resources and the ability to fly.
Several other game modes exist besides the two main ones, such as one that allows
players to spectate others and one that plays identically to survival mode, but
features permadeath. The game's large community also 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.
Minecraft 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 played prominent roles in
popularizing the game. The game has also been used in educational environments to
teach chemistry, computer-aided design, and computer science. Several spin-offs
have also been made, including Minecraft: Story Mode, Minecraft Earth, Minecraft
Dungeons, and Minecraft Legends. In addition, a live-action film based on the game,
A Minecraft Movie, is scheduled for a theatrical release in April 2025.
