{"id":407885,"date":"2025-04-29T02:18:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T02:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=407885"},"modified":"2025-04-29T02:18:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T02:18:59","slug":"who-had-minecraft-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Who had Minecraft first?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#Unearthing_the_Origins_Who_Truly_Had_Minecraft_First\" title=\"Unearthing the Origins: Who Truly Had Minecraft First?\">Unearthing the Origins: Who Truly Had Minecraft First?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#The_Genesis_of_a_Blocky_World_Notchs_Vision\" title=\"The Genesis of a Blocky World: Notch&#8217;s Vision\">The Genesis of a Blocky World: Notch&#8217;s Vision<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#From_Cave_Game_to_Minecraft\" title=\"From Cave Game to Minecraft\">From Cave Game to Minecraft<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#The_Alpha_Release_and_Community_Growth\" title=\"The Alpha Release and Community Growth\">The Alpha Release and Community Growth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#From_Side_Project_to_Full-Time_Endeavor\" title=\"From Side Project to Full-Time Endeavor\">From Side Project to Full-Time Endeavor<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#The_Rise_of_Mojang_A_Company_Built_on_Blocks\" title=\"The Rise of Mojang: A Company Built on Blocks\">The Rise of Mojang: A Company Built on Blocks<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#Growing_Pains_and_Team_Expansion\" title=\"Growing Pains and Team Expansion\">Growing Pains and Team Expansion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#The_Beta_and_Official_Release\" title=\"The Beta and Official Release\">The Beta and Official Release<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#Notch_Steps_Aside_The_Creative_Handover\" title=\"Notch Steps Aside: The Creative Handover\">Notch Steps Aside: The Creative Handover<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#Microsoft_Acquires_Mojang_A_New_Era_for_Minecraft\" title=\"Microsoft Acquires Mojang: A New Era for Minecraft\">Microsoft Acquires Mojang: A New Era for Minecraft<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#The_Billion-Dollar_Deal\" title=\"The Billion-Dollar Deal\">The Billion-Dollar Deal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#Minecraft_Under_Microsofts_Wing\" title=\"Minecraft Under Microsoft&#8217;s Wing\">Minecraft Under Microsoft&#8217;s Wing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#Continued_Support_and_New_Features\" title=\"Continued Support and New Features\">Continued Support and New Features<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#FAQs_Unraveling_the_Minecraft_Ownership_Timeline\" title=\"FAQs: Unraveling the Minecraft Ownership Timeline\">FAQs: Unraveling the Minecraft Ownership Timeline<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#1_Who_initially_created_Minecraft\" title=\"1. Who initially created Minecraft?\">1. Who initially created Minecraft?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#2_When_was_Minecraft_first_released_to_the_public\" title=\"2. When was Minecraft first released to the public?\">2. When was Minecraft first released to the public?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#3_What_was_Minecraft_originally_called\" title=\"3. What was Minecraft originally called?\">3. What was Minecraft originally called?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#4_Did_Notch_create_Minecraft_alone\" title=\"4. Did Notch create Minecraft alone?\">4. Did Notch create Minecraft alone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#5_When_did_Jens_Bergensten_Jeb_take_over_as_lead_designer\" title=\"5. When did Jens Bergensten (Jeb) take over as lead designer?\">5. When did Jens Bergensten (Jeb) take over as lead designer?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#6_When_did_Microsoft_acquire_Mojang\" title=\"6. When did Microsoft acquire Mojang?\">6. When did Microsoft acquire Mojang?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#7_How_much_did_Microsoft_pay_for_Mojang\" title=\"7. How much did Microsoft pay for Mojang?\">7. How much did Microsoft pay for Mojang?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#8_What_other_games_has_Microsoft_created_using_the_Minecraft_IP\" title=\"8. What other games has Microsoft created using the Minecraft IP?\">8. What other games has Microsoft created using the Minecraft IP?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#9_Is_the_original_version_of_Minecraft_still_available\" title=\"9. Is the original version of Minecraft still available?\">9. Is the original version of Minecraft still available?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#10_Has_Microsoft_changed_the_core_gameplay_of_Minecraft_since_acquiring_it\" title=\"10. Has Microsoft changed the core gameplay of Minecraft since acquiring it?\">10. Has Microsoft changed the core gameplay of Minecraft since acquiring it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#11_Does_Notch_still_have_any_involvement_with_Minecraft\" title=\"11. Does Notch still have any involvement with Minecraft?\">11. Does Notch still have any involvement with Minecraft?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#12_What_is_the_current_version_of_Minecraft\" title=\"12. What is the current version of Minecraft?\">12. What is the current version of Minecraft?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#13_What_platforms_is_Minecraft_available_on\" title=\"13. What platforms is Minecraft available on?\">13. What platforms is Minecraft available on?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#14_Is_Minecraft_still_popular_in_2024\" title=\"14. Is Minecraft still popular in 2024?\">14. Is Minecraft still popular in 2024?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#15_Is_Minecraft_good_for_education\" title=\"15. Is Minecraft good for education?\">15. Is Minecraft good for education?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/#The_Legacy_of_a_Blocky_World\" title=\"The Legacy of a Blocky World\">The Legacy of a Blocky World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unearthing_the_Origins_Who_Truly_Had_Minecraft_First\"><\/span>Unearthing the Origins: Who Truly Had Minecraft First?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>The answer, in a nutshell, is <strong>Markus &#8220;Notch&#8221; Persson<\/strong>. He conceived, designed, and initially developed Minecraft as a side project. He held the reigns from its inception in May 2009 until its acquisition by Microsoft in November 2014. Let&#8217;s delve deeper into the fascinating history of this blocky phenomenon and explore who owned what, and when.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Genesis_of_a_Blocky_World_Notchs_Vision\"><\/span>The Genesis of a Blocky World: Notch&#8217;s Vision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Cave_Game_to_Minecraft\"><\/span>From Cave Game to Minecraft<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before it became the global phenomenon we know and love, Minecraft had humble beginnings. Markus Persson, known online as &#8220;Notch,&#8221; a Swedish programmer working at Jalbum.net, began developing the game in his free time. Initially called <strong>&#8220;Cave Game,&#8221;<\/strong> it was inspired by games like Infiniminer, Dwarf Fortress, and Dungeon Keeper. The core concept revolved around building structures from blocks in a 3D world.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Alpha_Release_and_Community_Growth\"><\/span>The Alpha Release and Community Growth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Notch released the <strong>alpha version<\/strong> of Minecraft to the public on <strong>May 17, 2009<\/strong>, via the TIGSource forum, a hub for independent game developers. This marked a pivotal moment. Early adopters were captivated by the game&#8217;s open-ended nature and emergent gameplay. This initial exposure fueled rapid community growth and provided valuable feedback for Notch. It was in this forum that the name <strong>&#8220;Minecraft&#8221;<\/strong> was born, a portmanteau of &#8220;mine&#8221; and &#8220;craft,&#8221; perfectly encapsulating the game&#8217;s essence.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Side_Project_to_Full-Time_Endeavor\"><\/span>From Side Project to Full-Time Endeavor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The success of the alpha release prompted Notch to dedicate himself fully to Minecraft&#8217;s development. This marked the formation of <strong>Mojang Specifications<\/strong> (later Mojang AB), a game development company. The team would go on to further refine and expand the game, introducing new features, biomes, and gameplay mechanics. While Notch remained the driving force behind Minecraft, he began collaborating with other developers as Mojang grew.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Rise_of_Mojang_A_Company_Built_on_Blocks\"><\/span>The Rise of Mojang: A Company Built on Blocks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Growing_Pains_and_Team_Expansion\"><\/span>Growing Pains and Team Expansion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As Minecraft&#8217;s popularity skyrocketed, Mojang expanded its team to handle the increasing workload. Carl Manneh became CEO, managing the business side of things, while Notch continued to oversee the game&#8217;s creative direction. This transition allowed Notch to focus on development and explore new ideas, while Manneh handled the administrative and financial aspects of the company.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Beta_and_Official_Release\"><\/span>The Beta and Official Release<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Minecraft remained in beta for over a year, undergoing constant iteration based on player feedback. Finally, on <strong>November 18, 2011<\/strong>, the official version of Minecraft was released at MineCon 2011. This marked a significant milestone, solidifying Minecraft&#8217;s position as a major player in the gaming industry.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Notch_Steps_Aside_The_Creative_Handover\"><\/span>Notch Steps Aside: The Creative Handover<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Despite Minecraft&#8217;s success, Notch began to feel overwhelmed by the pressure and attention. He expressed a desire to move on to new projects and relinquish his creative control over the game. In late 2011, <strong>Jens Bergensten (Jeb)<\/strong> took over as the lead designer, ensuring Minecraft&#8217;s continued evolution while preserving its core values.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Microsoft_Acquires_Mojang_A_New_Era_for_Minecraft\"><\/span>Microsoft Acquires Mojang: A New Era for Minecraft<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Billion-Dollar_Deal\"><\/span>The Billion-Dollar Deal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In <strong>September 2014<\/strong>, a bombshell announcement shook the gaming world: Microsoft was acquiring Mojang for a staggering <strong>$2.5 billion<\/strong>. This acquisition included the Minecraft intellectual property, as well as the entire Mojang team. For Notch, this represented a final departure from the Minecraft universe.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Minecraft_Under_Microsofts_Wing\"><\/span>Minecraft Under Microsoft&#8217;s Wing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Under Microsoft&#8217;s ownership, Minecraft has continued to thrive. The game has been ported to numerous platforms, including consoles, mobile devices, and virtual reality headsets. Microsoft has also invested heavily in expanding the Minecraft universe with spin-offs like <strong>Minecraft Dungeons<\/strong> and <strong>Minecraft Legends<\/strong>. The <strong>GamesLearningSociety.org<\/strong> website is a wonderful resource for finding more about the educational value of video games.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Continued_Support_and_New_Features\"><\/span>Continued Support and New Features<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Despite the change in ownership, Minecraft&#8217;s core gameplay and community-driven spirit have remained intact. Microsoft has continued to release regular updates, adding new features, biomes, and content to the game. They have also fostered a strong community through events like MineCon and various online platforms.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_Unraveling_the_Minecraft_Ownership_Timeline\"><\/span>FAQs: Unraveling the Minecraft Ownership Timeline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Who_initially_created_Minecraft\"><\/span>1. Who initially created Minecraft?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Markus &#8220;Notch&#8221; Persson is credited with creating the original version of Minecraft, known as the Java Edition.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_When_was_Minecraft_first_released_to_the_public\"><\/span>2. When was Minecraft first released to the public?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Minecraft was first released to the public on May 17, 2009, on the TIGSource forum.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_What_was_Minecraft_originally_called\"><\/span>3. What was Minecraft originally called?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before being named Minecraft, the game was initially referred to as &#8220;Cave Game&#8221; by Markus Persson.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Did_Notch_create_Minecraft_alone\"><\/span>4. Did Notch create Minecraft alone?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While Notch initially developed Minecraft as a solo project, he later formed Mojang Specifications (later Mojang AB) and collaborated with other developers as the game&#8217;s popularity grew.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_When_did_Jens_Bergensten_Jeb_take_over_as_lead_designer\"><\/span>5. When did Jens Bergensten (Jeb) take over as lead designer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Jens Bergensten (Jeb) took over as lead designer of Minecraft in late 2011, after Markus Persson stepped down from the role.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_When_did_Microsoft_acquire_Mojang\"><\/span>6. When did Microsoft acquire Mojang?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Microsoft acquired Mojang, the company behind Minecraft, in September 2014.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_How_much_did_Microsoft_pay_for_Mojang\"><\/span>7. How much did Microsoft pay for Mojang?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Microsoft acquired Mojang for a reported $2.5 billion.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_What_other_games_has_Microsoft_created_using_the_Minecraft_IP\"><\/span>8. What other games has Microsoft created using the Minecraft IP?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Microsoft has expanded the Minecraft universe with spin-off titles like Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Is_the_original_version_of_Minecraft_still_available\"><\/span>9. Is the original version of Minecraft still available?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, the original version of Minecraft, known as the Java Edition, is still available and continues to receive updates.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Has_Microsoft_changed_the_core_gameplay_of_Minecraft_since_acquiring_it\"><\/span>10. Has Microsoft changed the core gameplay of Minecraft since acquiring it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While Microsoft has added new features and content to Minecraft, the core gameplay and community-driven spirit have remained largely intact.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Does_Notch_still_have_any_involvement_with_Minecraft\"><\/span>11. Does Notch still have any involvement with Minecraft?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, Markus &#8220;Notch&#8221; Persson has no involvement with Minecraft since the acquisition of Mojang by Microsoft in 2014.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_What_is_the_current_version_of_Minecraft\"><\/span>12. What is the current version of Minecraft?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Minecraft is constantly updated. To see the current version of Minecraft, visit the official Minecraft website.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_What_platforms_is_Minecraft_available_on\"><\/span>13. What platforms is Minecraft available on?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Minecraft is available on a wide range of platforms, including PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android devices.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Is_Minecraft_still_popular_in_2024\"><\/span>14. Is Minecraft still popular in 2024?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, Minecraft remains one of the most popular video games in the world, with a large and active player base.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_Is_Minecraft_good_for_education\"><\/span>15. Is Minecraft good for education?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, Minecraft has educational benefits, teaching skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity. To learn more about the learning potential of video games, visit the <strong>Games Learning Society<\/strong> website.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Legacy_of_a_Blocky_World\"><\/span>The Legacy of a Blocky World<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Minecraft&#8217;s journey from a humble side project to a global phenomenon is a testament to the power of creativity, community, and innovation. While Markus &#8220;Notch&#8221; Persson may have initially had Minecraft, his vision has been embraced and expanded upon by Mojang and Microsoft, ensuring that the blocky world continues to captivate players for years to come. The acquisition has allowed Microsoft to provide more support, resources and manpower to further develop the game. The essence, however, remains true to Notch&#8217;s original concept.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unearthing the Origins: Who Truly Had Minecraft First? The answer, in a nutshell, is Markus &#8220;Notch&#8221; Persson. He conceived, designed, and initially developed Minecraft as a side project. He held the reigns from its inception in May 2009 until its acquisition by Microsoft in November 2014. Let&#8217;s delve deeper into the fascinating history of this &#8230; <a title=\"Who had Minecraft first?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/who-had-minecraft-first\/\" aria-label=\"More on Who had Minecraft first?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-407885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/407885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=407885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/407885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=407885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=407885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=407885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}