Minecraft

This article is about the video game. For the franchise, see Minecraft (franchise). For other uses, see Minecraft (disambiguation).

Minecraft
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
  • Mojang Studios
  • Xbox Game Studios[c]
Designer(s)
Artist(s)
Composer(s)C418[e]
SeriesMinecraft
Engine
Platform(s)
Windows
macOS
Linux
Release
18 November 2011[a]
  • Windows, macOS, Linux
    • WW: 18 November 2011
  • Android
    • WW: 7 October 2011
  • iOS
    • WW: 17 November 2011
  • Xbox 360
    • WW: 9 May 2012
  • Raspberry Pi
    • WW: 11 February 2013
  • PlayStation 3
    • NA: 17 December 2013
    • EU: 18 December 2013
  • Fire OS
    • WW: 2 April 2014
  • PlayStation 4
    • WW: 4 September 2014
  • Xbox One
    • WW: 5 September 2014
  • PlayStation Vita
    • NA: 14 October 2014
    • EU: 15 October 2014
  • Windows Phone
    • WW: 10 December 2014
  • Windows 10
    • WW: 29 July 2015
  • Wii U
    • WW: 17 December 2015
  • tvOS
    • WW: 19 December 2016
  • Nintendo Switch
    • NA: 11 May 2017
    • PAL: 12 May 2017
  • New Nintendo 3DS
    • WW: 13 September 2017
  • ChromeOS
    • WW: 8 June 2023
Genre(s)Sandbox, survival
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Minecraft is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by Mojang Studios for Windows. Originally created by Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java programming language, it was developed over the span of two years, with many public test builds being released from May 2009 until its full release on 18 November 2011. After the game's full release, Persson 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 and various video game consoles, primarily by 4J Studios. Minecraft has become the best-selling video game in history, 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 games two main modes are a 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 ever created; 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. In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for US$2.5 billion. Several spin-offs have also been made, including Minicraft, Minecraft: Story Mode, Minecraft Earth, Minecraft Dungeons, and Minecraft Legends. In addition, a live-action film of the same name is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2025.

  1. ^ Persson, Markus (17 May 2009). "Minecraft 0.0.11a for public consumption". The Word of Notch. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2018 – via Tumblr.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference PC release date was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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