Minecraft is one of the most popular and iconic video games in history. Developed by the Swedish studio Mojang, it has become a true phenomenon in the gaming industry. But how did this game, which attracted millions of players worldwide, come to be? In this post, we’ve compiled interviews with the key developers of Minecraft to share how they created this unique world.

Markus Persson (Notch) — Creator of Minecraft

Markus Persson, better known as Notch, is the founder of Minecraft. In one of his interviews, he talked about how the idea for the game came to be:

“The idea for Minecraft came from my desire to create a game where players could build and destroy the world however they wanted. I wanted to give them the tools for creativity and self-expression. At the time, I was playing open-world games, but I felt there was a lack of building and destruction elements that could be the core of the game, not just a part of it.”

According to Notch, his initial concept was relatively simple: create a game where players could explore a world, gather resources, and build different structures. He drew inspiration for this approach from games like Dwarf Fortress and Infiniminer, which offered elements of procedurally generated worlds and exploration, but Notch wanted to add more freedom for players.

Jens Bergensten (Jeb) — Lead Developer of Minecraft

Jens Bergensten, known as Jeb, joined Mojang after Minecraft had already gained popularity. His task was to continue developing the game and adding new features that would expand the possibilities for players. In one of his interviews, he shared his experience working on Minecraft:

“When I joined Mojang, Minecraft was already a phenomenon. My job was to implement new ideas and features while keeping the spirit of the game. I’m happy we managed to maintain what makes Minecraft special—the freedom of choice for players and the sense of creativity.”

Jens actively worked on important updates to the game, such as adding new biomes, mobs, and blocks. However, his work also involved improving gameplay mechanics to make the games more engaging and diverse.

How Did the Game Evolve?

The development of Minecraft was quite unconventional for a major project. The game started as a small indie project, but due to its viral popularity on platforms like Reddit, it became a true phenomenon. Minecraft attracted millions of players, and Mojang had to adapt to keep up with the growing audience.

John Kagsrom, one of the developers at Mojang, said:

“We didn’t expect such rapid growth in popularity. At one point, we had to expand the team to keep up with new updates and server support. Minecraft became not just a game but a true platform for creativity, and that was our greatest achievement.”

Additionally, the Mojang team actively interacted with the Minecraft community, which played a significant role in improving the game. Many ideas for new features and changes came directly from the players, helping to create such an engaging and ever-expanding universe.

How Did Minecraft Change the Gaming Industry?

Throughout its history, Minecraft has inspired many other games and projects. It was one of the first major games to focus on open worlds and creative possibilities. Thanks to it, the industry began to more actively use sandbox elements, procedural world generation, and community interaction.

“Minecraft didn’t just change gaming; it changed the way we think about games. It showed that a video game could be not just an entertainment product, but a platform for creativity, learning, and self-expression.” Notch said in one interview.

Minecraft also influenced the development of genres like sandbox and survival, inspiring developers to create games with open worlds where players can do virtually anything. Its success also helped the growth of the indie game industry, proving that it’s possible to create a successful project with a small budget and team.

A Legend That Lives On

Today, Minecraft remains one of the most popular games in the world, despite being over a decade old. The game continues to receive updates, and its active player and content creator community keeps growing.

In his latest interview, when asked about the future of the game, Jens Bergensten said:

“Minecraft will continue to evolve because we will always listen to our players. It’s important to remember that this is a game about freedom and creativity, and we’re not going to lose that spirit.”

Thus, Minecraft, from being an indie game to a global phenomenon, continues to inspire new generations of players and developers. And despite all the changes in the gaming industry, Minecraft remains the embodiment of endless possibilities for self-expression and creativity.