Minecraft was created by the Swedish game programmer Markus Alexej Persson, better known by his nickname Notch.

Quick Scoop: Who made Minecraft?

  • Creator: Markus “Notch” Persson, a Swedish video game developer.
  • First version: Started as a small indie project in 2009, initially called “Cave Game.”
  • Studio behind it: Mojang (founded by Persson in 2009 to continue Minecraft’s development).
  • Later lead developer: Jens “Jeb” Bergensten took over lead development around Minecraft’s full release in 2011, but Persson is the original creator.

Mini timeline

  1. 2009 – Persson codes the early Java version (alpha), shares it online, and it quickly gains a cult following.
  1. 2010–2011 – Mojang grows, beta versions roll out, and Minecraft is officially released in November 2011.
  1. 2014 – Microsoft buys Mojang and Minecraft; Persson steps away from development.

Why it matters now

Minecraft has grown from one developer’s side project into the best‑selling video game of all time and a massive franchise, but when people ask “who made Minecraft,” they’re talking about Markus “Notch” Persson as the original creator.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.