Minecraft Creator Notch Unveils New Game Dubbed “Essentially Minecraft 2”

Markus “Notch” Persson, the original creator of Minecraft, has revealed that he is “basically” embarking on a project that resembles a sequel to the popular franchise, while assuring that it will respect the copyright held by Microsoft.

After selling the rights of Minecraft for an impressive $2.5 billion to Microsoft in 2014, Notch has stepped away from the franchise. In the years since, Mojang Studios, the game’s developer, has introduced numerous significant updates along with several exciting spinoffs, including Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends.

Despite the plethora of updates and expansions, fans have long awaited a traditional sequel. Recent statements from Notch may hint that this wait could soon be over.

Notch’s Vision for Minecraft 2

In a now-deleted poll on Twitter/X, Notch engaged his audience by asking whether he should proceed with his current dungeon crawler project or create a “spiritual successor” to Minecraft. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of the latter.

In a follow-up comment, he affirmed that he has effectively announced the beginnings of Minecraft 2, expressing indifference regarding which project to prioritize first. Notch stated, “…but I do know I’m making one, so I figured I’d absolutely be willing to give it an honest shot in the form of a spiritual successor to Minecraft.”

Minecraft 2 Concept Art — Microsoft Game Studios

Addressing his motivation, Notch mentioned that concerns about his next project prompted him to focus on “doing the thing that people DO want and are willing to give me, somehow, even MORE cash for.” This candid revelation underscores his awareness of the community’s desires.

Importantly, Notch reassured fans that he has no plans to “sneakily infringe” on Mojang Studios’ creations, reflecting his desire to carve out a unique niche while respecting existing intellectual property.

This announcement has certainly generated excitement among the Minecraft community; however, some skepticism persists. Many are wary, partly because Notch has not released any major projects since departing from Mojang.

Following his departure, he co-founded Rubberbrain in 2015, but the studio never released a game and later rebranded as Bitshift Entertainment in 2024. Lately, Notch has expressed interest in exploring virtual reality (VR) experiences, though no concrete developments have materialized.

As a result, the timeline for when Notch’s new Minecraft-inspired endeavor will come to fruition remains uncertain, leaving fans curious yet cautiously optimistic.

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