Markus ‘Notch’ Persson Teases Minecraft Spiritual Successor

The original creator of Minecraft, Markus "Notch" Persson, has teased the development of a spiritual successor to the world’s best-selling game. This announcement comes nearly a decade after he sold Mojang to Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014. While Persson left Mojang following the acquisition, his enduring association with Minecraft ensures that any new project he undertakes will attract considerable attention.

After a period of dormancy, Persson relaunched his game development studio, now named Bitshift Entertainment, in 2024. On January 1, he revealed plans for a traditional roguelike fused with a tile-based first-person dungeon crawler. However, a subsequent poll among his fans saw 78% vote in favor of a spiritual successor to Minecraft. This overwhelming response appears to have swayed Persson’s focus.

In a candid series of posts, Persson reflected on the project:

"I basically announced Minecraft 2. I thought that maybe people ACTUALLY do want me to make another game that's super similar to the first one, and I'm loving working on games again."

Persson emphasized his intent to respect Mojang and Microsoft’s ongoing efforts with Minecraft, while trying to avoid the pitfalls commonly associated with spiritual successors. He remains cautiously optimistic about his abilities, stating:

"I mean I still sort of think I'm just a clown getting lucky in a sea of actual talents, so I have no idea if it actually will be good. But I'll try."

The Challenge of Following Minecraft

Persson’s track record raises questions about whether he can replicate the groundbreaking success of Minecraft. While the game continues to evolve with updates like The Garden Awakens (adding a new biome and mob in December 2024) and spin-offs such as Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends, fans have expressed curiosity about what a new Persson project might offer.

Adding further intrigue is the upcoming Minecraft Movie, set to release on April 4, 2025, which will keep the franchise firmly in the spotlight.

While the potential of a Minecraft-inspired game from Persson excites fans, it also poses a significant challenge: meeting the expectations set by one of the most beloved games of all time. Will Persson’s new game capture the same magic or fade as a nostalgic echo of his past success?

What are your thoughts on this potential "Minecraft spiritual successor"? Share your ideas and hopes in the comments below!