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The $2.5 Billion Question: 5 Shocking Truths About Whether Notch Still Plays Minecraft (And His New Game)

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The short answer is almost certainly no. As of December 2025, Markus "Notch" Persson, the visionary creator of Minecraft, has fundamentally distanced himself from the game he created, a decision rooted in his desire to escape the overwhelming pressure and complexity of managing a global phenomenon. His relationship with the game is not one of a casual player, but of an artist who completed a masterpiece and then needed to walk away for his personal well-being.

The latest and most compelling evidence of his detachment comes from his recent focus on a new, smaller-scale venture: a game development studio called Bitshift Entertainment. After selling Mojang Studios to Microsoft for a staggering $2.5 billion in 2014, Notch is now channeling his creative energy into a new project, a voxel-based dungeon roguelike game named Levers and Chests, confirming his focus is entirely on new creations, not revisiting the old blocky world.

Markus "Notch" Persson: Creator and Billionaire Biography

Markus Alexej Persson, known globally by his pseudonym, Notch, is a Swedish video game programmer and designer who achieved global fame and immense wealth as the creator of the sandbox video game phenomenon, Minecraft. His story is one of an independent developer who accidentally created one of the best-selling video games of all time.

  • Full Name: Markus Alexej Persson
  • Alias: Notch
  • Nationality: Swedish
  • Born: June 1, 1979 (Age 46 as of late 2025)
  • Career Highlights: Creator of Minecraft, Founder of Mojang Studios.
  • Key Games: Minecraft, Wurm Online (co-developed), Breaking the Tower, Scrolls (now Caller's Bane).
  • Mojang Sale Date: September 15, 2014 (Sold to Microsoft for $2.5 billion).
  • Net Worth (Estimated 2025): Approximately $1.2 billion to $1.9 billion.
  • Current Studio: Bitshift Entertainment (Founded c. 2024)
  • Personal Life: Married to Elin Zetterstrand (2011; divorced 2012).

The Reason Notch Left: "It's About My Sanity"

The decision to sell Mojang and step away from Minecraft development was not about the money; it was a desperate plea for personal freedom. Notch repeatedly stated that the immense pressure and responsibility of managing a game with millions of players became unbearable. This burnout is the primary reason he does not engage with the game as a player today.

Escaping the Development Pressure Cooker

When Minecraft exploded into a global phenomenon, the creative joy of an indie developer was replaced by the relentless demands of a massive corporation. Notch found himself struggling with the expectations of the community and the sheer scale of the project. He was not suited for the role of a CEO or the figurehead of a multi-billion dollar franchise.

His own words confirm this feeling of being trapped. He famously stated, "I wouldn't want to do anything like 'Minecraft' again, where it's, like, an on-going thing, and there are customers I have to keep happy." This quote is the clearest indication that he views the game not as a source of fun, but as a source of stress, which strongly suggests he has no interest in playing it casually.

The Final Break with Mojang and Microsoft

After the $2.5 billion sale to Microsoft, Notch formally separated from Mojang Studios. This sale provided him with the financial freedom to pursue smaller, passion-driven projects without the crushing weight of maintaining the world's best-selling video game. While his legacy remains in the game's code and its foundational elements, his direct involvement and creative influence ended over a decade ago. The current Minecraft experience, with its complex updates, new mobs, and technical advancements, is entirely a product of Mojang's teams under Microsoft's ownership.

The New Creative Focus: Bitshift Entertainment and Levers and Chests

If Notch were still playing Minecraft, he wouldn't be dedicating his time to a new, competing project. His latest endeavor, the launch of his new studio, Bitshift Entertainment, is the definitive proof that his creative focus has shifted entirely. This move signals a return to his roots as an independent developer, creating games purely for his own enjoyment.

The Rise and Fall of "Minecraft 2"

In a fascinating turn of events in late 2024 and early 2025, Notch briefly teased a spiritual successor to his original masterpiece, referring to it as "basically announced Minecraft 2." This announcement sparked a massive wave of excitement in the gaming community. However, he quickly canceled the concept, calling the idea a "sad nostalgia dump." This rapid reversal shows his reluctance to be tied down by the expectations of his past success, further cementing his desire to move forward.

A Voxel Roguelike: Levers and Chests

The game he is actively developing under Bitshift Entertainment is a voxel-based dungeon roguelike game titled Levers and Chests. This choice of genre—a smaller, niche game focused on "old-school turn-based combat"—is a deliberate move away from the massive, open-ended sandbox of Minecraft. This project is a return to the kind of experimental, indie development he enjoyed before Minecraft consumed his life. This is where his passion lies now, not in revisiting the world of Creepers and Endermen.

The Legacy of Notch in Modern Minecraft

While Notch may not be a player, his indelible mark on the game remains. The core mechanics, the blocky aesthetic, the survival mode, and the creative mode are all products of his original vision. However, there have been efforts to distance the modern game from its creator, especially following controversial social media statements made by Persson in the years after the sale.

  • The End Poem: The game's famous "The End Poem," written by Irish author Julian Gough, remains a key part of the game's completion experience, a piece of art commissioned during Notch's tenure.
  • Mojang's Distance: In recent years, Mojang Studios has subtly removed references to Notch from the game's splash screens and code, a move largely seen as an effort to separate the brand from his controversial public persona.
  • The Core Code: Despite countless updates, the fundamental Java-based architecture and world generation algorithms still bear the hallmarks of his original programming.

In conclusion, the question of "does Notch still play Minecraft" is best answered by looking at his current life. He is a billionaire who walked away from his creation for his "sanity." He is now pouring his time and energy into a new studio, Bitshift Entertainment, and developing a small-scale dungeon roguelike, *Levers and Chests*. He is focused on his future as a niche game developer, not his past as the creator of the world's most popular sandbox game. His creative journey has taken him far beyond the blocky landscapes of the Overworld.

does notch still play minecraft
does notch still play minecraft

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