{{Short description|Swedish video game programmer (born 1979)}} {{pp-blp|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use British English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Markus Persson | image = Notch receives the Pioneer Award at GDC 2016 (cropped).jpg | caption = Persson at the 2016 [[Game Developers Conference]] | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|06|01|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Stockholm]], Sweden | birth_name = Markus Alexej Persson | other_names = Notch | occupation = {{flatlist| * [[Video game programmer]] * [[Video game designer|designer]] }} | years_active = 2004–present | notable_works = ''[[Minecraft]]'' | title = Founder of [[Mojang Studios]] | spouse = {{marriage|Elin Zetterstrand|2011|2012|reason=divorced}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine|last=Peisner|first=David|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-85823/|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=7 May 2014|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122235643/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-85823/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> | children = 1 | website = }}

'''Markus Alexej Persson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɪər|s|ən|audio=Markus_Persson_Pronunciation_in_American_English.ogg}} {{respell|PEER|sən}}, {{IPA|sv|ˈmǎrːkɵs ˈpæ̌ːʂɔn|lang|Sv-Markus_Persson.ogg}}; born 1 June 1979), known by the pseudonym '''Notch''', is a Swedish [[video game programmer]] and [[Video game designer|designer]]. He is the creator of ''[[Minecraft]]'', the [[List of best-selling video games|best-selling video game in history]].{{Efn|Excluding ''[[Tetris]]'', which is often seen as a video game series rather than a stand-alone video game<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerken |first=Tom |date=2023-10-16 |title=Minecraft becomes first video game to hit 300m sales |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67105983 |access-date=2026-03-24 |publisher=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB |quote=For this reason, Tetris is usually considered a series, whereas Minecraft is the same game whether it is played on Nintendo Switch or mobile.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nguyen |first=Britney |date=2023-10-16 |title=Minecraft Just Surpassed 300 Million Sales—Here's The Only Video Game Still Beating It |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/10/16/minecraft-just-surpassed-300-million-sales-heres-the-only-video-game-still-beating-it/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251222090913/https://www.forbes.com/sites/britneynguyen/2023/10/16/minecraft-just-surpassed-300-million-sales-heres-the-only-video-game-still-beating-it/ |archive-date=2025-12-22 |access-date=2026-03-24 |work=[[Forbes]] |language=en |quote=Because there have been several versions of Tetris since it was released in 1984, it is considered by some to be a series instead of one video game like Minecraft.}}</ref>}} He founded the video game development company [[Mojang Studios]] in 2009.

Persson began developing video games at an early age. His commercial success began after he published an early version of ''Minecraft'' in 2009. Prior to the game's official retail release in 2011, it had sold over four million copies. After this point Persson stood down as the lead designer and transferred his creative authority to [[Jens Bergensten]]. In September 2014 Persson announced his intention to leave Mojang, and in November of that year the company was sold to [[Microsoft]] reportedly for US$2.5 billion, which made him a billionaire.

Since 2016 several of Persson's posts on [[Twitter]] regarding [[feminism]], [[Race (human categorization)|race]], and [[Transgender rights movement|transgender rights]] have caused public controversies. He has been described as "an increasingly polarizing figure, tweeting offensive statements regarding race, the LGBTQ community, gender, and other topics". In an effort to distance itself from Persson, Microsoft removed mentions of his name from ''Minecraft'' (excluding one instance in the game's [[Closing credits|end credits]]) and did not invite him to the game's tenth anniversary celebration.<ref name="Gartenberg">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/28/18285612/minecraft-markus-notch-persson-references-removed-original-creator|title=Minecraft update removes most references to original creator: Persson's name still appears in the credits, but not in main menu splash texts|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=Mar 28, 2019|publisher=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

In 2015 he co-founded a separate game studio called Rubberbrain, which was relaunched in 2024 as Bitshift Entertainment.

== Early life == Markus Alexej Persson was born in [[Stockholm]], Sweden, to a Finnish mother, Ritva,<ref name=":4" /> and a Swedish father, Birger,<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Eric |date=9 December 2013 |title=Book Excerpt: How Minecraft Creator Markus Persson Almost Took a Job at Valve |url=https://allthingsd.com/20131209/book-excerpt-how-minecraft-creator-markus-persson-almost-took-a-job-at-valve/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=AllThingsD |language=en-US |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416084824/https://allthingsd.com/20131209/book-excerpt-how-minecraft-creator-markus-persson-almost-took-a-job-at-valve/ |url-status=live }}</ref> on 1 June 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/business-figure/markus-persson |title=Markus Persson |website=Biography |date=21 April 2015 |access-date=27 February 2022 |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227162749/https://www.biography.com/business-figure/markus-persson |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/blogs/cat_fernim/2011/09/21/20-things-you-might-not-know-about-notch|title=20 Things You Might Not Know About Notch|work=[[IGN]]|author=Cat_Fernim|date=21 September 2011|access-date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014043325/http://www.ign.com/blogs/cat_fernim/2011/09/21/20-things-you-might-not-know-about-notch|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> He has one sister.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine |date=5 April 2013 |title=The Creator |url=https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-creator |access-date=8 April 2023 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408120509/https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-creator |url-status=live }}</ref> He grew up in [[Edsbyn]] until he was seven years old, when his family moved back to Stockholm.<ref name="Story of Mojang">{{cite AV media |publisher=[[2 Player Productions]] |date=8 November 2013 |title=Minecraft: The Story of Mojang |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503013353/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |access-date=January 10, 2026 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone" /><ref name=":5" /> In Edsbyn, Persson's father worked for the railroad, and his mother was a nurse.<ref name="rollingstone" /> He spent much time outdoors in Edsbyn, exploring the woods with his friends.

When Persson was about seven years old,<ref name="GSint" /> his parents divorced, and he and his sister lived with their mother.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Glasgow |first=Brad |date=3 August 2016 |title=The Tao of Notch – Beyond Twitter |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-tao-of-notch-beyond-twitter/ |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410211429/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-tao-of-notch-beyond-twitter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His father moved to a cabin in the countryside.<ref name=":5" /> Persson said in an interview that they experienced [[Food security|food insecurity]] around once a month.<ref name=":14" /> Persson lost contact with his father for several years after the divorce.<ref name="GSint" />

According to Persson, his father suffered from [[Depression (mood)|depression]], [[bipolar disorder]], [[alcoholism]], and medication abuse, and went to jail for robberies.<ref name="rollingstone" /><ref name=":5" /> While his father had somewhat recovered during Persson's early life, his father relapsed, contributing to the divorce. His sister also experimented with drugs and ran away from home.<ref name=":4" />

He had gained interest in video games at an early age. His father was "a really big nerd", who built his own modem and taught Persson to use the family's [[Commodore 128]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name="wired origins2" /> On it, Persson played bootleg games and loaded in various [[type-in program]]s from computer magazines with the help of his sister.<ref name=":5" /> The first game he purchased with his own money was ''[[The Bard's Tale (1985 video game)|The Bard's Tale]]''.<ref name=":5" /> He began programming on his father's Commodore 128 home computer at the age of seven.<ref name="GSint">{{cite web |last=Handy |first=Alex |date=23 March 2010 |title=Interview: Markus 'Notch' Persson Talks Making Minecraft |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509113422/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |archive-date=9 May 2010 |access-date=26 June 2010 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |quote=my first own program when I was eight years old. It was an extremely basic text adventure game}}</ref> He produced his first game at the age of eight, a [[Interactive fiction|text-based adventure game]].<ref name="Story of Mojang" /><ref name="GSint" />

By 1994 Persson knew he wanted to become a video game developer, but his teachers advised him to study graphic design, which he did from ages 15 to 18.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=Jamie |date=14 March 2012 |title=Markus Persson: Interview |work=Bafta Guru |url=https://guru.bafta.org/markus-persson-interview |access-date=8 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409033428/https://guru.bafta.org/markus-persson-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

Persson, although introverted,<ref name=":4" /> was well-liked by his peers, but after entering secondary school was a "loner" and reportedly had only one friend.<ref name="wired origins2" /> He spent most of his spare time with games and programming at home.<ref name="wired origins2" /> He never finished high school, but was reportedly a good student.<ref name=":4" />

== Career == Persson started his career working as a web designer.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9" /> He later found employment at Game Federation, where he met Rolf Jansson. The pair worked in their spare time to build the 2006 video game ''[[Wurm Online]].<ref name=":9" />''<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McDougall |first=Jaz |date=29 July 2010 |title=Community heroes: Notch, for Minecraft |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/07/29/community-heroes-notch-for-minecraft/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920035056/http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/07/29/community-heroes-notch-for-minecraft/ |archive-date=20 September 2014 |access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="GAMASUTRA" /><ref name="GSint" /> The game was released through a new entity, "Mojang Specifications AB". Persson left the project in late 2007. As Persson wanted to reuse the name "Mojang", Jansson agreed to rename the company to Onetoofree AB.<ref name="wired origins2" />

Between 2004 and 2009 Persson worked as a game developer for Midasplayer (later known as [[King (company)|King]]).<ref name="Story of Mojang" /><ref name="GSint" /> There, he worked as a programmer, mostly building [[browser game]]s made in [[Adobe Flash|Flash]].<ref name="wired origins2">{{cite magazine |last=Cheshire |first=Tom |date=15 September 2014 |title=Changing the game: how Notch made Minecraft a cult hit |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/changing-the-game |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102229/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/changing-the-game |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9" /> He later worked as a programmer for [[jAlbum]].<ref name="GAMASUTRA">{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Kristoff |date=5 March 2012 |title=Minecraft mastermind Markus Persson to receive Bafta special award |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127205331/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php |archive-date=27 November 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020 |website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref><ref name="Story of Mojang2">{{cite AV media |publisher=[[2 Player Productions]] |date=8 November 2013 |title=Minecraft: The Story of Mojang |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503013353/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18 |archive-date=3 May 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="GSint3">{{cite web |last=Handy |first=Alex |date=23 March 2010 |title=Interview: Markus 'Notch' Persson Talks Making ''Minecraft'' |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509113422/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27719/Interview_Markus_Notch_Persson_Talks_Making_Minecraft.php |archive-date=9 May 2010 |access-date=26 June 2010 |publisher=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref><ref name="GAMASUTRA2">{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Kristoff |date=5 March 2012 |title=MINECRAFT MASTERMIND MARKUS PERSSON TO RECEIVE BAFTA SPECIAL AWARD |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127205331/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php |archive-date=27 November 2019 |access-date=15 July 2020 |website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref>

=== ''Minecraft'' and Mojang === {{Further|Development of Minecraft: Java Edition{{!}}Development of ''Minecraft: Java Edition''}}

==== Inspiration for ''Minecraft'' ==== Prior to creating ''Minecraft'', Persson developed multiple, small games. He also entered a number of game design competitions and participated in discussions on the [[TIGSource]] forums, a web forum for independent game developers.<ref name="wired origins2" /><ref name="GAMASUTRA" />

One of Persson's more notable personal projects was called '''''RubyDung''''', an isometric three-dimensional base-building game like ''[[RollerCoaster Tycoon]]'' and ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]''.<ref name="TechRadar: History">{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Alex |date=13 June 2018 |title=The history of Minecraft |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/the-history-of-minecraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809090837/https://www.techradar.com/news/the-history-of-minecraft |archive-date=9 August 2018 |access-date=17 January 2019 |website=[[TechRadar]]}}</ref> While working on ''RubyDung'', Persson experimented with a first-person view mode similar to that found in ''[[Dungeon Keeper]].'' However, he felt the graphics were too pixelated and omitted this mode.<ref name="rubydung">{{cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=30 October 2009 |title=The origins of Minecraft |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/227922045/the-origins-of-minecraft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212110808/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/1144331509/seecret-saturday-1-but-i-failed-biomes-again |archive-date=12 December 2018 |access-date=7 May 2020 |publisher=[[Tumblr]]}}</ref><ref name="GSint3" />

In 2009 Persson found inspiration in ''[[Infiniminer]]'', a block-based open-ended mining game. ''Infiniminer'' heavily influenced his future work on ''RubyDung'', and was behind Persson's reasoning for returning the first-person mode, the "blocky" visual style and the block-building fundamentals to the game.<ref name="rubydung" />

''RubyDung'' is the earliest known ''Minecraft'' prototype created by Persson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitworth |first=Spencer |title=When was Minecraft first created? Exploring history behind most popular sandbox game |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/minecraft/when-minecraft-first-created-exploring-history-behind-popular-sandbox-game |access-date=27 April 2023 |website=sportskeeda.com |date=27 March 2022 |language=en-us |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313042337/https://www.sportskeeda.com/minecraft/when-minecraft-first-created-exploring-history-behind-popular-sandbox-game |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Release and success of ''Minecraft'' ==== On 17 May 2009 Persson released the original edition (later called ''"Classic'' version''"'') of ''Minecraft'' on the TIGSource forums. He regularly updated the game based on feedback from TIGSource users.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minecraft (alpha) |url=https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=6273.0 |access-date=9 August 2020 |website=forums.tigsource.com}}</ref><ref name="wired origins2" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=6 February 2012 |title=The First Moments of Minecraft |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/06/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227001022/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/02/06/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |archive-date=27 December 2012 |access-date=1 January 2013 |publisher=[[Future plc]] |magazine=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref> Persson released several new versions of ''Minecraft'' throughout 2009 and 2010, going through several phases of development including ''Survival Test'', ''Indev'', and ''Infdev''.<ref name="GSint3" /> On 30 June 2010 Persson released the game's ''Alpha'' version.

While working on the pre-Alpha version of ''Minecraft'', Persson continued working at jAlbum. In 2010, after the release and subsequent success of ''Minecraft''<nowiki/>'s ''Alpha'' version'','' Persson moved from a full-time role to a part-time role at jAlbum. He left jAlbum later that same year.<ref name="TechRadar: History" />

In September 2010 Persson travelled to [[Valve Corporation]]'s headquarters in [[Bellevue, Washington]], United States, where he took part in a programming exercise and met [[Gabe Newell]]. Persson was subsequently offered a job at Valve, which he turned down in order to continue work on ''Minecraft''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notch turned down job offer at Valve to create Mojang |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013-12-10-notch-turned-down-job-offer-at-valve-to-create-mojang.html |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Engadget |date=11 December 2013 |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408112614/https://www.engadget.com/2013-12-10-notch-turned-down-job-offer-at-valve-to-create-mojang.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":13" />

On 20 December 2010 ''Minecraft'' moved into its beta phase and began expanding to other platforms, including mobile. In January 2011 ''Minecraft'' reached one million registered accounts. Six months afterwards, it reached ten million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=2011-07-01 |title=Minecraft passes 10 million registered users |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-passes-10-million-registered-users/1100-6322010/ |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref> The game has sold over four million copies by 7 November 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Downin |first=Jonathan |date=2011-11-07 |title=Minecraft beta cracks 4 million |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-beta-cracks-4-million/1100-6344310/ |access-date=2025-10-12 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref> Mojang held the first [[Minecon]] from 18 to 19 November 2011 to celebrate its full release, and subsequently made it an annual event.<ref name="TechRadar: History" /> Following this, on 11 December 2011, Persson transferred creative control of ''Minecraft'' to [[Jens Bergensten]] and began working on another game title, ''0x10c'', although he reportedly abandoned the project around 2013.<ref name="rollingstone" /><ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Christopher |date=2 December 2011 |title=Notch steps down as lead developer on Minecraft to focus on 'new project' |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/notch-steps-down-as-lead-developer-on-minecraft-to-focus-on-new |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308172954/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/notch-steps-down-as-lead-developer-on-minecraft-to-focus-on-new/ |archive-date=8 March 2012 |access-date=8 March 2012 |publisher=[[Joystiq]]}}</ref>

In 2013 Mojang recorded revenues of $330 million and profits of $129 million.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=18 March 2014 |title=Minecraft Is Still Generating Insane Amounts of Cash for Developer Mojang |url=https://time.com/28891/minecraft-is-still-generating-insane-amounts-of-cash-for-developer-mojang/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-date=16 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016200015/http://time.com/28891/minecraft-is-still-generating-insane-amounts-of-cash-for-developer-mojang/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Leaving Mojang ==== Persson has stated that, due to the intense media attention and public pressure, he became exhausted with running ''Minecraft'' and Mojang.<ref name=":4" /> {{Quote frame|I'm not an entrepreneur. I'm not a CEO. I'm a nerdy computer programmer who likes to have opinions on Twitter.<ref name="blogpost">{{Cite web|url=http://notch.net/2014/09/im-leaving-mojang/|first=Markus "Notch"|last=Persson|title=I'm leaving Mojang|website=notch.net|date=2024-09-15|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612212937/http://notch.net/2014/09/im-leaving-mojang/}}</ref>}}

In a September 2014 blog post he shared his realization that he "didn't have the connection to my fans I thought I had", that he had "become a symbol", and that he did not wish to be responsible for Mojang's increasingly large operation.<ref name="blogpost" />

In June 2014 Persson tweeted "Anyone want to buy my share of Mojang so I can move on with my life? Getting hate for trying to do the right thing is not my gig", reportedly partly as a joke.<ref name="TechRadar: History" /><ref name=":4" /> Persson controlled a 71% stake in Mojang at the time. The offer attracted significant interest from [[Activision Blizzard]], [[Electronic Arts|EA]], and [[Microsoft]]. ''Forbes'' later reported that Microsoft wanted to purchase the game as a "tax dodge" to turn their taxable excess liquid cash into other assets.<ref name=":4" />

In September 2014 Microsoft agreed to purchase Mojang for $2.5 billion, making Persson a billionaire.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Mac |first=Ryan |title=Inside The Post-Minecraft Life Of Billionaire Gamer God Markus Persson |date=3 March 2015|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> He then left the company after the deal was finalised in November.<ref name="TechRadar: History" /><ref name=":4" />

=== Activities after leaving Mojang === {{Redirect|Minecraft 2|the sequel to ''A Minecraft Movie''|A Minecraft Movie Squared{{!}}''A Minecraft Movie Squared''}} Since leaving Mojang, Persson has worked on several small projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tamburro |first=Paul |date=14 January 2018 |title=Notch Could be Working on a Minecraft Successor |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/363305-notch-working-minecraft-successor |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=GameRevolution |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408123357/https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/363305-notch-working-minecraft-successor |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 June 2014 he founded a company with Porsér called Rubberbrain AB;<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 June 2014 |title=Rubberbrain AB |url=https://foretagsinfo.bolagsverket.se/sok-foretagsinformation-web/foretag/5569751729/foretagsform/AB |access-date=5 January 2025 |website=bolagsverket.se}}</ref> the company had no games by 2021, despite spending SEK 60 million.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pettersson |first=Leo |date=4 August 2021 |title=nota för nya studion: 60 miljoner kronor |work=[[Aftonbladet]] |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/spela/a/B35Gev/minecraft-grundarnas-nota-for-nya-studion-60-miljoner-kronor |access-date=8 April 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408125638/https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/spela/a/B35Gev/minecraft-grundarnas-nota-for-nya-studion-60-miljoner-kronor |url-status=live }}</ref> The company was relaunched as Bitshift Entertainment, LLC<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2024 |title=Bitshift Entertainment, LLC |url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_de/3352817 |access-date=5 January 2025 |website=[[Open Corporates]]}}</ref> on 28 March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Obedkov |first=Evgeny |date=3 April 2024 |title=Minecraft creator Notch teases new studio Bitshift Entertainment and first-person roguelike Levers and Chests |url=https://gameworldobserver.com/2024/04/03/bitshift-entertainment-studio-notch-new-game |access-date=5 January 2025 |website=Game World Observer |language=en-US}}</ref> Persson expressed interest in creating a new video game studio in 2020, and in developing [[virtual reality game]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Contaldi |first=Lou |date=4 January 2020 |title=Minecraft Beleaguered Co-Creator Notch Mulls Creating a New Studio |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/minecraft-notch-new-studio/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=DualShockers |language=en |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408123357/https://www.dualshockers.com/minecraft-notch-new-studio/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Ben |date=21 January 2020 |title='Minecraft' Creator Praises 'Boneworks', Considers Starting a VR Game Studio |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/minecraft-creator-praises-boneworks-notch-vr-game-studio/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Road to VR |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408123404/https://www.roadtovr.com/minecraft-creator-praises-boneworks-notch-vr-game-studio/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also since created a series of narrative-driven immersive events called ".party()", which uses extensive [[visual effects]] and has been hosted in multiple cities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beer |first=Jeff |date=14 July 2022 |title=This narrative-driven party, hosted by the creator of Minecraft, could be the future of live events |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90768594/this-narrative-driven-party-hosted-by-the-founder-of-minecraft-could-be-the-future-of-live-events |access-date=8 April 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408123357/https://www.fastcompany.com/90768594/this-narrative-driven-party-hosted-by-the-founder-of-minecraft-could-be-the-future-of-live-events |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the beginning of 2025 Persson decided to create a [[spiritual successor]] to ''[[Minecraft]]'', referred to as "''Minecraft 2''{{-"}}, in response to the results of a poll on [[Twitter|X]].<ref name="GR+ January 2025">{{Cite web |last=Serin |first=Kaan |date=4 January 2025 |title=OG Minecraft creator "basically announced Minecraft 2" in the oddest way, but he won't "sneakily infringe" on Mojang's work |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/minecraft/og-minecraft-creator-basically-announced-minecraft-2-in-the-oddest-way-but-he-wont-sneakily-infringe-on-mojangs-work/ |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=[[GamesRadar+]]}}</ref><ref name="ComicBook January 2025">{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Tyler |date=3 January 2025 |title=Minecraft Spiritual Successor Announced by Creator ("Basically Minecraft 2") |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/minecraft-2-notch-markus-persson/ |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref><ref name="Eurogamer January 2025">{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Vikki |date=4 January 2024 |title=Notch has "basically announced" Minecraft 2 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/notch-has-basically-announced-minecraft-2 |access-date=4 January 2024 |website=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref> However, after speaking to his team, he shortly went against this in favour of developing the other choice on his [[Twitter]] poll, a [[roguelike]] titled ''Levers and Chests''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Selway |first1=Jake |title=Why Minecraft 2 Isn't Real, and Likely Never Will Be |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-2-sequel-notch-unlikely-good-bad-why/ |access-date=17 January 2025 |work=Game Rant |date=15 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Games == [[File:Markus Persson at GDC 2011.jpg|thumb|Persson at the [[Game Developers Conference]] 2011]]

=== ''Minecraft'' === {{Main|Minecraft{{!}}''Minecraft''}} Persson's most popular creation is the survival [[sandbox game]] ''Minecraft'', which was first publicly available on 17 May 2009<ref>{{cite web|date=17 May 2019|title=Minecraft was released 10 years ago. Do you feel old?|url=https://wtsp.com/article/tech/minecraft-was-released-10-years-ago-do-you-feel-old/67-581f8eb5-f6d1-4ef6-81da-0fbbedf00089|website=Tampa Bay 10 News|access-date=20 December 2020|archive-date=28 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428102034/https://www.wtsp.com/article/tech/minecraft-was-released-10-years-ago-do-you-feel-old/67-581f8eb5-f6d1-4ef6-81da-0fbbedf00089|url-status=live}}</ref> and fully released on 18 November 2011. Persson left his job as a game developer to work on ''Minecraft'' full-time until completion. In early 2011, Mojang AB sold the one millionth copy of the game, several months later their second, and several more their third. Mojang hired several new staff members for the ''Minecraft'' team, while Persson passed the lead developer role to [[Jens Bergensten]]. He stopped working on ''Minecraft'' after a deal with Microsoft to sell Mojang for $2.5 billion. This brought his net worth to US$1.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2014/09/10/minecraft-founder-markus-persson-from-indie-tech-champion-to-potential-billionaire-on-microsoft-deal/|title=Minecraft founder Markus Persson: From 'indie' tech champion to potential billionaire on Microsoft deal|access-date=11 September 2014|quote=He's also collected more than US$100 million in dividends since 2011, which would give him a total net worth of US$1.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910231147/http://business.financialpost.com/2014/09/10/minecraft-founder-markus-persson-from-indie-tech-champion-to-potential-billionaire-on-microsoft-deal/|archive-date=10 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ''Caller's Bane'' === {{Main|Caller's Bane{{!}}''Caller's Bane''}} Persson and Jakob Porsér came up with the idea for ''Scrolls'' including elements from [[board game]]s and [[collectible card game]]s. Persson noted that he will not be actively involved in development of the game and that Porsér will be developing it. Persson revealed on his [[Tumblr]] blog on 5 August 2011 that he was being sued by a Swedish law firm representing [[Bethesda Softworks]] over the trademarked name of ''Scrolls'', claiming that it conflicted with their ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' series of games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/elder-scrolls-vs-minecraft-dev-scrolls-is-our-word/|title=Elder Scrolls vs. Minecraft dev: "scrolls" is our word|first=Andrew|last=Webster|date=10 August 2011|access-date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829110232/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/elder-scrolls-vs-minecraft-dev-scrolls-is-our-word/|archive-date=29 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 August 2011 Persson challenged Bethesda to a ''[[Quake III Arena|Quake 3]]'' tournament to decide the outcome of the naming dispute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/minecraft-maker-jokingly-calls-quake-challenge-poor-choice-vows-fight/|title=Minecraft maker jokingly calls Quake challenge "poor choice," vows fight|first=Jason|last=Schreier|date=19 August 2011|access-date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203104527/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2011/08/minecraft-maker-jokingly-calls-quake-challenge-poor-choice-vows-fight/|archive-date=3 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 September 2011 Persson confirmed that the lawsuit was going to court.<ref>{{cite tweet |first=Markus |last=Persson |user=notch |number=118644693801250816 |date=27 September 2011 |title=The Scrolls case is going to court! Weee! :D |access-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502140456/https://twitter.com/notch/status/118644693801250816 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[ZeniMax Media]], owner of Bethesda Softworks, announced the lawsuit's settlement in March 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ZeniMax-Mojang-Bethesda-Scrolls-Trademark,14982.html|title=ZeniMax, Mojang Settle "Scrolls" Dispute|first=Kevin|last=Parrish|date=12 March 2012|access-date=28 May 2014|archive-date=28 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428102034/https://www.tomshardware.com/news/ZeniMax-Mojang-Bethesda-Scrolls-Trademark,14982.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/10814623188/the-eventual-release-and-the-legal-documents|title=The eventual release, and the legal documents|work=[[Tumblr]]|first=Markus|last=Persson|date=29 September 2011|access-date=30 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001154546/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/10814623188/the-eventual-release-and-the-legal-documents|archive-date=1 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The settlement allowed Mojang to continue using the Scrolls trademark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/03/bethesda-mojang-settle-trademark-dispute-over-scrolls-name/|title=Bethesda, Mojang settle trademark dispute over Scrolls name|first=Kyle|last=Orland|date=12 March 2012|access-date=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717075722/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/03/bethesda-mojang-settle-trademark-dispute-over-scrolls-name/|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, ''Scrolls'' was made available free of charge and renamed to ''Caller's Bane''.<ref name="callersbane.com">{{cite web|url=https://callersbane.com/2018/06/the-game-is-now-free/index.html|title=Status update – Caller's Bane|website=callersbane.com|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref>

=== ''Cliffhorse'' === ''Cliffhorse'' is a humorous game programmed in two hours using the [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] [[game engine]] and free assets. The game took inspiration from ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim|Skyrim]]''{{'s}} [[physics engine]], "the more embarrassing minimum-effort [[Steam (service)#Steam Greenlight|Greenlight]] games", ''[[Goat Simulator]]'', and ''[[Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khaw|first=Cassandra|date=9 June 2014|title='Minecraft' creator's new game makes a statement with weird horse physics|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/9/5792420/cliffhorse-notch-new-game|access-date=10 July 2021|website=The Verge|language=en|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710185632/https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/9/5792420/cliffhorse-notch-new-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=9 June 2014|title=Minecraft creator accepts Dogecoin donations for new game|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/09/minecraft-creator-dogecoin-new-game-cliffhorse|access-date=10 July 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711195936/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/09/minecraft-creator-dogecoin-new-game-cliffhorse|url-status=live}}</ref> The game was released to [[Microsoft Windows]] systems as an [[early access]] and [[Honorware|honourware]] game on the first day of [[E3 2014]], instructing users to donate [[Dogecoin]] to "buy" the game before downloading it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Savage|first=Phil|date=9 June 2014|title=Notch's new game is Cliffhorse. It's free, and features cliffs and a horse|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/notchs-next-game-is-cliffhorse-its-free-and-features-cliffs-and-a-horse/|access-date=10 July 2021|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710185632/https://www.pcgamer.com/notchs-next-game-is-cliffhorse-its-free-and-features-cliffs-and-a-horse/|url-status=live}}</ref> The game accumulated over 280,000 dogecoins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Notch launches Cliffhorse, a game about horses on cliffs|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-08-notch-launches-cliffhorse-a-game-about-horses-on-cliffs.html|access-date=10 July 2021|website=Engadget|date=9 June 2014 |language=en-US|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710185632/https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-08-notch-launches-cliffhorse-a-game-about-horses-on-cliffs.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ''0x10<sup>c</sup>'' === {{Main|0x10c{{!}}''0x10<sup>c</sup>''}} Following the end to his involvement with ''Minecraft'', Persson began pre-production of an [[Alternate reality game|alternate reality]] space game set in the distant future in March 2012. On [[April Fools' Day]] Mojang launched a satirical website for ''Mars Effect'' (parody of ''[[Mass Effect]]''), citing the [[Caller's Bane#Bethesda lawsuit|lawsuit with Bethesda]] as an inspiration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shadowlocked.com/201203312487/news/minecraft-creator-scores-april-fool-with-project-mars-effect.html|title=Minecraft creator scores April fool with 'Mars effect'|publisher=Shadowlocked|first=Rebecca|last=Fields|date=31 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403183008/http://www.shadowlocked.com/201203312487/news/minecraft-creator-scores-april-fool-with-project-mars-effect.html|archive-date=3 April 2012}}</ref> However, the gameplay elements remained true and on 4 April, Mojang revealed ''0x10<sup>c</sup>'' (pronounced "Ten to the C") as a [[Space flight simulation game|space]] [[Open world|sandbox]] title.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/04/03/mojang-registers-website-for-its-new-game-0x10c/|title=Mojang Registers Website For Its New Game '0x10c'|magazine=[[Forbes]]|first=Alex|last=Knapp|date=3 April 2012|access-date=15 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173108/http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2012/04/03/mojang-registers-website-for-its-new-game-0x10c/|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Persson officially halted game production in August 2013. However, [[C418]], the composer of the game's soundtrack (as well as that of ''Minecraft''), released an album of the work he had made for the game.<ref>Andy Chalk, [http://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-composer-releases-0x10c-tracks-muses-on-notchs-departure-from-mojang/ Minecraft composer releases 0x10c tracks, muses on Notch's departure from Mojang] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023172300/https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-composer-releases-0x10c-tracks-muses-on-notchs-departure-from-mojang/ |date=23 October 2019}}, PC Gamer, 17 September 2014.</ref>

=== ''Shambles'' === In 2013, Persson made a free game called ''Shambles'' in the [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] game engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shambles.notch.net/|title=Shambles|first=Markus|last=Persson|year=2013|access-date=27 August 2022|archive-date=3 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903062606/http://shambles.notch.net/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Ludum Dare entries === Persson has also participated in several [[Ludum Dare]] 48-hour game making competitions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/author/notch/|title=Notch Ludum Dare|first=Markus|last=Persson|year=2011|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204001350/http://ludumdare.com/compo/author/notch/|archive-date=4 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> * ''Breaking the Tower'' was a game Persson developed for the entry to the Ludum Dare No. 12 competition. The game takes place on a small island, where the player must gather resources, construct buildings, and train soldiers in order to destroy a large tower on this island. The game received brief gaming media attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/20/breaking-the-tower/|first=Jim|last=Rossignol|title=Breaking The Tower|website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|date=20 August 2008|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104041543/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/20/breaking-the-tower/|archive-date=4 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2008/08/browser_game_pick_breaking_the.html|title=Browser Game Pick: Breaking the Tower (Markus Persson)|publisher=IndieGames.com|author=Tim W.|date=19 August 2008|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129043821/http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2008/08/browser_game_pick_breaking_the.html|archive-date=29 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> * ''Metagun'' is a 2D platformer created for Ludum Dare No. 18.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/26/person-shooter-metagun/|title=Person Shooter: Metagun|website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|first=Alec|last=Meer|date=26 August 2010|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230085048/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/26/person-shooter-metagun/|archive-date=30 December 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> * ''Prelude of the Chambered'' is a game Persson developed for the entry to the Ludum Dare No. 21 competition. Prelude of the Chambered is a short first-person [[dungeon crawl]]er video game. * ''[[Minicraft]]'' is a game developed for Ludum Dare No. 22, held 16–19 December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/markus-notch-persson-creates-minicraft-two-days/|title=Markus "Notch" Persson creates Minicraft in two days|publisher=GamesRadar|first=Matt|last=Bradford|date=20 December 2011|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201201629/http://www.gamesradar.com/markus-notch-persson-creates-minicraft-two-days/|archive-date=1 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-19-notch-makes-minicraft-in-two-days|title=Notch makes Minicraft in two days|publisher=Eurogamer.net|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|date=19 December 2011|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107132813/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-12-19-notch-makes-minicraft-in-two-days|archive-date=7 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a small top-down survival game with similarities to ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]]'' and influenced by ''Minecraft''. It is written in [[Java (programming language)|Java]].

== Personal life == In 2011 Persson married Elin Zetterstrand, whom he had dated for four years before.<ref name="rollingstone" /> Zetterstrand was a former moderator on the ''Minecraft'' forums.<ref name=":5" /> They had a daughter together, but by mid-2012, he began to see little of her.<ref name=":7" /> On 15 August 2012 he announced that he and his wife had filed for divorce.<ref name=":4" /> The divorce was finalised later that year.<ref name=":7">{{cite tweet |first=Markus |last=Persson |user=notch |number=235746965823033345 |date=15 August 2012 |title=As of today, I am single. #mixedemotions |access-date=15 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820073935/http://twitter.com/notch/status/235746965823033345 |archive-date=20 August 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

On 14 December 2011 Persson's father committed suicide with a handgun<ref name=":5" /> after drinking heavily.<ref name="rollingstone" /> In an interview with ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Persson said of his father:<ref name=":5" />

{{Blockquote | text = When I decided I wanted to quit my day job and work on my own games, he was the only person who supported my decision. He was proud of me and made sure I knew. When I added the monsters to ''Minecraft'', he told me that the dark caves became too scary for him. But I think that was the only true criticism I ever heard from him. }}

Persson later admitted that he himself suffered from depression and various highs and lows in his mood.<ref name=":5" /><ref name="rollingstone" />

Persson has criticised the stance of large game companies on piracy.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/03/02/notch-on-piracy-if-a-pirated-game-is-a-lost-sale-should-bad-reviews-be-illegal/|title=Notch on piracy: "if a pirated game is a lost sale, should bad reviews be illegal?"|magazine=PC Gamer|first=Tim|last=Edwards|date=2 March 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715060707/http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/03/02/notch-on-piracy-if-a-pirated-game-is-a-lost-sale-should-bad-reviews-be-illegal/|archive-date=15 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> He once stated that "[[Piracy is theft|piracy is not theft]]", viewing unauthorised downloads as potential future customers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2012 |title=Minecraft Creator Notch Tells Players to Pirate His Game - Forbes |website=[[Forbes]] |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/01/12/minecraft-creator-notch-tells-players-to-pirate-his-game/ |access-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328182049/http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/01/12/minecraft-creator-notch-tells-players-to-pirate-his-game/ |archive-date=28 March 2012 }}</ref>

Persson stated himself to be a member of the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|Pirate Party of Sweden]] in 2011.<ref name="torrentfreak">{{cite web |author=Maxwell |first=Andy |date=3 March 2011 |title=Piracy is Theft? Ridiculous. Lost Sales? They Don't Exist, Says Minecraft Creator |url=http://torrentfreak.com/piracy-is-theft-ridiculous-lost-sales-they-dont-exist-says-minecraft-creator-110303/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904144347/http://torrentfreak.com/piracy-is-theft-ridiculous-lost-sales-they-dont-exist-says-minecraft-creator-110303/ |archive-date=4 September 2013 |access-date=18 July 2011 |publisher=TorrentFreak}}</ref> He is also a member of [[Mensa International|Mensa]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 September 2015 |title=Minecraft's Markus Persson Moans About Wealth |url=https://news.sky.com/story/minecrafts-markus-persson-moans-about-wealth-10347752 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

He has donated to numerous charities, including [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] (Doctors Without Borders).<ref name=":8">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailydot.com/society/reddit-atheists-doctors-without-borders-charity/|title=Reddit atheists upvote fundraising for Doctors Without Borders|work=The Daily Dot|first=Kevin|last=Morris|date=5 December 2011|access-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423072735/http://www.dailydot.com/society/reddit-atheists-doctors-without-borders-charity/|archive-date=23 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under his direction, Mojang spent a week developing ''[[Mojang Studios#Games developed|Catacomb Snatch]]'' for the [[Humble Bundle|Humble Indie Bundle]] and raised US$458,248 for charity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-20-humble-bundle-mojam-raises-nearly-USD500k-for-charity|title=Humble Bundle Mojam raises nearly $500k for charity|website=Eurogamer|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|date=20 February 2012|access-date=15 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127205330/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-20-humble-bundle-mojam-raises-nearly-USD500k-for-charity|archive-date=27 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He also donated $250,000 to the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] in 2012.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Madeline |title=The Fabulous Life Of Notch, The Hard-Partying Founder Of Minecraft |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fabulous-life-of-notch-2015-1 |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408120508/https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fabulous-life-of-notch-2015-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011 he gave $3 million in dividends back to Mojang employees.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />

According to ''[[Forbes]]'', his net worth in 2023 was around $1.2 billion.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Markus Persson |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/markus-persson/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=24 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624192305/https://www.forbes.com/profile/markus-persson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014 Persson was one of the biggest taxpayers in Sweden.<ref name="rollingstone" /> Around 2014, he lived in a multi-level penthouse in [[Östermalm]], Stockholm, an area he described as "where the rich people live".<ref name="rollingstone" /> In December 2014 Persson purchased a home in [[Trousdale Estates]], a neighbourhood in [[Beverly Hills, California]], in the United States, for $70 million, a record sales price for Beverly Hills at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2014/12/18/minecraft-billionaire-markus-persson-buys-70-million-beverly-hills-contemporary-with-car-lift/#690727f72a3b |title='Minecraft' Billionaire Markus Persson Buys $70 Million Beverly Hills Contemporary with Car Lift |first=Erin |last=Carlyle |date=18 December 2014 |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622212213/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2014/12/18/minecraft-billionaire-markus-persson-buys-70-million-beverly-hills-contemporary-with-car-lift/#690727f72a3b |archive-date=22 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Persson reportedly outbid [[Beyoncé]] and [[Jay-Z]] for the property.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Madeline |title=The Fabulous Life Of Notch, The Hard-Partying Founder Of Minecraft |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fabulous-life-of-notch-2015-1 |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408120508/https://www.businessinsider.com/the-fabulous-life-of-notch-2015-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Social media comments === Persson began receiving criticism for political and social opinions he expressed on social media as early as 2016.<ref name=":14" /><ref name="ars tweets">{{cite web |date=29 April 2019 |title=Minecraft creator Notch unwelcome at 10th anniversary due to online conduct |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/04/online-conduct-leaves-markus-notch-persson-out-of-minecraft-10th-anniversary/ |accessdate=6 November 2022 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409191841/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/04/online-conduct-leaves-markus-notch-persson-out-of-minecraft-10th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Tweet | date = November 30, 2017 | name = notch [[File:Twitter Verified Badge.svg|15px]] | username = notch | id = 936215345400033280 | text = It's ok to be white. | image = GDC 2016 awards 16-20 42 56-01-7D2 0739 (cropped).jpg | reference = <ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Persson |first=Markus |user=notch |number=936215345400033280 |date=November 30, 2017 |title=It's ok to be white|access-date=November 15, 2025}}</ref> }} In 2017, he proposed a [[Straight pride|heterosexual pride holiday]], and wrote that those who opposed the idea "deserve to be shot". After facing backlash, he deleted the tweets and rescinded his statements, writing, "So yeah, it's about pride of daring to express, not about pride of being who you are. I get it now."<ref name="ars tweets" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Saavedra |first=John |date=28 August 2020 |title=Minecraft Creator Notch Deletes Twitter Account After Asking GMTK to "Drop the Politics" |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/notch-gmtk-twitter-qanon-politics/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408121255/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/notch-gmtk-twitter-qanon-politics/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=David Z. |date=2 July 2017 |title=Minecraft Creator Sparks Cries of Homophobia |url=http://fortune.com/2017/07/02/minecraft-markus-persson-homophobia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203153920/http://fortune.com/2017/07/02/minecraft-markus-persson-homophobia/ |archive-date=3 December 2017 |access-date=3 December 2017 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]]}}</ref> Later in the year, he wrote that [[feminism]] is a "social disease" and called the video game developer and feminist [[Zoë Quinn]] a "cunt",<ref name="observer">{{cite web |last=Bonazzo |first=John |date=13 June 2017 |title=Minecraft Creator Tells Women on Twitter 'Act Like a Cunt, Get Called a Cunt' |url=https://observer.com/2017/06/minecraft-gamergate-markus-persson-notch-zoe-quinn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819231345/https://observer.com/2017/06/minecraft-gamergate-markus-persson-notch-zoe-quinn/ |archive-date=19 August 2019 |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=Observer}}</ref><ref name="marysue">{{cite web |last=Kane |first=Vivian |date=29 April 2019 |title=Minecraft's Creator Excluded From the Game's 10th Anniversary Due to Racist, Sexist, Transphobic Comments |url=https://www.themarysue.com/notch-minecraft-bad-comments-and-opinions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516071226/https://www.themarysue.com/notch-minecraft-bad-comments-and-opinions/ |archive-date=16 May 2019 |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=The Mary Sue}}</ref> although he was generally critical of the [[Gamergate (harassment campaign)|GamerGate movement]].<ref name=":14" /> He has described [[Intersectionality|intersectional feminism]] as a "framework for bigotry" and the use of the word [[mansplaining]] as being sexist.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Gwendolyn |date=12 March 2019 |title=The Minecraft creator went on a transphobic rant & Twitter wasn't having it |work=LGBTQ Nation |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/03/minecraft-creator-went-transphobic-rant-twitter-wasnt/ |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410211428/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/03/minecraft-creator-went-transphobic-rant-twitter-wasnt/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2017, Persson tweeted that "[[It's okay to be white]]".<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":18">{{cite news |title=The Creator of 'Minecraft' Tweeted Some Dumb Stuff About Race |language=en |work=GQ |url=https://www.gq.com/story/notch-whiteness-tweets |url-status=live |access-date=25 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725081158/https://www.gq.com/story/notch-whiteness-tweets |archive-date=25 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Crecente |first1=Brian |date=29 April 2019 |title='Minecraft' Creator Excluded From Anniversary Due to 'Comments and Opinions' (Exclusive) |language=en |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/minecraft-creator-excluded-from-anniversary-due-to-comments-and-opinions-exclusive-1203200050/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617182835/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/minecraft-creator-excluded-from-anniversary-due-to-comments-and-opinions-exclusive-1203200050/ |archive-date=17 June 2020}}</ref> Later that year, he stated that he believed in the [[Pizzagate conspiracy theory]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Valens |first=Ana |date=30 August 2017 |title=Minecraft's Notch thinks bogus Pizzagate conspiracy theory has some merits |work=[[Daily Dot]] |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/minecraft-creator-pizzagate/ |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409081732/https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/minecraft-creator-pizzagate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, he tweeted referencing [[QAnon]], saying "Q is legit. Don't trust the media."<ref name=":17" /> Later in 2019, he tweeted in response to a pro-transgender [[internet meme]] that, "You are absolutely evil if you want to encourage delusion. What happened to not stigmatizing mental illness?"<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |date=11 March 2019 |title=From Q-Anon to transphobia, the creator of 'Minecraft' has takes |url=https://www.newsweek.com/minecraft-notch-controversy-twitter-transphobic-q-1359020 |access-date=17 June 2022 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613214846/https://www.newsweek.com/minecraft-notch-controversy-twitter-transphobic-q-1359020 |url-status=live }}</ref> He then also promoted claims that people were fined for "using the wrong pronoun".<ref name="ars tweets" /> However, after facing backlash, he tweeted a day afterwards that he had "no idea what [being trans is] like of course, but it's inspiring as hell when people open up and choose to actually be who they know themselves as. Not because it's a cool choice, because it's a big step. I gues{{Sic}} that's actually cool nvm".<ref name=":16" /> Later that year, Microsoft removed two mentions of Persson's name in the "19w13a" snapshot of ''Minecraft'' and did not invite him to the 10-year anniversary celebration of the game.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="TechSpotRemoval">{{cite news |last1=Thubron |first1=Rob |date=28 March 2019 |title=Microsoft removes references to game creator Notch in latest Minecraft update |work=TechSpot |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/79403-microsoft-removes-references-game-creator-notch-latest-minecraft.html |url-status=live |access-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204084533/https://www.techspot.com/news/79403-microsoft-removes-references-game-creator-notch-latest-minecraft.html |archive-date=4 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Charlie |title=Minecraft deleted references to its controversial creator Notch after his increasingly erratic behaviour |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/minecraft-removed-mentions-of-notch-from-the-game-2019-3 |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408121255/https://www.businessinsider.com/minecraft-removed-mentions-of-notch-from-the-game-2019-3 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lanier |first1=Liz |date=28 March 2019 |title=Some References to 'Minecraft' Creator Notch Removed From Game |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/notch-removed-minecraft-1203174964/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607100047/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/notch-removed-minecraft-1203174964/ |archive-date=7 June 2020 |access-date=31 March 2020 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=29 April 2019 |title='Minecraft' Creator Excluded From Anniversary Due to 'Comments and Opinions' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/minecraft-creator-excluded-from-anniversary-due-to-comments-and-opinions-exclusive-1203200050/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617182835/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/minecraft-creator-excluded-from-anniversary-due-to-comments-and-opinions-exclusive-1203200050/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A spokesperson for Microsoft stated that his views "do not reflect those of Microsoft or Mojang".<ref name="ars tweets" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Arif |first=Shabana |date=29 April 2019 |title=Minecraft creator Notch won't be included in the game's 10 year anniversary event |url=https://www.vg247.com/2019/04/29/minecraft-creator-notch-absent-from-anniversary-due-to-opinions-and-comments/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429195500/https://www.vg247.com/2019/04/29/minecraft-creator-notch-absent-from-anniversary-due-to-opinions-and-comments/ |archive-date=29 April 2019 |access-date=29 April 2019 |work=[[VG247]]}}</ref> He is still mentioned in the [[End Poem]] ("a flat, infinite world created by a man called Markus").<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diehl |first=Travis |title=Forever Mine |url=https://nyra.nyc/articles/forever-mine |access-date=2026-02-28 |website=New York Review of Architecture |language=en}}</ref>

== Awards == {{Awards table|4}} |- | 2011 | ''Minecraft'' | Best Debut Game, Innovation Award, Best Downloadable Game | ''[[Game Developers Choice Awards]]'' | {{won}} | | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_11th|title=Archive – 11th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards|website=gamechoiceawards.com|date=27 April 2021|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=12 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212081901/https://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_11th|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 2012 | ''Minecraft'' | BAFTA Special Award | ''[[BAFTA]]'' | {{won}} | | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bafta.org/games/awards/markus-persson-bafta-special-award|title=Markus Persson – BAFTA Special Award|website=Bafta.org|date=2 March 2012|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119023935/https://www.bafta.org/games/awards/markus-persson-bafta-special-award|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php|title=Minecraft mastermind Markus Persson to receive Bafta special award|website=[[Gamasutra]]|first=Kristoff|last=Clark|date=5 March 2012|access-date=18 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127205331/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/164329/MINECRAFT_MASTERMIND_MARKUS_PERSSON_TO_RECEIVE_BAFTA_SPECIALAWARD.php|archive-date=27 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 2016 | ''Minecraft'' | Pioneer Award Winner | ''[[Game Developers Choice Awards]]'' | {{won}} | Award formerly known as the First Penguin Award | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_16th|title=Archive – 16th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards|website=gamechoiceawards.com|date=23 April 2021|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119023935/https://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_16th|url-status=live}}</ref> {{end}}

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{IMDb name|4573217}} * {{tumblr|notch}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/*/notch.net notch.net archives] * [https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://notch.tumblr.com/ notch.tumblr.com archives]

{{Markus Persson}} {{Minecraft}} {{Mojang}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Video games|Sweden}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Persson, Markus}} [[Category:Markus Persson| ]] [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:BAFTA winners (people)]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Stockholm]] [[Category:Game Developers Conference Pioneer Award recipients]] [[Category:Indie game developers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Male critics of feminism]] [[Category:Critics of feminism]] [[Category:Mensans]] [[Category:Mojang Studios]] [[Category:Swedish atheists]] [[Category:Swedish billionaires]] [[Category:Swedish computer programmers]] [[Category:Swedish conspiracy theorists]] [[Category:Swedish electronic musicians]] [[Category:Swedish people of Finnish descent]] [[Category:Swedish philanthropists]] [[Category:Swedish video game designers]] [[Category:X (social network) controversies]] [[Category:Video game programmers]] [[Category:Swedish expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:21st-century philanthropists]] [[Category:21st-century Swedish businesspeople]] [[Category:Musicians from Beverly Hills, California]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Beverly Hills, California]] [[Category:Minecraft people]]