Markus "Notch" Persson transformed the gaming world by creating Minecraft, a deceptively simple game of blocks that became a global phenomenon. Born in 1979 in Stockholm, Sweden, Markus discovered computers at an early age, teaching himself programming on his father's Commodore 128 when he was just seven years old.
By age eight, Markus had created his first game, and throughout his teenage years, he continued developing his skills. After completing his schooling, he worked as a game developer for King.com (now known for Candy Crush) and later as a programmer for Jalbum, a photo-sharing service.
In his spare time, Markus participated in programming competitions and worked on personal projects. In 2009, inspired by games like Infiniminer and Dwarf Fortress, he began developing a new game called "Cave Game," which would soon be renamed Minecraft.
What made Minecraft revolutionary was its open-ended nature and simple yet flexible building system. Players could gather resources and use blocks to build virtually anything they could imagine—from simple shelters to elaborate castles, working computers, and entire cities. The game had no specific goals beyond survival, giving players unprecedented freedom to create and explore.
Markus released an early version of Minecraft in May 2009 on the TIGSource forum, charging a small fee for access. Word spread quickly through gaming communities, and a dedicated fanbase began to grow. Rather than following traditional game development methods, Markus used an "alpha funding" model, selling the unfinished game at a discount and using the funds to continue development while incorporating player feedback.
By 2010, sales had increased enough for Markus to quit his day job and found Mojang, a company dedicated to developing Minecraft and other games. The game officially launched in November 2011, by which time it had already sold over 4 million copies during its beta phase—an extraordinary achievement for an independent game with minimal marketing.
Minecraft's appeal crossed age barriers, attracting both children and adults. Its blocky, pixelated graphics—initially a necessity due to development constraints—became its signature style. The game found particular success in education, where teachers used it to teach everything from math and history to computer programming.
In September 2014, Markus made a surprising announcement: he was selling Mojang and the rights to Minecraft to Microsoft for $2.5 billion. After the sale, he stepped away from active game development, occasionally working on smaller projects.
Minecraft's legacy continues to grow. With over 300 million copies sold across all platforms, it ranks as the best-selling video game of all time. The game has expanded to include various editions, spin-offs, merchandise, books, and even an educational edition specifically designed for classrooms.
Despite its simple appearance, Minecraft fundamentally changed gaming by emphasizing creativity, exploration, and player-driven experiences over pre-scripted narratives. Markus Persson's creation demonstrated that games could be more than just entertainment—they could be platforms for creativity, community, and learning.