Markus Persson: Difference between revisions

Markus Persson
Markus Persson
	Persson at the 2016 Game Developers Conference
Born	Markus Alexej Persson; 1 June 1979 (age 45); Stockholm, Sweden
Other names	Notch
Occupations	Video game programmer; designer;
Years active	2004–present
Notable work	Minecraft
Title	Founder of Mojang Studios
Spouse	Elin Zetterstrand (m. 2011; div. 2012)
Children	1

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Markus Alexej Persson (/ˈpɪərsən/ ^ⓘ PEER-sən, Swedish: [ˈmǎrːkɵs ˈpæ̌ːʂɔn] ^ⓘ; born 1 June 1979), also known as Notch, is a Swedish video game programmer and designer. He is the creator of Minecraft, which is the best-selling video game in history. 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 ten 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 on his personal website that he had concluded he "[didn't have the connection to his fans he thought he had]", that he had "become a symbol", and that he did not wish to be responsible for Mojang's increasingly large operation. He left Mojang in November of that year, selling his company to Microsoft reportedly for US$2.5 billion. The acquisition made Persson a billionaire.

Since 2016 several of Persson's posts on Twitter regarding homosexuality, race, and transgender rights issues have caused public controversies. In 2019, his posts were censured by Microsoft, who subsequently removed mentions of his name from Minecraft (excluding one instance in the game's end credits) and did not invite him to the game's tenth anniversary celebration. 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,^[3] and a Swedish father, Birger,^[4] on 1 June 1979.^[5]^[6]^[3] He has one sister.^[3]^[7] He grew up in Edsbyn until he was seven years old, when his family moved back to Stockholm.^[8]^[9]^[7] In Edsbyn, Persson's father worked for the railroad, and his mother was a nurse.^[10] He spent much time outdoors in Edsbyn, exploring the woods with his friends.

When Persson was about seven years old,^[11] his parents divorced, and he and his sister lived with their mother.^[12] His father moved to a cabin in the countryside.^[7] Persson said in an interview that they experienced food insecurity around once a month.^[12] Persson lost contact with his father for several years after the divorce.^[11]

According to Persson, his father suffered from depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and medication abuse, and went to jail for robberies.^[9]^[7] 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.^[3]

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.^[7]^[13] On it, Persson played bootleg games and loaded in various type-in programs from computer magazines with the help of his sister.^[7] The first game he purchased with his own money was The Bard's Tale.^[7] He began programming on his father's Commodore 128 home computer at the age of seven.^[11] He produced his first game at the age of eight, a text-based adventure game.^[8]^[11]

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.^[7]^[14]

Persson, although introverted,^[3] was well-liked by his peers, but after entering secondary school was a "loner" and reportedly had only one friend.^[13] He spent most of his spare time with games and programming at home.^[13] He managed to reverse-engineer the Doom engine, which he continued to take great pride in as of 2014^[update]. He never finished high school, but was reportedly a good student.^[3]

Career

Persson started his career working as a web designer.^[7]^[14] 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.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[11] 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.^[13]

Between 2004 and 2009, Persson worked as a game developer for Midasplayer (later known as King).^[8]^[11] There, he worked as a programmer, mostly building browser games made in Flash.^[13]^[14] He later worked as a programmer for jAlbum.^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]

Minecraft and Mojang

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.^[13]^[16]

One of Persson's more notable personal projects was called RubyDung, an isometric three dimensional base-building game like RollerCoaster Tycoon and Dwarf Fortress.^[20] 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.^[21]^[18]

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.^[21]

RubyDung is the earliest known Minecraft prototype created by Persson.^[22]

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.^[23]^[13]^[24] Persson released several new versions of Minecraft throughout 2009 and 2010, going through several phases of development including Survival Test, Indev, and Infdev.^[18] 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's Alpha version, Persson moved from a full-time role to a part-time role at jAlbum. He left jAlbum later that same year.^[20]

In September 2010, Persson travelled to Valve Corporation's headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, where he took part in a programming exercise and met with Gabe Newell. Persson was subsequently offered a job at Valve, which he turned down in order to continue work on Minecraft.^[25]^[4]

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. Mojang held the first Minecon from 18–19 November 2011 to celebrate its full release, and subsequently made it an annual event.^[20] 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.^[9]^[26]

In 2013, Mojang recorded revenues of $330 million and profits of $129 million.^[27]

Leaving Mojang

Persson has stated that, due to the intense media attention and public pressure, he became exhausted with running Minecraft and the company.^[3]

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.^[20]^[3] Persson controlled a 71% stake in Mojang at the time. The offer attracted significant interest from Activision Blizzard, 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.^[3]

In September 2014, Microsoft agreed to purchase Mojang for $2.5 billion, making Persson a billionaire.^[3] He then left the company after the deal was finalised in November.^[20]^[3]

Activities after leaving Mojang

Since leaving Mojang, Persson has worked on several small projects.^[28] Around 2015, he founded a company with Porsér called Rubberbrain, but the company had no games by 2021, despite spending SEK 60 million.^[3]^[29] Persson expressed interest in creating a new video game studio in 2020, and in developing virtual reality games.^[30]^[31] 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.^[32]

Games

Minecraft

Persson's most popular creation is the survival sandbox game Minecraft, which was first publicly available on 17 May 2009^[33] 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 billion.^[34]

Caller's Bane

Persson and Jakob Porsér came up with the idea for Scrolls including elements from board games and collectible card games. 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.^[35] On 17 August 2011, Persson challenged Bethesda to a Quake 3 tournament to decide the outcome of the naming dispute.^[36] On 27 September 2011, Persson confirmed that the lawsuit was going to court.^[37] ZeniMax Media, owner of Bethesda Softworks, announced the lawsuit's settlement in March 2012.^[38]^[39] The settlement allowed Mojang to continue using the Scrolls trademark.^[40] In 2018, Scrolls was made available free of charge and renamed to Caller's Bane.^[41]

Cliffhorse

Cliffhorse is a humorous game programmed in two hours using the Unity game engine and free assets. The game took inspiration from Skyrim's physics engine, "the more embarrassing minimum-effort Greenlight games", Goat Simulator, and Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing.^[42]^[43] The game was released to Microsoft Windows systems as a honorware early access game the start day of E3 2014, instructing users to donate Dogecoin to "buy" the game before downloading it.^[44] The game accumulated over 280,000 dogecoins.^[45]

0x10^c

Following the end to his involvement with Minecraft, Persson began pre-production of an 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 lawsuit with Bethesda as an inspiration.^[46] However, the gameplay elements remained true and on 4 April, Mojang revealed 0x10^c (pronounced "Ten to the C") as a space sandbox title.^[47] 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.^[48]

Shambles

In 2013, Persson made a free game called Shambles in the Unity game engine.^[49]

Ludum Dare entries

Persson has also participated in several Ludum Dare 48-hour game making competitions.^[50]

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.^[51]^[52]
Metagun is a 2D platformer created for Ludum Dare No. 18.^[53]
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 crawler video game.
Minicraft is a game developed for Ludum Dare No. 22, held 16–19 December 2011.^[54]^[55] It is a small top-down survival game with similarities to Zelda and influenced by Minecraft. It is written in Java.

Controversial comments

Persson began receiving criticism for political and social opinions he expressed on social media as early as 2016.^[12]^[56]

In 2017, he proposed a 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."^[57]^[58]^[56]

In 2017, he wrote that feminism is a "social disease" and called video game developer and feminist Zoë Quinn a "cunt",^[59]^[60] although he was generally critical of the GamerGate movement.^[12] He has described intersectional feminism as a "framework for bigotry" and the use of the word mansplaining as being sexist.^[61]^[12] Also in 2017, Persson tweeted that "It's okay to be white"^[12]^[62]^[63] stating his belief that privilege was a "made up metric", although he denounced generalisations and differential treatment solely on the basis of skin colour.^[62]

In 2017, he stated that he believed in the Pizzagate conspiracy theory.^[64] In 2019, he tweeted in support of QAnon, saying "Q is legit. Don't trust the media."^[65]

On 10 March 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?"^[65] He then also promoted claims that people were fined for "using the wrong pronoun".^[66] 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".^[67]

In 2019, Microsoft removed two mentions of Persson's name in the "19w13a" snapshot of Minecraft and did not invite him to the 10th anniversary celebration of the game.^[68]^[69]^[70]^[57]^[71] A spokesperson for Microsoft stated that his views "do not reflect those of Microsoft or Mojang".^[56]^[72]

Personal life

In 2011, Persson married Elin Zetterstrand, whom he had dated for four years before.^[10] Zetterstrand was a former moderator on the Minecraft forums.^[7] They had a daughter together, but by mid 2012, he began to see little of her.^[73] On 15 August 2012, he announced that he and his wife had filed for divorce.^[3] The divorce was finalized later that year.^[73]^[7]

On 14 December 2011, Persson's father committed suicide with a handgun^[7] after drinking heavily.^[9] In an interview with The New Yorker, Persson said of his father:^[7]

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.^[7]^[9]

Persson has criticized the stance of large game companies on piracy.^[74] He once stated that "piracy is not theft", viewing unauthorized downloads as potential future customers.^[75]

Persson stated himself to be a member of the Pirate Party of Sweden in 2011.^[76] He is also a member of Mensa.^[77]

He has donated to numerous charities, including Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).^[78] Under his direction, Mojang spent a week developing Catacomb Snatch for the Humble Indie Bundle and raised $458,248 for charity.^[79] He also donated $250,000 to the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 2012.^[80] In 2011, he gave $3 million in dividends back to Mojang employees.^[80]^[7]

According to Forbes, his net worth in 2023 was around US$1.2 billion.^[81] In 2014, Persson was one of the biggest tax payers in Sweden.^[10] Around 2014, he lived in a multi-level penthouse in Östermalm, Stockholm, an area he described as "where the rich people live".^[10] In December 2014, Persson purchased a home in Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills, CA for $70 million, a record sales price for Beverly Hills at the time.^[82] Persson reportedly outbid Beyoncé and Jay-Z for the property.^[83]

Awards


Year	Nominated work	Category	Award	Result	Notes	Ref.
2011	Minecraft	Best Debut Game, Innovation Award, Best Downloadable Game	Game Developers Choice Awards	Won		^[84]
2012	Minecraft	BAFTA Special Award	BAFTA	Won		^[85]^[86]
2016	Minecraft	Pioneer Award Winner	Game Developers Choice Awards	Won	Award formerly known as the First Penguin Award	^[87]

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^ Edwards, Tim (2 March 2011). "Notch on piracy: "if a pirated game is a lost sale, should bad reviews be illegal?"". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
^ "Minecraft Creator Notch Tells Players to Pirate His Game - Forbes". Forbes. 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
^ Maxwell, Andy (3 March 2011). "Piracy is Theft? Ridiculous. Lost Sales? They Don't Exist, Says Minecraft Creator". TorrentFreak. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
^ "Minecraft's Markus Persson Moans About Wealth". Sky News. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
^ Morris, Kevin (5 December 2011). "Reddit atheists upvote fundraising for Doctors Without Borders". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (20 February 2012). "Humble Bundle Mojam raises nearly $500k for charity". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
^ ^a ^b Stone, Madeline. "The Fabulous Life Of Notch, The Hard-Partying Founder Of Minecraft". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
^ "Markus Persson". Forbes. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
^ Carlyle, Erin (18 December 2014). "'Minecraft' Billionaire Markus Persson Buys $70 Million Beverly Hills Contemporary with Car Lift". Forbes. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
^ Stone, Madeline. "The Fabulous Life Of Notch, The Hard-Partying Founder Of Minecraft". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^ "Archive – 11th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards". gamechoiceawards.com. 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ "Markus Persson – BAFTA Special Award". Bafta.org. 2 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ Clark, Kristoff (5 March 2012). "Minecraft mastermind Markus Persson to receive Bafta special award". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^ "Archive – 16th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards". gamechoiceawards.com. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.

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@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 *[[Video game designer|designer]]
 }}
+| years_active       = 2004–present
-| known_for          = Creating ''[[Minecraft]]'', founding [[Mojang]]
+| notable_works      = ''[[Minecraft]]''
-| spouse             = {{marriage|Elin Zetterstrand|2011|2012|reason=divorced}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-85823/|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|website=rollingstone.com|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>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/?sh=6410d6831616|title=Inside the post-Minecraft life of billionaire gamer god Markus Persson|website=forbes.com|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119024446/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/?sh=6410d6831616|url-status=live}}</ref>
+| title              = Founder of [[Mojang Studios]]
+| spouse             = {{marriage|Elin Zetterstrand|2011|2012|reason=divorced}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-85823/|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|website=rollingstone.com|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>{{cite web|last=Mac|first=Ryan|author-link=Ryan Mac|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/?sh=6410d6831616|title=Inside the post-Minecraft life of billionaire gamer god Markus Persson|website=forbes.com|date=3 March 2015|access-date=19 November 2021|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119024446/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/?sh=6410d6831616|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | children           = 1
-| party              = [[Pirate Party of Sweden|Pirate Party]]<ref name=torrentfreak/>
 | website            =
 }}
-'''Markus Alexej Persson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɑːr|k|ə|s|_|ˈ|p|ɪər|s|ən|audio=Markus_Persson_Pronunciation_in_American_English.ogg}}, {{IPA-sv|ˈmǎrkɵs ˈpæ̌ːʂɔn|lang|Sv-Markus_Persson.ogg}}; born 1 June 1979), also known as "'''Notch'''",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |title=About |url=http://notch.net/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915140839/http://notch.net/about/ |archive-date=15 September 2014 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=notch.net}}</ref> is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[video game programmer]] and [[Video game designer|designer]]. He is best known for creating the sandbox video game ''[[Minecraft]]'', which has since become the [[List of best-selling video games|best-selling video game in history]]; and for founding the video game development company [[Mojang Studios]] in 2009. Persson is currently working on new games under the banner of Bitshift Entertainment.
+'''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), also known as '''Notch''', is a Swedish [[video game programmer]] and [[Video game designer|designer]]. He is the creator of ''[[Minecraft]]'', which is the [[List of best-selling video games|best-selling video game in history]]. 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 ten 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 on his personal website that he had concluded he "[didn't have the connection to his fans he thought he had]", that he had "become a symbol", and that he did not wish to be responsible for Mojang's increasingly large operation. He left Mojang in November of that year, selling his company to [[Microsoft]] reportedly for US$2.5 billion. The acquisition made Persson a [[billionaire]].
-Persson began developing video games at an early age, making games both professionally and for pleasure for much of his life. He achieved critical success upon the publishing of an early version of ''Minecraft'' in 2009. Prior to the game's official retail release in 2011, it had sold over ten million copies.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ashdown |first=Jeremy |date=11 November 2010 |title=This is Minecraft |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/113/1133465p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313083658/http://pc.ign.com/articles/113/1133465p1.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |access-date=8 March 2012 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/st_alphageek_minecraft|title=How the Creator of Minecraft Developed a Monster Hit|magazine=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|first=David|last=Thomas|date=29 November 2011|access-date=3 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228122655/http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/st_alphageek_minecraft|archive-date=28 February 2012}}</ref> After this point, Persson stood down as lead designer and transferred creative authority to [[Jens Bergensten]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/notch-steps-down-as-lead-developer-on-minecraft-to-focus-on-new |title=Notch steps down as lead developer on Minecraft to focus on 'new project' |publisher=[[Joystiq]] |first=Christopher |last=Grant |date=2 December 2011 |access-date=8 March 2012 |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 |url-status=live}}</ref>
+Since 2016 several of Persson's posts on [[Twitter]] regarding [[homosexuality]], [[Race (human categorization)|race]], and [[Transgender rights movement|transgender rights issues]] have caused public controversies. In 2019, his posts were censured by Microsoft, who subsequently 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. In 2015, he co-founded a separate game studio called Rubberbrain, which was relaunched in 2024 as Bitshift Entertainment.
-In September 2014, Persson announced on his personal website that he had concluded he "[didn't have the connection to his fans he thought he had]", that he had "become a symbol", and that he did not wish to be responsible for Mojang's increasingly large operation.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=15 September 2014 |title=I'm leaving Mojang |url=http://notch.net/2014/09/im-leaving-mojang/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915140752/http://notch.net/2014/09/im-leaving-mojang/ |archive-date=15 September 2014 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=notch.net}}</ref> Persson left Mojang in November of that year, selling his company to [[Microsoft]] for a reported US$2.5 billion.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Minecraft sold to Microsoft for $2.5bn |language=en-GB |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/mojang-microsoft-deal-confirmed |access-date=14 July 2022 |issn=1357-0978 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714041001/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/mojang-microsoft-deal-confirmed |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=15 September 2014 |title=Notch on leaving Mojang: 'It's not about the money. It's about my sanity' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2014/9/15/6151921/why-notch-left-mojang |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619080720/https://www.polygon.com/2014/9/15/6151921/why-notch-left-mojang |url-status=live }}</ref> As the majority shareholder, the acquisition made Persson a [[billionaire]].
-Since 2016, public criticism of several of Persson's [[Twitter]] posts in which he wrote of his beliefs that [[Transphobia|transgender women are not women]], that the [[QAnon]] [[conspiracy theory]] is "legit", and that those critical of a [[Straight pride#Straight pride events|heterosexual pride day]] "deserve to be shot", has arisen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steven |first=Asarch |date=11 March 2019 |title='Minecraft Creator Markus "Notch" Persson Says Trans Women Aren't Women |url=https://www.newsweek.com/minecraft-notch-controversy-twitter-transphobic-q-1359020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312053700/https://www.newsweek.com/minecraft-notch-controversy-twitter-transphobic-q-1359020 |archive-date=12 March 2019 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Ars |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/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> In 2019, Persson's [[Tweets (Twitter)|tweets]] were censured by Microsoft, who subsequently 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="GameRant 10Y">{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Fields |url=https://gamerant.com/notch-minecraft-creator-anniversary-controversy/ |title=Minecraft Creator Notch Not Invited to Anniversary Due to Controversial Tweets |date=30 April 2019 |website=Game Rant |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502150843/https://gamerant.com/notch-minecraft-creator-anniversary-controversy/ |archive-date=2 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |date=28 July 2014 |title=Gender in Minecraft |url=http://notch.tumblr.com/post/28188312756/gender-in-minecraft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728170757/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/28188312756/gender-in-minecraft |archive-date=28 July 2012 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=notch.net}}</ref>
-In 2015, he co-founded a separate game studio called Rubberbrain,<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 2015 |title=Notch i stor intervju: "Jag skäms inte för att jag har ändrat mig" |url=https://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.613085/notch-i-stor-intervju--jag-skams-inte-for-att-jag-har-andrat-mig |language=Swedish}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |user=notch |number=850744863276584960 |title=We named our new company "Rubberbrain", but don't have a logo yet, so I'm buying @HarmfulOpinions's logo.}}</ref> which was publicly relaunched in 2024 as Bitshift Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@notch |first= |date=2024-04-02 |title=Studio name and logo |url=https://twitter.com/notch/status/1775233983791731084 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=@notch |date=2024-04-02 |title=Also, @BitshiftEnt is us. |url=https://twitter.com/notch/status/1775246330572804599 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=X}}</ref>
 ==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 a 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 age 7, before his family moved back to Stockholm.<ref name="Story of Mojang">{{cite web |author=[[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 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Peisner|first=David|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-20140507|access-date=16 May 2014|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516014412/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-20140507|archive-date=16 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> In Edsbyn, Persson's father worked for the railroad and his mother was a nurse.<ref name=":1" /> He spent much time outdoors in Edsbyn, exploring the woods with his friends.
+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 web |author=[[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 |work=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Peisner|first=David|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-20140507|access-date=16 May 2014|newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=7 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516014412/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-20140507|archive-date=16 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> In Edsbyn, Persson's father worked for the railroad, and his mother was a nurse.<ref name=":1" /> He spent much time outdoors in Edsbyn, exploring the woods with his friends.
-When Persson was around age seven,<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" />
+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=":2" /><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" />
@@ Line 43: / Line 40: @@
 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 only had one friend.<ref name="wired origins2" /> He spent most of his spare time with games and programming at home.<ref name="wired origins2" /> He managed to reverse engineer the ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' engine, which he continued to take great pride in {{As of|2014|lc=y}}. He never finished high school, but was reportedly a good student.<ref name=":4" />
+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 managed to reverse-engineer the ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' engine, which he continued to take great pride in {{As of|2014|lc=y}}. He never finished high school, but was reportedly a good student.<ref name=":4" />
 == Career ==
@@ Line 57: / Line 54: @@
 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 ''[[Zachtronics|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" />
+In 2009, Persson found inspiration in ''[[Zachtronics#Infiniminer|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=www.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'', ''{{Abbr|Indev|In development}},'' and ''{{Abbr|Infdev|Infinite devlopment}}''.<ref name="GSint3"/> On 30 June 2010, Persson released the game's ''Alpha'' version.
+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'', ''{{Abbr|Indev|In development}},'' and ''{{Abbr|Infdev|Infinite development}}''.<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|Valve Corporation's]] headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, where he took part in a programming exercise and met with [[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" />
+In September 2010, Persson travelled to [[Valve Corporation]]'s headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, where he took part in a programming exercise and met with [[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. Mojang held the first [[Minecon]] from 18–19 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=":2" /><ref name=":0" />
+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. Mojang held the first [[Minecon]] from 18–19 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=":2" /><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>
@@ Line 75: / Line 72: @@
 Persson has stated that, due to the intense media attention and public pressure, he became exhausted with running ''Minecraft'' and the company.<ref name=":4" />
-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.<ref name=":4" /> The offer attracted significant interest from [[Activision Blizzard]], [[Electronic Arts|EA]], and Microsoft.<ref name=":4" /> 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 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 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320155201/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/03/03/minecraft-markus-persson-life-after-microsoft-sale/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He then left the company after the deal was finalised in November.<ref name="TechRadar: History" /><ref name=":4" />
@@ Line 81: / Line 78: @@
 === Activities after leaving Mojang ===
 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> Around 2015, he founded a company with Porsér called Rubberbrain, but 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> 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>
-Since leaving Mojang, Persson has criticized the direction of ''Minecraft'' on several occasions. He described Minecraft as a "dead game" in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Carol |date=23 June 2021 |title=Minecraft Creator Notch Says It's A Dead Game |url=https://screenrant.com/minecraft-notch-dead-game-sonic/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408120902/https://screenrant.com/minecraft-notch-dead-game-sonic/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-==Personal life==
-In 2011, Persson married Elin Zetterstrand, whom he had dated for four years before.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|last=Peisner|first=David|date=7 May 2014|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-85823/|access-date=22 November 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|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> 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 finalized later that year.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/notch/status/235746965823033345|title=Twitter / notch: As of today, I am single.|work=Twitter|first=Markus|last=Persson|date=15 August 2012|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=dead}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> He has not since remarried.<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>
-On 14 December 2011, Persson's father committed suicide with a handgun<ref name=":5" /> after drinking heavily.<ref name=":2" /> 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=":2" />
-Persson, a member of the [[Pirate Party of Sweden]],<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> has criticized piracy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/gjrf4/iama_indie_game_developer_who_made_a_commercially/c1o1ule?context=1|title=IAmA indie game developer who made a commercially successful game. AMAA|work=reddit|first=Markus|last=Persson|date=6 April 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028002103/http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/gjrf4/iama_indie_game_developer_who_made_a_commercially/c1o1ule?context=1|archive-date=28 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=May 2021}} and 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 not theft," viewing unauthorized 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>
-He has donated to numerous charities, including {{lang|fr|italic=unset|[[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 ''[[Catacomb Snatch]]'' for the [[Humble Indie Bundle]] and raised $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 US$1.2 billion.<ref name=":3" /> In 2014, Persson was one of the biggest tax payers in Sweden.<ref name=":1" /> Around 2014, he lived in a multi-level penthouse in [[Östermalm]], Stockholm, an area he described as "where the rich people live".<ref name=":1" /> In December 2014, Persson purchased a home in [[Trousdale Estates]], [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]], CA 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>
-==Controversy==
-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><ref name=":15">{{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=9 April 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>
-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=":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><ref name=":15" />
-In 2017, he wrote that [[feminism]] is a "social disease" and called video game developer and feminism supporter [[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 [[intersectional feminism]] as a "framework for bigotry" and the use of the word [[mansplaining]] as being sexist.<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><ref name=":14" /> 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> stating his belief that [[Privilege (sociology)|privilege]] was a "made up metric", although he denounced generalisations and differential treatment solely on the basis of skin colour.<ref name=":18" />
-In 2017, 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 in support of [[QAnon]], saying "Q is legit. Don't trust the media."<ref name=":17" />
-On 10 March 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 tweets2">{{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> 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=":162">{{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>
-In 2019, Microsoft removed two mentions of Persson's name in the "19w13a" snapshot of ''Minecraft'' and did not invite him to the 10th anniversary celebration of the game.<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 name=":10" /><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>
 ==Games==
+[[File:Markus Persson at GDC 2011.jpg|thumb|Persson at the [[Game Developers Conference]] 2011]]
 ===''Minecraft''===
 {{main|Minecraft}}
@@ Line 119: / Line 87: @@
 ===''Caller's Bane''===
 {{main|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 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 web|url=https://twitter.com/notch/status/118644693801250816|title=Twitter / notch: The Scrolls case is going to ...|work=[[Twitter]]|first=Markus|last=Persson|date=27 September 2011|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=dead}}</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>
+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 web|url=https://twitter.com/notch/status/118644693801250816|title=Twitter / notch: The Scrolls case is going to ...|work=[[Twitter]]|first=Markus|last=Persson|date=27 September 2011|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=dead}}</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 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 a [[honorware]] [[early access]] game the start 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>
+''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 a [[Honor system|honorware]] [[early access]] game the start 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|l1=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 [[Scrolls (video game)#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 simulator 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>
+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''===
@@ Line 135: / Line 103: @@
 * ''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 crawler]] video game.
+* ''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|dungeon crawler]] 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]].
+== Controversial 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>
+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=":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><ref name="ars tweets" />
+In 2017, he wrote that [[feminism]] is a "social disease" and called 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=":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><ref name=":14" /> 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> stating his belief that [[Social privilege|privilege]] was a "made up metric", although he denounced generalisations and differential treatment solely on the basis of skin colour.<ref name=":18" />
+In 2017, 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 in support of [[QAnon]], saying "Q is legit. Don't trust the media."<ref name=":17" />
+On 10 March 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 tweets2">{{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> 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=":162">{{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>
+In 2019, Microsoft removed two mentions of Persson's name in the "19w13a" snapshot of ''Minecraft'' and did not invite him to the 10th anniversary celebration of the game.<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 name=":10" /><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>
+==Personal life==
+In 2011, Persson married Elin Zetterstrand, whom he had dated for four years before.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|last=Peisner|first=David|date=7 May 2014|title=The Wizard of Minecraft|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-wizard-of-minecraft-85823/|access-date=22 November 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|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> 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 finalized later that year.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/notch/status/235746965823033345|title=Twitter / notch: As of today, I am single.|work=Twitter|first=Markus|last=Persson|date=15 August 2012|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=dead}}</ref><ref name=":5" />
+On 14 December 2011, Persson's father committed suicide with a handgun<ref name=":5" /> after drinking heavily.<ref name=":2" /> 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=":2" />
+Persson has criticized 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 not theft", viewing unauthorized 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=2015-09-01 |title=Minecraft's Markus Persson Moans About Wealth |url=https://news.sky.com/story/minecrafts-markus-persson-moans-about-wealth-10347752 |access-date=2024-07-07 |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 $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 US$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 tax payers in Sweden.<ref name=":1" /> Around 2014, he lived in a multi-level penthouse in [[Östermalm]], Stockholm, an area he described as "where the rich people live".<ref name=":1" /> In December 2014, Persson purchased a home in [[Trousdale Estates]], [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]], CA 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>
 == Awards ==
@@ Line 198: / Line 196: @@
 [[Category:Swedish billionaires]]
 [[Category:Swedish computer programmers]]
+[[Category:Swedish conspiracy theorists]]
 [[Category:Swedish electronic musicians]]
 [[Category:Swedish people of Finnish descent]]
@@ Line 204: / Line 203: @@
 [[Category:Twitter controversies]]
 [[Category:Video game programmers]]
+[[Category:Swedish expatriates in the United States]]

v t e Markus Persson
Games designed	Wurm Online (2006) Prelude of the Chambered (2011) Minecraft (2011) Minicraft (2011) 0x10^c (cancelled)
Companies	Code Club AB Mojang Studios
In culture	Minecraft: The Story of Mojang (2012 documentary film) Minecraft (2013 book)

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat
National	Germany United States Norway Sweden Poland
Artists	MusicBrainz 2 Museum of Modern Art