- Minecraft’s Monumental Milestone
Minecraft, the beloved sandbox game, has reached a staggering milestone with an astounding 300 million sales.
This momentous achievement was officially announced by Mojang Studios during Minecraft Live 2023.
- Unprecedented Growth Over the Years
The last official figures for Minecraft’s sales were reported in 2021 when it had already accumulated an impressive 238 million sales.
This remarkable growth is noteworthy, especially considering that just a year earlier, in May 2020, it had reached 200 million in sales.
- A Journey Through Time
For those who’ve been with Minecraft since its inception, it may be hard to believe that the game was originally released almost 12 years ago, in November 2011.
A basic version of the game became publicly available even earlier, in May 2009.
- Staggering Sales Rate
To put this milestone into perspective, 300 million sales translate to an astonishing rate of 47 copies of Minecraft sold every minute, continuously, since the game’s launch.
Such an enduring appeal is a testament to its cultural impact.
- Surpassing All Competition
Minecraft’s sales numbers are so colossal that it has left even the second-place game, Grand Theft Auto V, trailing behind with over 185 million copies sold to date.
This positions Minecraft among the all-time best-selling games.
- A Sales Legacy: Tetris and Wii Sports
Wii Sports, Nintendo’s best-selling game, shipped a substantial 82.9 million copies and was bundled with Wii consoles.
The only game that comes close to challenging Minecraft’s legacy is Tetris, with a claim of 425 million paid mobile downloads as of 2014.
- The Ubiquity of Minecraft
One key to Minecraft’s success is its availability across an array of platforms. Players can enjoy the game on PCs, Macs, multiple generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Nintendo and Sony handhelds, iPhones, and Android phones.
Remarkably, even with a price tag of £6.99 (previously £4.99) on mobile, Minecraft achieved remarkable success.
- Expanding Horizons: Minecraft for Chromebooks
Continuing its expansion, Minecraft introduced a long-awaited port for Chromebooks in July 2023, making the game even more accessible.
- A Game in Constant Evolution
Minecraft has continually evolved since its launch. A visit to the Minecraft website unveils a timeline showcasing how the game world has grown richer and more complex over the years.
Additionally, an exciting “archaeology, cherry trees, and storytelling” update is on the horizon, promising more adventures.
- A Cultural Icon in the World of Streaming
Minecraft remains an immensely popular game among YouTube streamers. Notably, it played a role in the rise of MrBeast, who now boasts over 200 million subscribers.
- The Microsoft Era
In 2015, Microsoft acquired Minecraft and its developer, Mojang, for a staggering $2.5 billion (£1.62 billion at the exchange rate of the day).
Markus Persson, known as Notch, is credited as the game’s creator, although Mojang Studios, with 29 staff at the game’s initial release in 2011, played a crucial role. As of 2023, Mojang boasts an estimated 700 staff members.
- A Change in Ownership
In 2019, Microsoft took the step to remove references to Markus Persson from Minecraft, following a series of transphobic tweets posted by the developer.
The game’s ownership shifted, but its popularity continued to thrive.
These developments reaffirm Minecraft’s extraordinary journey from its modest beginnings to becoming a cultural phenomenon with an unshakable presence in the world of gaming.
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