Minecraft release date

Minecraft has ascended to become one of the most valuable video game franchises in history. Through over a decade of phenomenal sales, revenue growth, and strong brand-building, Minecraft‘s total value now exceeds **$10 billion** – and continues rising.

Let‘s take an in-depth look at how this indie game became a financial powerhouse.

# Humble Beginnings

Minecraft‘s origins trace back to 2009, when independent Swedish programmer Markus "Notch" Persson first released an early prototype titled "Cave Game." Inspired by classic games like Dwarf Fortress and Dungeon Keeper, Notch crafted a sandbox-style game with primitive blocky graphics but limitless creative potential.

After renaming it to Minecraft and formally launching in 2011, the PC game quickly gathered steam.

Word-of-mouth about Minecraft‘s innovative open-ended gameplay spread online, and sales increased exponentially. By April 2011 – less than a year on market – Minecraft had sold over 1 million copies and earned over $33 million in revenue.

# Microsoft Sees

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