A Timeline of Minecraft's Growth
Minecraft's journey from a one-person indie project to the best-selling game in history spans over 15 years. The following timeline tracks key player count and sales milestones using publicly reported figures from Mojang Studios and Microsoft.
2009-2011: Alpha and Beta
Markus "Notch" Persson released the first public version of Minecraft (then called "Cave Game") in May 2009. The alpha version became available for purchase in June 2009 at a discounted price. By the end of 2010, during the beta phase, the game had sold over 1 million copies, driven almost entirely by word-of-mouth and YouTube gameplay videos. The official 1.0 release launched on November 18, 2011, at MineCon in Las Vegas. By the end of 2011, approximately 4 million copies had been sold across PC and the newly launched Pocket Edition on mobile.
2012-2014: Console Launch and Explosive Growth
The Xbox 360 edition launched in May 2012 and sold over 1 million copies in its first week, according to Microsoft. The PlayStation 3 version followed in December 2013. By the end of 2013, Minecraft had surpassed 33 million copies sold across all platforms, as reported by Mojang. In September 2014, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Mojang for $2.5 billion. At the time, Minecraft had sold approximately 54 million copies.
2015-2017: The Microsoft Era Begins
Under Microsoft's ownership, Minecraft expanded rapidly. The Windows 10 Edition (Bedrock) launched in July 2015. By February 2017, Mojang reported 122 million copies sold. The game's "Better Together" update in September 2017 unified most Bedrock platforms under cross-play, significantly boosting multiplayer engagement. The Nintendo Switch edition also launched in 2017, opening another major platform.
2018-2020: Resurgence and Pandemic Boom
In 2019, Minecraft experienced a cultural resurgence largely driven by YouTube and Twitch content creators. PewDiePie's Minecraft Let's Play series in mid-2019 coincided with a wave of renewed interest. Mojang reported 112 million monthly active players at MineCon Live 2019 (up from 91 million earlier that year). In May 2020, Mojang announced 200 million copies sold. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated engagement, with monthly active players reaching 131 million by mid-2020 and continuing to climb.
2021-2023: Steady Records
Minecraft continued setting records throughout this period. By April 2021, Mojang reported over 140 million monthly active players. The Caves & Cliffs update (Parts I and II, released in 2021) drove significant engagement. By 2023, Microsoft regularly cited MAU figures above 170 million in earnings calls.
2024-2026: 300 Million and Beyond
In October 2024, Microsoft's FY2025 Q1 earnings report confirmed over 300 million copies sold and over 180 million monthly active players. The Tricky Trials update (June 2024) contributed to sustained engagement. Minecraft remains one of the most-played games globally, with no signs of slowing down as it approaches its 15th anniversary of official release.
FAQ
What was Minecraft's fastest-growing year?
In terms of percentage growth, the 2012-2013 period saw the fastest expansion as console editions launched and the game went from approximately 10 million to 33 million copies sold. In absolute terms, the 2019-2020 period likely added the most copies in a single year, driven by the cultural resurgence and pandemic gaming boom.
When did Minecraft overtake Tetris as the best-selling game?
This comparison is debated because Tetris sales span dozens of different versions over 40 years. Minecraft is widely recognized as the best-selling single game title. It surpassed the most commonly cited Tetris figures (around 170-200 million across all versions) by approximately 2020-2021.
Will Minecraft reach 400 million copies sold?
At the current rate of approximately 20-25 million copies per year, Minecraft could potentially reach 400 million copies sold by 2028-2029, assuming consistent demand. Microsoft has not publicly projected this milestone.