Markus Persson

Markus Alexej Persson, widely recognized by his pseudonym Notch, is a prominent Swedish video game programmer and designer born on June 1, 1979. He is best known as the creator of Minecraft, which has achieved the status of the best-selling video game in history. In 2009, he founded Mojang Studios, the company behind Minecraft, marking the beginning of a significant chapter in the gaming industry.

Persson's journey into game development began at a young age, but it was the release of an early version of Minecraft in 2009 that catapulted him to commercial success. By the time the game officially launched in 2011, it had already sold over four million copies, showcasing its immense popularity. Following this success, Persson stepped down as the lead designer, passing the creative reins to Jens Bergensten.

In September 2014, Persson announced his decision to leave Mojang, and shortly thereafter, the company was sold to Microsoft for a staggering two point five billion dollars, elevating him to billionaire status. However, his post-Mojang life has not been without controversy. Since 2016, his comments on social media regarding feminism, race, and transgender rights have sparked significant public backlash, leading to his characterization as an increasingly polarizing figure.

In an effort to distance itself from Persson, Microsoft removed his name from Minecraft, with the exception of a single mention in the game's end credits, and did not extend an invitation for him to attend the game's tenth anniversary celebration. In 2015, he co-founded a new game studio called Rubberbrain, which was later relaunched in 2024 as Bitshift Entertainment, continuing his legacy in the gaming world.