Minecraft

Minecraft is the best-selling video game in human history, and yet it still manages to dodge the hard questions, so we'll answer them instead.

By Alexandre Le Hégarat · datastats · Updated June 4, 2026

Microsoft · CC BY 3.0

Minecraft is a sandbox survival game developed by Mojang Studios and owned by Microsoft, which acquired Mojang in 2014 for $2.5 billion. Players build, explore, and survive in procedurally generated block-based worlds across two main editions: Java (PC) and Bedrock (PC, console, mobile). It has sold over 300 million copies across all platforms as of 2023, making it the single best-selling video game ever made, ahead of Tetris and GTA V.

Despite being over 15 years old, Minecraft is still one of the most-searched games on the internet every single day. That’s not nostalgia, it’s a live, breathing game with a massive active playerbase, a thriving creator economy, and annual updates that keep it culturally relevant. The 2025 live-action Minecraft movie pushed search interest to new highs, bringing in both returning players and total newcomers.

People search for Minecraft constantly because the game spans so many platforms, versions, and updates that even veteran players lose track. “Which version am I on?” “Is my console compatible?” “Where did my screenshots go?”, these are real, practical questions that Mojang’s own support pages answer with the enthusiasm of a tax form. We cut through it.

What the brand will never tell you directly: Minecraft’s pricing strategy has crept steadily upward over the years, the Java and Bedrock split still creates genuine confusion and compatibility headaches, and Minecraft Dungeons, a spin-off many players loved, was quietly abandoned with no sequel in sight. These are the questions that matter.

People also ask

Minecraft costs around $29.99 on most platforms (more on consoles with DLC factored in), and that price has risen over the years, it launched in alpha for almost nothing. Microsoft owns the IP now, and premium pricing is a deliberate strategy: the base game is the loss leader that funnels players into the Marketplace, where cosmetics, maps, and add-ons generate ongoing revenue. You're not just buying a game; you're buying an entry ticket to an ecosystem designed to keep you spending.

There's no single crowned 'best' Minecraft player because the game has wildly different competitive disciplines, speedrunning, PvP, building, and survival. In speedrunning, Dream dominated cultural conversation for years before his world records were disqualified over a cheating controversy that was extensively documented by the community. In competitive PvP scenes, players like Technoblade (who passed away in 2022) are widely regarded as all-time greats. The 'best player' debate is genuinely unsettled and depends entirely on what you're measuring.

Minecraft was created by Markus Persson, known universally as 'Notch,' who developed the original game starting in 2009 through his studio Mojang. He sold Mojang to Microsoft in 2014 for $2.5 billion and has had no involvement with the game since. Notch has become a deeply controversial figure due to statements he made publicly on social media, and Microsoft has deliberately distanced the Minecraft brand from him, he was notably excluded from the game's 10th anniversary celebrations.

This question is asking 'what' not 'who', the latest major release of Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition as of mid-2025 is version 1.21, part of the 'Tricky Trials' update cycle. Mojang releases updates on a rolling basis, so the specific sub-version number ticks up regularly. Check the Minecraft launcher or your platform's store page for the exact current build.

Xbox runs Minecraft Bedrock Edition, which is the cross-platform version that allows play with friends on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC (Windows), and mobile. It's available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, and it's included in Xbox Game Pass, making it one of the most accessible ways to get into the game for zero extra cost if you're already a subscriber.

As of mid-2025, both Java Edition and Bedrock Edition are on the 1.21.x update series, branded as 'Tricky Trials,' which introduced the Trial Chambers, the Breeze mob, and the mace weapon. Mojang has been working to keep Java and Bedrock parity closer than ever, though differences still exist. Your launcher will show the exact version number before you hit play.

PS5 runs Minecraft Bedrock Edition, the same cross-platform version available on Xbox, Switch, mobile, and Windows PC. There is no PS5-specific 'edition'; Sony's console simply runs Bedrock. There is no native PS5 upgrade with dramatically enhanced graphics, it runs via backward compatibility and the standard Bedrock build, though it does benefit from faster load times and stable frame rates on the newer hardware.

PlayStation 5 has Minecraft Bedrock Edition available through the PlayStation Store. It supports cross-play with other Bedrock platforms (Xbox, Switch, mobile, Windows) and uses the same Marketplace for paid content. Java Edition, the PC-only version favored by modders and competitive players, is not available on PS5 and never will be.

As of mid-2025, the current update is part of the 1.21 'Tricky Trials' cycle. Mojang has shifted to a model of releasing themed drops more frequently rather than one massive annual update, so new content arrives in chunks throughout the year. Follow Mojang's official channels or the Minecraft wiki for real-time tracking of what's live versus what's announced.

Mobile (iOS and Android) runs Minecraft Bedrock Edition, and it stays on the same version as other Bedrock platforms. As of mid-2025, that's the 1.21.x series. The mobile version is sold separately as 'Minecraft: Education Edition' for schools, but the standard consumer version on the App Store and Google Play is simply Minecraft (Bedrock). Updates roll out on mobile slightly after desktop and console, but they catch up within days.

PS5 runs Minecraft Bedrock Edition, currently on the 1.21.x version series as of mid-2025. The version number on PS5 matches the broader Bedrock release cycle. You can confirm your exact sub-version in the game's main menu footer, Mojang displays it there on every platform.

The latest Minecraft version as of mid-2025 is 1.21.x for both Java and Bedrock Editions, part of the 'Tricky Trials' update. Java and Bedrock version numbers have been aligned for years now, though their internal builds differ. The Minecraft launcher on PC auto-updates by default, and consoles/mobile push updates through their respective stores.

Xbox runs Minecraft Bedrock Edition on the same 1.21.x version cycle as all other Bedrock platforms as of mid-2025. Whether you're on Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S, the version is the same, Bedrock is designed to run across the full hardware range. Game Pass players get the same full version as buyers; there's no stripped-down edition.

Minecraft's official full release was November 18, 2011, but the game's history starts earlier: a playable alpha appeared in May 2009, and it spent years in public beta with paying early adopters. That long, open development cycle was unusual at the time and helped build the game's massive community before it ever officially launched. The 2011 date is the one Mojang celebrates as the official birthday.

Notch began building the first version of Minecraft in May 2009, heavily inspired by games like Infiniminer and Dwarf Fortress. Development was fast and largely solo in the early days, the first public alpha dropped within days of him starting the project. Full studio development under Mojang followed, with the official 1.0 release arriving in November 2011.

Mojang has not officially announced a date for Minecraft Live 2026 as of mid-2025. Historically, Minecraft Live takes place in the fall, typically October, and includes update reveals, mob votes (now replaced by developer-chosen mobs after community backlash), and major announcements. Expect a fall 2026 window, but nothing is confirmed yet.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 does not exist, and Mojang has given no indication it's in development. Minecraft Dungeons, the dungeon-crawler spin-off, had its last major content update in 2022, and Mojang officially ended support for the game. It's a dead product by every practical measure, which is a genuinely strange call given its player base, but Microsoft appears focused entirely on the core Minecraft franchise and its live-service model.

Minecraft officially launched on November 18, 2011, at MineCon, Mojang's own fan convention held in Las Vegas. The date is etched into gaming history. If you're asking about a specific platform release, Pocket Edition, Bedrock, PS4, Switch, those each have their own launch dates, with console versions arriving years after the PC original.

Mojang moved away from single massive annual updates and now releases content in themed 'drops' spread throughout the year. As of mid-2025, further 1.21.x drops and early previews of what comes next are rolling out, Mojang typically teases upcoming content during Minecraft Live (fall) and via snapshot/preview builds available in the launcher. Following the official Minecraft website or the game's wiki gives you the earliest reliable heads-up.

On PC (Java Edition), screenshots are saved automatically to a 'screenshots' folder inside your Minecraft directory, on Windows that's typically %appdata%\.minecraft\screenshots, and on Mac it's ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/screenshots. On Bedrock for Windows, check %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_[string]\LocalState\games\com.mojang\screenshots. On consoles and mobile, screenshots go through the platform's native screenshot system (Share button on PlayStation, capture button on Switch, photo roll on mobile) rather than a Minecraft-specific folder.