'Minecraft' update removes in-game references to its controversial creator
Microsoft, which owns Minecraft, appears to be distancing itself and Minecraft from its original creator, Markus "Notch" Persson.
The latest Minecraft update to hit the Java version of the game removed a couple of references to Notch that would sometimes appear on the game's home screen next to the title. Twitter user decrepitlab pointed these changes out on Wednesday. While we don't know for sure why exactly Notch's name was taken off the home screen, it's possible that this move stems from the many questionable things he's said online over the years.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
To confirm the removal of Notch references, decrepitlab looked inside the game's files and found that the messages "Made by Notch!" and "The work of Notch!" are no longer in the list of splash text that appear on the screen.
Some fans of Minecraft who aren't such big fans of Notch expressed their happiness about the distancing of Minecraft from Notch, who has made racist, homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic comments on Twitter.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
In response to the news, some people have been re-posting Notch's tweets online, reminding people why a company like Microsoft might not want to be associated with him.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Minecraft, which Notch released in 2009 and later sold to Microsoft in 2014 for $2.5 billion, has been a defining video game for the current generation, becoming wildly popular among PC players before moving on to more platforms.
Microsoft has fully taken over development and licensing of Minecraft, turning it into more of a behemoth. While Notch hasn't really had a hand in the game for years, some players who enjoy the game still regret playing a game made by someone who has routinely espoused hate and intolerance online.
Jokes have long been made about Notch, who instead of being quiet and enjoying his billions of dollars likes to put other people down and express ideas of white male supremacy. He still manages to hold a vocal group of supporters who share his views, but there are many Minecraft fans (and just people who know about him in general) that wish he would go away.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Notch's name may still be in the credits of Minecraft, but as the game continues to expand and be played by millions of people, it seems to be for the best to leave this guy behind.
Microsoft did not reply to a request for comment on why it removed the references to Notch in Minecraft.
