Minecraft Making Timeline

This is about the making of the game. For the in-universe timeline of events, see Minecraft Timeline.

2009 Edit

April Edit

 * 29 – Infiniminer is released, a game by Zachtronics Industries (creators of the critically acclaimed 2011 puzzle game SpaceChem), whose concept mainly inspired Notch for Minecraft.[1] It was regularly updated and became open-source less than a month later.[2]

May – Birth of Minecraft Edit

 * 10 – Development on "Cave Game" started (PC Pre 0.0.0) using RubyDung, an abandoned game project of Notch, and Infiniminer as bases for the code.
 * 13 – PC : First video of "Cave Game", Block placement, first Mobs (Humans), physics created (Pre 0.0.9a).
 * 14 – PC : "Cave Game" renamed to "Minecraft : Order of the Stone" after a suggestion by RinkuHero from The Independant Games Wiki on an IRC with Notch, "Minecraft" being an analogy to the famous real-time strategy game StarCraft (Pre 0.0.9a).[3]
 * 16 – PC : Early private testing, among TIGSource members (0.0.9a).[4]
 * 17 – First release of the game (PC 0.0.11a). Game name shortened to simply "Minecraft".[5]
 * 21 – Accounts can now be registered.[6]
 * 24 – An official Minecraft Forum is opened.[7]

June Edit

 * 1 – PC : First Multiplayer test (0.0.15a). Notch starts his new job at Jalbum.[8]
 * 8 – PC : Multiplayer released (0.0.16a).
 * 14 – PC : Custom Skins released (0.0.18a).

August Edit

 * 4 – PC : First elements of Survival (0.24).
 * 18 – PC : Introduction of Health (0.24).

October Edit

 * 9 – Passwords can now be changed.[9]
 * 20 – Beginning of SURVIVAL TEST (PC 0.26).

December Edit

 * 22 – Hayden Scott-Baron becomes the Minecraft Artist.[10]
 * 23 – Minecraft PC passes to Indev development stage (Indev 0.31) (which requires a 5.00 € Premium Account to be accessed), introduction of Torches and dynamic lighting.

January Edit

 * 13 – PC : Introduction of finite Water (Indev 0.31). Minecraft passes 100,000 registered users.[11]
 * 21 – Minecraft can now be gifted to non-premium players.[12]
 * 29 – PC : Introduction of the Crafting system (Indev 0.31).

February Edit

 * 5 – Hayden Scott-Baron leaves Minecraft development.[13]
 * 27 – Minecraft PC passes to Infdev development stage, introduction of infinite maps.

June Edit

 * 1 – Notch gets back to work 100% on Minecraft after a pause after having left his job at Jalbum a few weeks before.
 * 17 – Minecraft passes 20,000 sales.[14]
 * 18 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 1 released. Minecart system introduced.
 * 25 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 2 released. Dungeons introduced.
 * 30 – Minecraft PC passes to Alpha development stage (Alpha 1.0.0), price raised from 5.00 € to 10.00 €, it is now possible to play on a client window.

July Edit

 * 3 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 3 (Alpha 1.0.1) released. Redstone introduced.
 * 9 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 4 (Alpha 1.0.4) released. Winter Mode introduced.
 * 16 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 5 (Alpha 1.0.6) released. Boats and Large Trees introduced.
 * 22 – PC : First over-the-internet test of Survival Mode Multiplayer.[15]
 * 23 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 6 (Alpha 1.0.11) released. Bricks and Slimes introduced.
 * 30 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 7 (Alpha 1.0.14) released. Chickens and Music Discs introduced.

August Edit

 * 4 – First release of Survival Multiplayer (PC Alpha 1.0.15).
 * 20 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 8 (Alpha 1.0.17) released. Fences introduced.
 * 30 – Notch, JahKob and Carl Manneh get on an employment trip to Washington D.C. offered by VALVe Corporation.[16]
 * 30 – Original Herobrine creepypasta is created.
 * 31 – Minecraftcon, a spontaneous gathering of over 50 fans after a call by Notch, is held in Bellevue, Washington.[17]

September Edit

 * 2 – Notch, JahKob and Carl Manneh return from the trip in the U.S.
 * 10 – PC : Seecret Friday Update 9 (Alpha 1.1.0) released. Compasses introduced.
 * 13 – Daniel "Kappische" Kaplan joins the Mojang team.[18]
 * 18 – PC : Seecret Saturday Update 10 (Alpha 1.1.1) released. Sneaking introduced. Minecraft technically becomes free-to-play for the weekend, due to the login server not working correctly.
 * 23 – Minecraft Classic is available again on Minecraft.net.[19]

October Edit

 * 16 – Mojang AB is founded.[20]
 * 30 – PC : Alpha 1.2.0 "Halloween Update" released. Nether introduced.

December Edit

 * 1 – Jens "Jeb" Bergensten and "Junkboy" join the Mojang team.[21]
 * 16 – Gift system revised : the process now uses Gift Codes.[22]
 * 20 – Minecraft PC passes to Beta development stage (Beta 1.0), price raised from 10.00 € to 15.00 €.
 * 22 – PC : Beta 1.1 released.

January Edit

 * 3 – Tobias Möllstam and Carl Manneh join the Mojang team.[23]
 * 12 – Minecraft surpasses 1 million sales.[24]
 * 13 – PC : Beta 1.2 released.

February Edit

 * 21 – PC : Client/Launcher Update. Updates are now manually triggered.
 * 22 – PC : Beta 1.3 released.

March Edit

 * 2 – Scrolls, Mojang's second game, is announced on The Word of Notch.[25]
 * 4 – "Minecraft - Volume Alpha", the soundtrack of the game by C418, is released.
 * 31 – PC : Beta 1.4 released.

April Edit

 * 19 – PC : Beta 1.5 released.

May Edit

 * 25 – Kappische reveals Minecraft: Pocket Edition on Mojang's site.[26]
 * 26 – PC : Beta 1.6 released.

June Edit

 * 1 – Minecraft: Pocket Edition is first shown on a Youtube video
 * 6 – Microsoft reveal Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition at the E3 conference.
 * 30 – PC : Beta 1.7 "Piston Update" released.

July Edit

 * 1 – Minecraft passes 10 million registered users.[27]
 * 30 – Minecraft T-shirts are made available on Battlefield Heroes for the 30-31 of July week-end only as a form of "neighborly friendly cross-promotion" between DICE and Mojang.[28]

August Edit

 * 5 – Notch receives a 15-page letter from Bethesda Softworks, threatening him with a lawsuit if he doesn't change the name "Scrolls" (which is too close to "The Elder Scrolls", according to Bethesda) for his next game. A little while before this, Notch had already been warned by Bethesda's lawyers about this problem, and had suggested a compromise in which he would never put any word before "Scrolls".[29]
 * 8 – Henrik "Carnalizer" Pettersson joins the Mojang team.[30]
 * 14 – Marriage of Ez & Notch, an extra copy is offered to all people who purchase Minecraft on the 13th and 14th of August.[31]
 * 16 – Minecraft: Pocket Edition Alpha 0.1.0 officially released (Android only).

September Edit

 * 14 – PC : Beta 1.8 "Adventure Update" released.

November Edit

 * 13 – PC : "Sound Update" released.
 * 17 – PE : First iOS release (Alpha 0.1.2).
 * 18 – MineCon 2011 is held at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 4,500 people from 24 countries attend to it. On the same day, Minecraft PC 1.0.0 is officially released, price is now 20.00 €.
 * 24 – First snapshot released (11w47a). This marks the beginning of weekly development versions.

December Edit

 * 1 – Jeb becomes the lead developer on Minecraft.[32]
 * 6 – Notch first evokes the possibility of Minecraft-themed LEGO sets as part of the LEGO CUUSOO project.[33]
 * 28 – Jon Kågström is hired by Mojang.

January Edit

 * 12 – PC : 1.1 released.
 * 18 – As part of the worldwide protest against SOPA, Mojang establishes a blackout on all their sites for the entire day.[34]
 * 24 – LEGO announces that the LEGO Minecraft project has passed the 10,000 required votes.[35]

February Edit

 * 11 – PE : Alpha 0.2.0 released for Android.
 * 15 – LEGO reveals the final design of the first LEGO Minecraft set.[36]
 * 17 – PE : Alpha 0.2.0 released for iOS.
 * 18 – "Catacomb Snatch", a game developed by Mojang in the span of a weekend as part of a charity project, is released.
 * 28 – The Bukkit team (composed of Nathan "Dinnerbone" Adams, Warren "EvilSeph" Loo, Erik "Grum" Broes & Nathan "Tahg" Gilbert) officially joins Mojang in order to further develop the Minecraft server software and to aid with the creation of modding APIs.

March[ Edit

 * 1 – PC : 1.2.1 released (1.2 was skipped for practical purposes).
 * 12 – The "Elder Scrolls vs. Scrolls" lawsuit has an outcome : Mojang can call their game "Scrolls", but no sequel using this name will be allowed.[37]

April Edit

 * 23 – PE : Alpha 0.3.0 released for iOS.
 * 24 – PE : Alpha 0.3.0 released for Android.

May Edit

 * 9 – Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition TU1 officially released.

June Edit

 * 1 – "Micro World", the first LEGO Minecraft set, is released (coincidentally with Notch's birthday) and available on the LEGO online shop.[38]

July Edit

 * 13 – XB : Xbox TU3 released.
 * 16 – XB : Skin Pack 1 released. It includes 45 skins inspired by Minecraft, "Halo", "Fable" and "Gears of War" amongst others as well as new skin designs.
 * 18 – XB : The Summer Of Arcade Promotional Skin Pack was made available through August 22, 2012. It included 15 skins inspired by various arcade games such as "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" and "Deadlight".

August Edit

 * 1 – PC : 1.3.1 released (1.3 was skipped for practical purposes).
 * 2 – MineCon 2012 is officially announced on a promotional video to be in Disneyland Paris on November 24–25.
 * 15 – Notch and Ez divorce.[39][40]
 * 24 – XB : Skin Pack 2 released. It includes 45 skins inspired by Minecraft, "Left 4 Dead", "Perfect Dark" and "Gears of War" amongst others as well as new skin designs.

September Edit

 * 6 – PE : Alpha 0.4.0 released for both iOS & Android.

October Edit

 * 16 – XB : TU5 released.
 * 17 – XB : Skin Pack 3 released. It includes 45 skins inspired by Minecraft, "Half-Life", "Portal" and "Left 4 Dead" amongst others as well as new skin designs.
 * 24 – Mojang starts the Minecraft Bug Tracker, an online tool that simplifies the communication of found game issues between the players and the developers.
 * 25 – PC : 1.4.2 "Pretty Scary Update" released (1.4 & 1.4.1 were skipped for practical purposes).
 * 26 – XB : Halloween Skin Pack was made available through November 26, 2012. It included 55 Halloween-themed skins, including 7 with capes.

November Edit

 * 6 – Minecraft gift cards are available in physical stores in the US.[41] This is the first time Minecraft can be bought without a credit card.
 * 15 – PE : Alpha 0.5.0 released for both iOS & Android.
 * 24 – MineCon 2012 is held at Disneyland Paris, France.
 * 25 – Second day of MineCon 2012. MineCon 2012 capes released. Minecraft 1.5, also known as "The Redstone Update" is announced.

December Edit

 * 19 – XB : TU7 released. Festive Skin Pack was also made available and includes 24 Christmas-themed skins.
 * 20 – PI : Minecraft: Pi Edition Alpha 0.1 unofficially released.

January Edit

 * 30 – PE : Alpha 0.6.0 released.

February Edit

 * 11 – PI : Minecraft: Pi Edition Alpha 0.1.1 officially released.

March Edit

 * 13 – PC : 1.5 "Redstone Update" released.
 * 13 – XB : Skin Pack 4 released. It includes 45 skins, some with capes.

April Edit

 * 1 – PC : Minecraft 2.0 announced as an April Fools joke.
 * 4 – XB : TU9 released.
 * 5 – Minecraft for PC surpasses 10 million sales.

May Edit

 * 8 – XB : Battle & Beasts Skin Pack released. It includes 45 skins.
 * 9 – XB : Minecraft 1st Birthday Skin Pack was made available through May 31, 2013. It included 23 skins.

June Edit

 * 5 – PE : Alpha 0.7.0 released.
 * 10 – XB : Minecraft: Xbox One Edition is announced during Microsoft's press conference at E3.[42]

July Edit

 * 1 – PC : 1.6.1 "Horse Update" released (1.6 was skipped for practical purposes).[43]
 * 31 – MineCon 2013 tickets went on sale.
 * 31 – XB : Skin Pack 5 released. It includes 45 skins.

August Edit

 * 6 – More MineCon 2013 details were announced.
 * 20 – Minecraft was announced for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.[44][45] The PS4 edition will be released on the same day the PS4 gets released for North America (November 15),[46] and Europe, Australia, and Latin America (November 29).
 * 23 – XB : TU12 released.

September Edit

 * 2 – Minecraft for PC surpasses 12 million sales.
 * 4 – XB : Mass Effect Mash-up Pack released.[47]

October Edit

 * 2 – XB : Plastic Texture Pack released.[48]
 * 9 – XB : Battle & Beasts 2 Skin Pack released. It includes 45 skins.
 * 18 – XB : Natural Texture Pack released.[49]
 * 25 – PC : 1.7.2 "The Update that Changed the World" released (1.7 & 1.7.1 were skipped for practical purposes).

November Edit

 * 2–3 – MineCon 2013 is held at Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.
 * 20 – XB : Skyrim Mash-up Pack released.[50]

December Edit

 * 11 – XB : Fantasy Texture Pack released.[51]
 * 12 – PE : Alpha 0.8.0 released for both iOS & Android.
 * 13 – Minecraft for PC surpasses 13 million sales.
 * 17 – Console : Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition 1.0 officially released.
 * 19 – Minecraft Realms Beta was launched.
 * 23 – XB : Marvel Avengers Skin Pack released. It includes 35 skins.

January Edit

 * 9 – PC : The first 1.8 snapshot (14w02a) was released.

February Edit

 * 26 – PC : Minecraft 1.7.5 is released.
 * 27 – Minecraft Realms is launched in Nordic countries.

March Edit

 * 26 – XB : TU14 is released.
 * 27 – PS3 : 1.04 is released along with Skin Packs 1, the Battle & Beasts skin pack as well as the City and Plastic texture packs all released as available DLC.

April Edit

 * 1 – Villagers have taken over Minecraft and Skins cannot be changed throughout the day.
 * 1 – Minecraft Realms is launched in Canada.
 * 2 – Minecraft: Pocket Edition released for the Amazon Fire TV.
 * 11 – PC : Minecraft 1.7.8 is released.
 * 14 – PC : Minecraft 1.7.9 is released.
 * 24 – Minecraft Realms is launched in the United States.

May Edit

 * 6 – Minecraft Realms is launched in more countries in Asia and Europe.
 * 9 – Minecraft Realms is launched in the Oceania region.
 * 19 – Minecraft Realms is launched globally in all remaining countries.

June Edit

 * 26 – PC : Minecraft 1.7.10 is released.[52]

July Edit

 * 10 – PE : Alpha 0.9.0 released.

September Edit

 * 2 – PC : Minecraft 1.8 "The Bountiful Update" is released.[53]
 * 4 – Console : Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition officially released.
 * 5 – Console : Minecraft: Xbox One Edition officially released.
 * 15 – Mojang and Minecraft are acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion.[54]

October Edit

 * 14 – Console : Minecraft released for PlayStation Vita.

November Edit

 * 5 – The founders of Mojang AB – Markus Persson, Jakob Porsér and Carl Manneh – leave the company.
 * 18 – PE : Minecraft Alpha 0.10.0 released for the Pocket Edition.
 * 24 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.1 is released.[55]

December Edit

 * 10 – PE : Minecraft: Pocket Edition is released for Windows Phone.
 * 12 – PC : New Minecraft Launcher released, utilizing a native Java application and an installer that runs in the C:\Program Files\Minecraft directory
 * 18 – Mojang announced that they will collaborate with Telltale Games to create a new Minecraft spin-off game called Minecraft: Story Mode.
 * 18 – Console : Minecraft TU19 and CU7 released on Xbox 360 Edition and Xbox One Edition respectively.
 * 20 – Console : Minecraft 1.12 released on all PlayStation Editions.

January Edit

 * 23 – Console : Minecraft TU20, CU8, and 1.13 released on 360, One, and all PlayStation Editions, respectively.
 * 29 – Ryan Holtz leaves Mojang.

February Edit

 * 2 – Minecon 2015 is announced for July 4–5.
 * 4 – PC : Mojang releases the ability to change your Minecraft username.
 * 11 – Console : Minecraft TU21, CU9, and 1.14 released on 360, One, and all PlayStation Editions, respectively.
 * 19 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.2 is released.[56]
 * 20 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.3 is released.
 * 25 – Console : Minecraft CU10 released on Xbox One Edition.
 * 27 – Console : Minecraft TU22 released on Xbox 360 Edition.

March Edit

 * 12 – Minecraft: Console Edition wins a BAFTA Games Award in the family category.
 * 25 – Console : Minecraft TU23, CU11, and 1.15 released on 360, One, and all PlayStation Editions, respectively.
 * 28 – Minecraft wins a Kids' Choice Award for "Most Addicting Game".

April Edit

 * 1 – PC : Snapshot 15w14a for Minecraft 1.10 is announced as an April Fools joke.
 * 17 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.4 is released.
 * 29 – Console : Minecraft TU24, CU12, and 1.16 released on 360, One, and all PlayStation Editions, respectively.

May Edit

 * 14 – Console : Minecraft CU13 released on Xbox One Edition.
 * 22 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.5 is released.
 * 25 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.6 is released.
 * 30–31 – Mojang gives away 12,000 2-week Realms trials.

June Edit

 * 4 – PE : Minecraft Alpha 0.11.0 released for the Pocket Edition.
 * 5 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.7 is released.
 * 15 – First demonstration of Minecraft for Microsoft HoloLens at E3 2015 press conference.
 * 30 – Minecraft for PC surpasses 20 million sales.

July Edit

 * 1 – Console : Minecraft TU25, CU14, and 1.17 released on 360, One, and all PlayStation Editions, respectively.
 * 1 – Minecraft wins the first ever BAFTA Young Game Designers Hero Award.
 * 3 – Console : Minecraft TU26 released on Xbox 360 Edition.
 * 4–5 – MineCon 2015 takes place in London.
 * 4 – MineCon receives the Guinness World Record for Largest Convention for a Single Video Game.
 * 4 – Mojang announces Minecraft: Windows 10 edition Beta, showcasing features specific to the HoloLens and the Surface Pro 3.
 * 4 – Mojang and Telltale Games reveals a trailer for the upcoming Minecraft: Story Mode.
 * 21 – Mojang announces Rob McElhenney as the director for the upcoming Minecraft movie.
 * 29 – W10 : Minecraft is released for the universal Windows 10 platform.
 * 29 – The first 1.9 snapshot (15w31a) is released.

August Edit

 * 11 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition 0.12.0.1 released for Windows 10 Edition.
 * 21–23 – Mojang gives away 36,000 2-week Realms trials.
 * 26 – Telltale Games announces that Minecraft: Story Mode will be released for the Wii U this fall, making it the first ever Minecraft-themed game to be released on a Nintendo platform.
 * 28 – Console : Minecraft TU28, CU16, and 1.19 released on 360, One, and all PlayStation Editions, respectively.

September Edit

 * 3 – Minecraft is nominated for a Golden Joystick Award in the Best Family Game category.
 * 4 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.1 released for Fire OS.
 * 8 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.1 released for Windows 10, iOS and Windows Phone.
 * 9 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.1 released for Android.
 * 11 – Console : Minecraft TU29 released for Xbox 360 Edition.
 * 24 – W10 : Mojang announces that Minecraft will be released for the Oculus Rift as an adaption of the Windows 10 Edition.[57][58]

October Edit

 * 11 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.2 released for Android, Fire OS, Windows Phone and Windows 10.
 * 13 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: The Order of the Stone released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC/Mac.
 * 14 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.2 released for iOS.
 * 14 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: The Order of the Stone released for Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
 * 15 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: The Order of the Stone released for iOS, Android and Fire OS.
 * 22 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.3 released for Android.
 * 22 – Minecraft is nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award in the Game category.
 * 23 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.3 released for iOS, Fire OS and Windows 10.
 * 23 – Console : Minecraft TU30, CU18 and 1.21 released for all Console Editions, respectively.
 * 27 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 2: Assembly Required released.

November Edit

 * 19 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.13.0 released.
 * 24 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 3: The Last Place You Look released.

December Edit

 * 7 – Minecraft announced for the Wii U.
 * 9 – PC : Minecraft 1.8.9 is released.
 * 14 – Realms price reduced to $10.
 * 16 – PE : Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.13.1 released.
 * 17 – Console : Minecraft: Wii U Edition officially released.
 * 18 – Console : Minecraft TU31, CU19 and 1.22 released for Xbox 360, Xbox One and Playstation Console Editions, respectively.
 * 22 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 4: A Block and a Hard Place released across all other platforms.

January Edit

 * 19 – Minecraft: Education Edition announced.
 * 21 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: The Order of the Stone released on Wii U.

February Edit

 * 2 – Minecraft: Story Mode is nominated a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Video Game.
 * 10–12 – Minecraft TU32, CU20 and 1.23 released on Xbox 360, One, and PlayStation Console Editions, respectively.
 * 18 – Minecraft Pocket Edition Alpha 0.14.0 released.
 * 25–26 – Minecraft TU33, CU21, 1.24 and Patch 3 released on all Console Editions, respectively.
 * 29 – Minecraft 1.9 "The Combat Update" released.

March Edit

 * 22 – Telltale Games announces three additional episodes of Minecraft: Story Mode as downloadable content.
 * 29 – Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 5: Order Up! released.