Mojang Studios

Notch receives the Pioneer Award at GDC 2016 (cropped)

Maria Skolgata 83

Mojang Studios is a Swedish video game developer and a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios. Founded in May 2009 by Markus Persson, it is best known for creating the sandbox video game Minecraft, one of the best-selling video games of all time. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

History

Mojang Studios was initially founded by Markus Persson, also known as "Notch", in 2009. The company's first project was Minecraft, a game that allowed players to build and explore in a blocky, procedurally generated 3D world. Following the game's release, Mojang experienced rapid growth and popularity, leading to the expansion of its team and the development of additional projects.

In 2014, Mojang was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion, becoming a part of Xbox Game Studios. Despite the acquisition, Mojang has continued to operate with a degree of independence, maintaining its unique culture and continuing to develop Minecraft and other projects.

Games Developed

Mojang's most notable game is Minecraft, which has received critical acclaim and has a massive player base worldwide. Besides Minecraft, Mojang has worked on other projects, including:

• Minecraft: Story Mode – An episodic point-and-click adventure game developed in collaboration with Telltale Games.
• Minecraft Dungeons – An action-adventure game inspired by classic dungeon crawlers, set in the Minecraft universe.
• Cobalt – An action-oriented side-scrolling video game developed in collaboration with Oxeye Game Studio.

Impact and Legacy

Mojang Studios has had a significant impact on the video game industry, particularly in the area of sandbox games. Minecraft has influenced numerous other games and has been used in educational settings to teach subjects like mathematics, history, and computer programming. The game's success has also led to various merchandise, a spin-off series, and a forthcoming feature film.

Corporate Affairs

As a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios, Mojang operates under the leadership of its parent company, Microsoft. The studio has continued to expand its operations globally, focusing on game development, updates, and community engagement.

Community and Culture

Mojang is known for its close relationship with the Minecraft community, actively engaging with players through social media, forums, and conventions like MineCon. The company has also been involved in various charitable activities, including the Block by Block project in collaboration with the United Nations, aimed at involving young people in urban planning processes.

See Also

• Video game development
• Indie game
• List of video game developers