Minecraft update removes references to creator Notch

By Sherif Saed, Thursday, 28 March 2019 11:00 GMT

Microsoft has removed all mention of Minecraft creator Markus “Notch” Persson from the game’s splash screens.

19w13a is the latest version of Minecraft, and in the patch, Microsoft made an unusual change. The game’s splash screens no longer reference creator Markus “Notch” Persson.

According to Minecraft’s Gamepedia Wiki, exactly three splash screen references were removed. Those being, “Made by Notch!”, “The Work of Notch!”, and “110813!”

The change was spotted by @decrepitlab, who verified it in the game’s splashes.txt file; a repository of all the different possible phrases.

Minecraft’s splash screens typically pull from that file, and only the three mentioned above referenced Notch. The update does not, however, remove Notch’s name from the game’s credits, where he continues to be listed as its creator.

If you’re wondering why this change was made, it probably has something to do with Notch’s bizarre turn in recent years into a conspiracy theorist, and one who calls out trans people for their choice of pronouns.

Microsoft, who acquired Minecraft in 2014, is likely hoping to distance itself from Notch’s behaviour. Minecraft is a game mostly played by children, after all.
