Markus “Notch” Persson, the creator of Minecraft, has announced a new project that has the gaming community buzzing. The title is described as a spiritual successor to the beloved sandbox, not a direct remake but a thoughtful homage to the design principles that made the first game famous. Persson signals that the upcoming title will honor core elements like open-ended building, exploration, and cooperative play, while inviting players to discover new biomes, challenges, and progression systems. This is not presented as a reboot; it is a continuation crafted to preserve the magic fans associate with the original while expanding the possibilities of the world they know. The move underscores a growing interest in procedurally rich, player-driven experiences, and Persson seems eager to see how a modern engine and fresh ideas can carry that same creative freedom into a broader sequel universe.
At the start of 2025 Persson ran a survey among his subscribers to ask which project they would rather see him advance: the new title nicknamed bagel or a Minecraft sequel. The responses favored the cube-based, voxel aesthetic that defined Minecraft, and Persson indicated there would be no delay pushed by the poll results. He emphasized that community input matters, but the ultimate direction remains in his hands as the creative lead, guiding the project toward a clear path despite varied opinions.
Persson, in his own words, effectively signaled the Minecraft 2 trajectory, acknowledging that fans may want another game very similar to the first installment. He expressed excitement about returning to development and made it clear that the order of release would not be dictated by assumptions; instead, he intended to give the idea a serious trial as a spiritual successor and invited public feedback through ongoing dialogue with the community.
The new project has been given the working title Adventureland, and discussions have floated between a steampunk setting and a space-themed environment. Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft and part of Microsoft’s broader ecosystem, would be allowed to continue its own work without interference from Persson. Fans have observed that Microsoft still has influence over the franchise, a dynamic Persson has previously acknowledged, even as he focuses on his own creative pursuits and the potential for a connected, evolving universe.
Beyond Minecraft, Persson is known to be pursuing another project—a roguelike experience rendered from a first-person perspective, with early visuals released in 2024 that offered a glimpse into combat pacing and environmental design. This separate direction demonstrates Persson’s willingness to explore a range of gameplay styles while keeping a finger on the pulse of what fans crave from his catalog of titles.
Industry coverage around these conversations has been diverse, with trade outlets noting a strong appetite for a Minecraft-inspired sequel and a bold new world that could sit alongside the original in a shared ecosystem. The conversation highlights how a modern successor might balance nostalgic elements with new mechanics, inviting both veteran players and newcomers to approach a familiar universe through fresh mechanics and storytelling opportunities.