Minecraft: The Story of Mojang

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Minecraft: The Story of Mojang is a 2012 documentary by 2 Player Productions about Mojang and the early days of Minecraft. It follows game designer Markus “Notch” Persson and his small team as they turn a hobby project into a global phenomenon, focusing on the first year of the company and the game’s rise in popularity. The film features talks with famous game developers, including Tim Schafer, Chris Hecker, and Peter Molyneux, along with segments with Minecraft fans, creators, and YouTubers like the Yogscast and The Shaft.

The project began as part of 2 Player Productions’ plan to make several game-focused shorts but grew into a full-length film after they met Persson. They funded it with a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $210,000 from 3,641 backers. The team filmed for nearly two years across Europe and North America, capturing Mojang’s milestones, Persson’s trips to events like the Game Developers Conference and E3 2011, and the early MineCon gatherings. The movie also covers Persson handing leadership to his colleague Jens Bergensten.

Daniel “C418” Rosenfeld, Minecraft’s original composer, created the soundtrack for the film, later released as the album One. Minecraft: The Story of Mojang premiered on Xbox Live on December 22, 2012, with digital streaming starting December 23. Fangamer released a DVD edition, and a two-disc soundtrack edition was later offered. The documentary was also released on several platforms, including YouTube in 2013, and it had a television premiere on Fusion in March 2015.

Reception was generally positive, with praise for its presentation, charm, and emotional moments, and for giving fans a heartfelt look at Minecraft’s origins. Some critics felt the film served more as a celebration than a deep, investigative chronicle of the game’s development.