How long did it take Markus Persson to create the first version of "Minecraft"?

The creation of the initial version of the globally successful game "Minecraft" by Markus Persson, known as Notch, was a remarkably swift process, taking approximately one week. In May 2009, Persson dedicated a single weekend to developing the foundational code for what was then called "Cave Game" or "Cave game tech test." This rapid prototyping focused on the core mechanics that would define Minecraft: the ability to place and destroy blocks within a procedurally generated 3D world.

Persson's inspiration for this groundbreaking sandbox game stemmed from titles like "Infiniminer" and "Dwarf Fortress," which explored block-based building and open-world concepts. The very first public alpha build was shared on May 17, 2009, on forums such as TIGSource, a platform popular with independent game developers. This early release was incredibly basic, lacking many features players associate with modern Minecraft, such as crafting or survival elements.

The swift development and early public release were crucial to Minecraft's eventual success. By engaging with the community and incorporating feedback from forum users, Persson was able to iteratively refine and expand the game. This collaborative approach, starting from a simple yet compelling prototype, allowed Minecraft to grow organically from a solo project into a global phenomenon that has sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide.