Minecraft’s original developer Markus Persson, widely recognized by his alias Notch, has long maintained a reputation for unfiltered opinions. Over the past decade, his social media posts have sparked debates on gaming practices and societal topics. Focusing on industry matters, he once notably encouraged a fan unable to purchase Minecraft to:

Go ahead and download it unofficially. If you enjoy it and can pay later, do so. Just remember to atone for your guilt. 😉

At a 2011 gaming conference, Persson doubled down, asserting piracy shouldn’t equate to physical theft. He illustrated this by comparing stolen vehicles—which reduce inventory—to copied games, which merely expand access and potential fandom.

Recently, Persson revisited this stance amid growing support for the Stop Killing Games movement. This campaign aims to draft legislation in the UK and EU preventing studios from permanently disabling game servers, rendering titles inaccessible. For instance, EA recently confirmed BioWare’s Anthem will lose all online functionality by January 2026, erasing its playability.

With nearly 1.3 million backers signed on, the initiative challenges publishers who warn compliance would strain budgets—a statement many interpret as foreshadowing higher consumer costs.

Persson’s renewed commentary cut straight to the point:

If game purchases aren’t truly owned, then unauthorized copies aren’t stealing.

When questioned about alternatives to server shutdowns, he emphasized historical precedents: older multiplayer games enabled community-hosted servers, preserving longevity beyond corporate support.

Earlier in 2024, Persson teased potential interest in developing a Minecraft-inspired project. While fan reactions were largely enthusiastic, specifics about timelines or feasibility remain undisclosed.

What are your thoughts on Persson’s viewpoint?