Looks like the idea of a “Minecraft 2” developed by the original game’s creator is off the table. Markus “Notch” Persson has decided to concentrate on a different project.
Speculation about Notch’s next game has been ongoing, especially after Microsoft’s acquisition of Mojang. For a while, it seemed a return to his roots might be in the cards, inspired by community feedback.
The “Minecraft 2” Idea Emerges (Early 2025)
At the start of 2025, Markus “Notch” Persson, the developer behind the incredibly popular Minecraft, sparked excitement by hinting at a new project. He even conducted a poll asking his followers whether they were more interested in his new “roguelike” game or a sequel to Minecraft. The majority favored a cubic successor, and the developer seemed open to the idea.
“Essentially, I announced Minecraft 2,” Markus Persson stated at the time. “I thought maybe people REALLY want me to make another game very similar to the first one, and I’m happy to get back into development again. It doesn’t matter much to me which game I make first (or if I make any at all), but I decided I’d be absolutely willing to give it an honest shot as a spiritual successor to Minecraft and held a poll about it.”
The potential new game even had a working title: Adventureland. At that point, Notch was still deciding on the setting, considering options between steampunk and space. He also made it clear he would not interfere with Mojang’s ongoing work on Minecraft.
A Glimpse at the Roguelike Project (Late 2024 / Early 2025)
Alongside the discussions about a potential Minecraft successor, Notch had already revealed he was working on another project. Back in 2024, he shared initial screenshots of a voxel roguelike that he described as resembling a first-person Diablo.
Markus “Notch” Persson later published another screenshot of this game. The image showcased a party of three characters. Many players responded positively, expressing interest in trying the project and eagerly awaiting more details. At this point, Notch hadn’t revealed either the name or the release date for this game, confirming it was being developed by his studio, Bitshift Entertainment.
The Final Decision: Focusing on Levers and Chests
Despite the public’s preference in the early 2025 poll for a spiritual successor to Minecraft, Notch has now confirmed he is moving in a different direction. It appears that the “Minecraft 2” concept from the original developer is canceled.
After some deliberation, Notch consulted with his team and made the decision to stick with his other project.
“Talked to the guys in the office. Looks like we’re doing Levers and Chests!” Markus “Notch” Persson announced. “The turning point was PC Gamer calling it interesting, lol… Trust me, a spiritual successor would have been much less fun than a dungeon roguelike. They always end up as sad, nostalgic trash heaps.”
“Levers and Chests” is the confirmed title for the completely new game from Markus Persson’s studio, Bitshift Entertainment. According to the developers’ concept, the project will be a voxel roguelike akin to Diablo. There is currently no release date for the game, but screenshots have been shared.
In related news for the franchise he created, Minecraft won the “Still Playing” award at the Golden Joystick Awards in November 2024, recognizing its enduring popularity. Additionally, a live-action Minecraft movie starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa is set for release on April 4, 2025.
So, while a direct spiritual sequel from Notch won’t be happening, fans can look forward to his new voxel roguelike adventure, Levers and Chests.
