When Did Minecraft Come Out?

Minecraft stands as one of the most iconic video games in the industry today. Known for its sandbox gameplay and creative freedom, it has shaped the modern gaming scene. But when did Minecraft come out, and how has its release timeline unfolded across platforms?

Let’s take a full look at the journey of Minecraft, from its early beginnings to its expansion onto various devices.

How Minecraft First Started?

Minecraft was not always the name we know. Its earliest build was shared with the public on May 17, 2009, under a different title—Cave Game. Created by Markus “Notch” Persson, this early stage was essentially a test version for users to try.

In this form, Minecraft entered a trial phase with multiple updates as it grew through alpha and later beta builds. Although the game was not officially finished, this marked the first time people around the world could play it.

The Complete Game Launch

A fully polished version of Minecraft finally became available on November 18, 2011. This edition, called version 1.0, left behind the beta label and presented a stable and more feature-complete experience.

This event marked a major shift. From here, Minecraft began spreading beyond computers, starting its journey to conquer all gaming systems.

Entry into the Mobile Zone

Before the full PC version even launched, Minecraft was already stepping into the mobile space. It was first offered in early access for phones and tablets. Here’s a quick look at those initial mobile rollouts:

• Android: Released on October 7, 2011
• iOS (Apple): Available starting November 17, 2011

These versions were called Pocket Edition, designed to bring the Minecraft experience to touchscreens. They allowed fans to explore and build even while on the go.

Every Release Date by Platform

As Minecraft continued to grow, it reached nearly every gaming device out there. Below is a complete list of the platforms it launched on, including the date of release for each:

Cross-Platform Features

Many of today’s versions now run under Bedrock Edition, which allows players on different systems to join each other in-game. This began with updates to mobile and console editions, replacing older builds with a version that could work across devices.

Timeline Summary of Major Milestones

Here is a brief overview of the key dates in Minecraft’s timeline to help track its progress at a glance:

• May 17, 2009: First version ever released, under the name Cave Game.
• October 2011: Android phones get access to Pocket Edition.
• November 2011: iOS joins the mobile build lineup.
• November 18, 2011: Full game officially launches on PC.
• 2012–2015: Releases span across Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One, PS Vita, and more.
• 2016: Education Edition begins; Bedrock version rolls out on mobile.
• 2017 onward: Switch, 3DS, and story-driven spin-offs debut.
• 2019–2023: Minecraft Earth, Dungeons, and Legends expand the universe.

Minecraft’s Expanding Universe

While the base game remains the heart of the franchise, Mojang also explored other types of gameplay:

• Minecraft Story Mode (Seasons 1 & 2) focused on storytelling.
• Minecraft Earth brought augmented reality to life.
• Minecraft Dungeons was a dungeon crawler game.
• Minecraft Legends mixed action and strategy in a new format.

These games showed how versatile the Minecraft universe can be without changing the core game.

Final Thoughts

So, when did Minecraft come out? The very first public version was released in May 2009. Since then, it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, available nearly everywhere you can play games.

From a simple PC prototype to a multi-platform empire, Minecraft’s history is a story of evolution. Its journey shows how one small indie game became a part of gaming history across mobile, consoles, and beyond.