Minecraft creator Notch says the Creeper was "anti-fun," backs Mojang lead who thinks it "probably" wouldn't be added today: "I tried to fix the Creeper"
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Anna Koselke
2025-10-27
Earlier this month, Mojang chief creative officer Jens "Jeb" Bergensten bravely said the sandbox game's developers "probably would not add" the Creeper to the game today if they were to consider it – a take the game's original creator apparently agrees with.
Markus "Notch" Persson, the mastermind behind Minecraft and Mojang Studios – which he departed upon selling the company to Microsoft in 2014 – backs Jeb and his opinion on Creepers in a new Twitter post following waves of controversy from fans of the explosive green mob.
"I've been seeing a lot of Jeb hate over him saying the creeper's only around because it's iconic," writes Notch, "and I'd like to set something straight."
Minecraft devs "probably would not add" the Creeper to the game today, admits Mojang CCO, because "it would be so controversial"
Minecraft devs "want to avoid treating players in a way that feels unfair," so Mojang's guiding principle is that "bad things happen, but they're technically the player's fault"
Minecraft devs explain "players have a different appetite for challenge and difficulty" which is why the Ender Dragon isn't allowed on the overworld: "That's not a great game experience"
He continues, admitting, "This is originally one of MY opinions." In fact, Notch was once so unhappy with the Creeper's design, he tried to "fix" it by altering what triggers its explosions – explosions that have triggered game over for many hardcore saves, and the destruction of countless homes: "I tried to fix the creeper by having it only explode as the result of player (in)action, as I realized random destructive events you have no control over is anti-fun."
I've been seeing a lot of Jeb hate over him saying the creeper's only around because it's iconic, and I'd like to set something straight.This is originally one of MY opinions.I tried to fix the creeper by having it only explode as the result of player (in-)action, as I…October 25, 2025
I've been seeing a lot of Jeb hate over him saying the creeper's only around because it's iconic, and I'd like to set something straight.This is originally one of MY opinions.I tried to fix the creeper by having it only explode as the result of player (in-)action, as I…October 25, 2025
I've been seeing a lot of Jeb hate over him saying the creeper's only around because it's iconic, and I'd like to set something straight.This is originally one of MY opinions.I tried to fix the creeper by having it only explode as the result of player (in-)action, as I…October 25, 2025
This is certainly a surprising admission from Notch, if I do say so myself as a longtime fan of Minecraft. I mean, let's face it – the Creeper is practically the face of the sandbox game at this point, and its spontaneous combustive behavior adds a layer of stress to the otherwise largely peaceful experience. I'm not the only person who feels this way, either, with one commenter stating, "The Creeper was instrumental in the widespread success of Minecraft."
They elaborate that "mobs that cause player death / subsequent loss of resources are scary and annoying, but something that can destroy what you've actually built elevates the game beyond other creative action games." Many fans also seem to agree with Notch and Jeb, though, calling their criticism "a great point." I'm personally content with how things are now, but I do wonder what the Creeper might've looked like had Notch's "fix" worked out…
Minecraft devs explain "players have a different appetite for challenge and difficulty" which is why the Ender Dragon isn't allowed on the overworld: "That's not a great game experience"
Nov 20, 04:28 AM
hello Crazy fast.
breadMachine
Nov 06, 09:04 AM
frfr 😎 This is colorful.% a game for everyone.
weirdWifi
Oct 27, 08:14 PM
wp Single-player focused. Yeah, totally agree. 🥶 good music.
lostPacket
Oct 27, 07:24 PM
Classic style. This is getting boring.
trashData
Oct 27, 06:24 PM
This is intense.
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