It is without a doubt that ever since its release in 2009, Minecraft has soared in popularity and quickly made its way as an iconic title in the video game industry. Although Minecraft's popularity continues to increase over the years, new data suggests that the game now has 600 million active players, and 400 million of those are coming from China alone.
This new report was revealed by Daniel Ahmad, a senior analyst at Niko Partners, covering the video game industry in Asia. In a tweet, Ahmad revealed that Minecraft added 100 million players this year from China, bringing the current total to 400 million. According to the analyst, this is the fastest growth in Minecraft's history.
Earlier this year, developer Mojang revealed that Minecraft has since sold 200 million copies worldwide. This figure covers every single platform that Minecraft is available on, including mobile devices, which continue to see an increase in players. Although the milestones that Minecraft continues to hit are definitely impressive, it is not at all surprising. Much of the game's appeal is derived from its complex gameplay, allowing players to do just about whatever they want in a vast open-world environment.
Last month, Mojang held a live stream presentation, detailing everything coming to Minecraft in the future. One of the biggest announcements made at the event is the upcoming Caves and Cliffs update, which will add variety to the flora and fauna that players will encounter while exploring the game's world. The upcoming update will also add other features, such as an aging element to Copper that players can use to create several items in the game. Mountain goats will also be added to Minecraft, but players should be wary in approaching them, given that they can easily push players off cliffs.
Lastly, the Caves and Cliffs update will also see the addition of The Warden and the Axolotl in Minecraft. The Warden is a new mob that has super-sensitive hearing, which is a result of its blindness. Although The Warden won't see the player, it will hear every move the player makes, which will give away their location and allow it to attack. According to Mojang, the studio did not design The Warden to be hunted by players, and the reason it was added to the game is to "recapture that feeling of the first night of Minecraft."
Minecraft is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.