Notch explains why Minecraft has yet to get Steam'd

by Ben Gilbert on Aug 30th 2011 2:25PM

Minecraft has been widely available for quite some time in various forms (alpha, beta), but when it fully launches this November, it won't be available on Steam. "Being on Steam limits a lot of what we're allowed to do with the game," Mojang president and founder Markus "Notch" Persson explains in a post on his Tumblr blog.

"We (probably?) wouldn't be able to, say, sell capes or have a map marketplace on minecraft.net that works with Steam customers in a way that keeps Valve happy," he adds. Notch worries that inclusion on Steam would divide the PC/Mac market of Minecraft users, rather than offer more to existing players.

It's not as though there's any animosity though, with Notch kicking off the post by lavishing a paragraph of praise upon "the best digital distribution platform I've ever seen." He also notes that Mojang "are talking to Valve about this" to try and make things work for everyone, but, understandably, "We just don't want to limit what we can do with Minecraft."

[Image credit: Steam forums]

Source: Markus "Notch" Persson

Tags: mac, markus-notch-persson, markus-persson, Minecraft, mojang, mojang-specifications, notch, pc, steam, valve, valve-software

Reader Comments (67)

Understandable. Every online store has rules. And with this indie game selling so much why bothers following anyone's rules but ur own?

@880Cloud088 WOW WE MADE THAT POST AT THE SAME TIME

@Peril
understandable, but he beat you by a minute

Understandable. Keep up the good work!

Doesn't really bother me. I just wish they would stop using Java.

@Hi iTs SlayeR

He can't just stop using Java... It's programmed entirely in Java lol

@Hi iTs SlayeR .

He could always buy the code off the xna minecraft. Game. C# for the win

@BigFat360 biggerbadderFatter

Yeah but changing over to C# would essentially mean either cutting out the Mac/Linux market(s) or coding and maintaining multiple versions of the game.

Yeah java is a bit slow and unwieldy at times but its three birds with one stone.

Everybody likes money.

Something will be worked out.

I don't have a problem with Minecraft not using Steam, but I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't prefer it to be there.

To be honest, with the way Minecraft is sold, and the fact that all I need to do is login to their website and re-download it I don't see the need for it to be on Steam. Main reason I like Steam is the ability to re-download my games as much as I want, on as many computers as I want, without issue. Minecraft lets me do the same thing through their own site.

Having it all in one place would be nice, but between Steam, GoG, and then Minecraft I'm good. The only other thing I have is Blizzard games, and they let me do it, too.

@Skorpeyon
Well, not just that... If Minecraft featured Steamworks you would be able to invite players to the server your playing on, or join other players much easier. In addition, you get the wonderful friends list.

I always figured the reason it wasn't on Steam was because Valve didn't really want to put a beta in their store that you have to pay for. I thought it might come once Minecraft was officially released, but it also might just stay by itself.

Although having Steamworks with Minecraft would be really great. Cloud saves, Steam achievements, and stat tracking would be a really cool addition.

@Ospov

It's already got 2/3 of those, they're just sort of unfinished. It would be neat if he could rework the existing achievements into Steam achievements though.

@Ospov

I had started to figure it was because Notch had said that if he ever released the game on Steam. That he would make sure that anyone who had purchased the game up to that point received a steam activation. Which at this point would likely be a bloody nightmare :P

I'm only hoping it comes to Steam for the inevitable Minecraft TF2 items. A really stupid reason, I know, but the idea of a diamond Equalizer or Creeper-themed items for the Demoman is still pretty cool.

@Kyattsuai

That would be amazing, especially since they'd end up being sold on the Mann Co Store.

We've already seen Notch's change from "TF2 has Microtransactions, how silly" to "Minecraft will have microtransactions, how awesome"

That would only set it into stone.

@Kyattsuai

They already had Minecraft-themed updates for... Battlefield Heroes? TF2 items aren't exactly that far out of the question.

@Kyattsuai

Sad thing is I wouldn't mind an arbitrary MC tf2 items or three, Maybe a creeper launcher for the soldier?

Whatever they add it will be easy on the games engine what with the low polycount ^^

@Kyattsuai I'd personally like to see a diamond/ leather helmet for the soldier and a grilled pork sandvich for the heavy.

You can always launch it as a 3rd party game through Steam. Not the same, of course -- but I particularly like the social aspect of Steam in knowing what friends are playing and vice-versa. TBH, I'd use my Wii more if it had such a feature. It helps facilitate discussion between friends.

@PersonOfSorts

At least they're being honest about it by saying "Yeah, it's totally because we want to sell you stuff without being bogged down by Steam", instead of EA's attempts to sidestep the issue...

So the overall comments are saying that it's ok for them. I wonder how many of the same commenters flamed EA for doing the same thing...?

@(Unverified)

There are differences though, which is why Notch is getting different treatment. In this case, nothing has changed. It's not like Minecraft was on Steam, and then removed. And he's being upfront about the challenges of getting onto Steam, whereas the problems with EA/Steam began after games started being removed or limited to only Origin, a competing platform.

I think if Minecraft would have been on Steam, and then removed, you would be seeing a considerably different reaction.

@Courtney - I honestly don't think the reaction would be all that different... Sure some people would be annoyed but a lot of people just like to hate on EA for no reason (not saying that there's never a reason but often, there isn't)

@Courtney
See I don't understand that argument. As all of EA games are still on D2D and other DD markets, just not steam.

I'm not understanding developers views on steam's DLC options. Is it not possible to release content on multiple platforms anymore? From what I understood, Steam's TOS just means that if you release DLC, it has to be available on steam. I don't remember reading that it could ONLY be on steam.

Why are so many developers making an issue out of this all of a sudden?

@liquidsoap89

Because if they sell their DLC through steam then Steam gets a cut of the profits. If they sell their DLC directly through their game or bundle in bloat ware that directs you to their store, they can cut valve out of the loop all together. Valve doesn't like that and I can't blame them.

I find the whole EA thing particularly laughable because they get all twisted out of shape about Steam but they keep going on about how the mobile market is booming ..... and there is no way that Apple is more lenient with their contracts/requirements than Valve.

@Scuffles
Saddly Valve is more strict. You're under contract to not release your sales record. While this doesn't relate to DLC it relates to the rest of the market.

@Scuffles

I understand that Valve takes a cut (which makes perfect sense to me really), I don't understand how developers can ignore steam. Surely your sales would increase when your game is available on the most used Digital Distribution platform in the world?

To me it seems like a no brainer... Sales on Minecraft.net + Steam > Sales on only Minecraft.net...

So, steam has it in their policy to not allow sales of in game content to which they don't get a profit from. Clearly EA, and Markus want 100% to themselves and don't agree with steam getting anything, but at least Markus admits to it.

Almost off topic, I talked to Notch momentarily at PAX and asked him what he thought of FortressCraft. He said, "Competition is good, I personally think its a bit of a ripoff, but whatever."

That guy is way too nice to be a successful businessman. Haha.

@Marshillboy
I asked the creator of Infiniminer, and he said that Minecraft was a rip off of his game.

@Marshillboy He's not too nice. He's too incompetent. They didn't even think to bring anything to sell at their booth. During the two-for-one deal the other week, people who'd already bought the game and would be the best evangelists were left out because you couldn't buy two gift codes, you had to set up a brand new account, buy the game with *that*, then give away the other code.

Notch has succeeded in spite of himself. And now the rest of us get to hear him prattle on about secret projects, endless vacations, and no actual progress on the game he told us we were buying.

@XaiaX

You've been to the offices to see what the other employees are working on as the 11/11/11 release date approaches?

@XaiaX

That's funny because he never told you that you were buying a game. You willingly paid to alpha/beta test a game that's yet to be released.

@Marshillboy
You're willingly missing his point. The point is, the release date is approaching fast and Notch still hasn't even implemented everything from last year's Halloween update, not to mention the huge amount of bugs that have been left completely ignored. Considering how long he's taking to release HALF an update (he already split this upcoming one into two), there's absolutely no way that he'll be able to release on time and not have a half-finished product.

"It's in alpha/beta. It's SUPPOSED to be unfinished" is an excuse many apologists will not be able to use very soon. I wonder what excuse they'll resort to next.

@PointlessPuppies Yeah, I have to say I kinda facepalmed over the whole "Scrolls" debacle as well. LET'S START A NEW GAME GUYS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE CHARGING PEOPLE FOR THE BETA OF THE OLD ONE AND IT'S STILL UNFINISHED!

I think that while Notch is probably nice as a person, a lot of people are blinded that at the end of things, he's going to want to do business, etc. Though I do hate his endless prattling on about how PIRACY ISN'T THEFT AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT MEEEE!!!! since his is a special indie game case, and not all indie developers are that fortunate. It comes off as really ignorant, a lot of the time. I bet his lawyers want to shut him up badly, especially in regards to the Bethesda problems where he keeps taking passive aggressive stabs.

@OrangeGamer

You've clearly never worked in software development. More programmers does not equal faster production (ever heard the expression "too many cooks in the kitchen"?); nor does hiring additional programmers for another project mean a company is no longer putting the same resources into an ongoing project.

Pretty ridiculous because this is essentially what EA said with BF3 and everybody attacked them over it, now Notch says the same thing and everybody kisses the man's feet and says they understand.

@The Cole Train

EA probably couldn't say anything because of their NDA with Valve.

@The Cole Train

First time I've ever agreed with anything EA related in that argument.

But it was the same with the hackings. Sony got hacked? LOL, so dumb, that's why Xbox is better.... Betheseda got hacked? But they're making Skyrim OMG RAFE.

@The Cole Train

To be fair though, Mojang isn't trying to force us into downloading a separate program in order to play Minecraft. The problem with the EA thing wasn't really that they weren't going to offer it on Steam, but that you had to download Origin in all it's bloated glory to slow down your computer. EA is making it a pain in the ass to play the games that we want to play. With Minecraft, you could download the application and never even have to do anything more; just play it from your desktop. I'm not saying that what Mojang is doing is ideal, but at least they're TALKING to Steam to try and work something out instead of creating a competing software out of what seems to be spite.

Lol

Minecraft is going to have microtransactions?
I stopped playing a while ago and have been wanting to get back in recently. But with that news nah I'll play something else.

@Rain

The plan's always been to charge for each update, though Notch says Alpha players are immune to that.

The whole Cape and Map thing only makes it sound like that would be on top, and something Alpha would not be immune to.

@Rain

Suddenly that Steve Co. Store April fools prank, is looking less like a prank and more like a bleak vision of the future eh :P

@Scuffles
yeah ):

@Rain Yeahhh... DLC updates in this type of game seem kind of silly.Game as a whole looks fun, but I've honestly had more fun with the action RPG aspects of Terraria, where there's a point to crafting in order to beat bosses and whatnot. And free updates for life via Steam with a lower price tag.

I want to like Minecraft more, I really do. But I'm a goal-oriented while sandboxing kinda gamer, I guess.

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Notch explains why Minecraft has yet to get Steam'd

Reader Comments (67)

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:28PM 880Cloud088 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:29PM Peril said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:14PM Dance Mofo said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:29PM Peril said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:29PM Hi iTs SlayeR said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:52PM Leon Trotsky TDA said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:25PM BigFat360 biggerbadderFatter said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:13PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:30PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:35PM Ryan P said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:35PM Skorpeyon said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 5:25PM ZayCube said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:42PM Ospov said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:02PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:19PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:44PM Kyattsuai said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:46PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:04PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:56PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 6:14PM 564731790 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:50PM PersonOfSorts said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:23PM joer22784 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:53PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:55PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:28PM Courtney said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:04PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:19PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 2:58PM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:51PM Scuffles said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:21PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:52PM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:03PM aea0a095 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:04PM Marshillboy said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:28PM Rain said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:48PM XaiaX said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:24PM Marshillboy said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 9:15PM PointlessPuppies said

Posted: Aug 31st 2011 3:08AM OrangeGamer said

Posted: Aug 31st 2011 11:23AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:05PM The Cole Train said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:13PM Bubbameister33 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:14PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:33PM Vladeon said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:12PM 880Cloud088 said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:30PM Rain said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 3:35PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Aug 30th 2011 4:10PM Scuffles said

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Posted: Aug 31st 2011 3:11AM OrangeGamer said

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