Notch Archives

BetaBeacon

May 27, 2025

Subnautica is coming to Android, and you won’t have to wait long to dive in

Subnautica, the hit action-survival game from 2018, is coming to Android and iOS on July 8. The game will include all modes, such as Survival, Freedom, and Creative, and will have full controller compatibility. Players can pre-register for the game to receive a 10% discount off the original price.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

Tabletop Game Shop Simulator Announced For PC

Knight Fever Games, in collaboration with Ludogram, has announced Tabletop Game Shop Simulator, a digital board game store management simulator. Players can manage and expand their own game shop, design layouts, set prices, hire staff, collect and paint miniatures, and engage with the community through events. The game was announced at the Games Made in France event, but does not have a confirmed release date. Players will navigate supply and demand, manage finances, and aim to become a prominent part of the board gaming community.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation Was Once The Cause Of Laptop Crashes

Janet Jackson's song "Rhythm Nation" caused laptops to crash due to its bass-heavy sound generating a resonant frequency that affected mechanical hard drives. Microsoft investigated the issue and found that the song could induce slight movements in the hard drives, leading to data corruption and system freezes. They implemented a "notch" filter to eliminate the problematic frequency from the launch of Windows XP in 2001 until Windows 7 in 2009. This issue was specific to laptop hard drives and did not affect external models. With the introduction of solid-state drives (SSDs), the problems associated with mechanical drives and resonance have been largely resolved.

BetaBeacon

April 14, 2025

You can now claim two free mobile game drops from Epic’s store

Epic Games Store is offering two free mobile games this week: Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms loot pack. The downloads are available on Android worldwide and iOS in the European Union until April 17.

BetaBeacon

April 11, 2025

You can now claim two free mobile game drops on Epic’s store

Epic Games Store is offering two free mobile giveaways this week: Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms loot pack. The downloads are available on Android worldwide and iOS in the European Union until April 17.

Winsage

April 10, 2025

Minecraft soundtrack among ‘defining sounds of history’ added to Library of Congress

The Library of Congress has added the soundtrack of Minecraft, specifically the complete Minecraft: Volume Alpha album, to its National Recording Registry, recognizing it as part of the “defining sounds of history and culture.” This album is now included alongside other iconic works such as John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and the Super Mario Theme. The soundtrack, created by German producer Daniel Rosenfeld (C418), played a crucial role in the game's success and has influenced the rise of ambient music in video games and the lo-fi hip-hop trend. C418 expressed his happiness about this recognition, and Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, also shared his excitement.

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is on-track for a $135M opening weekend

The big screen adaptation of Minecraft has made a significant debut, earning millions on its opening Friday and is projected to reach 5 million by the end of the weekend, potentially setting a new benchmark for 2023. If these projections hold, it would surpass “Captain America: Brave New World,” which earned .8 million in February, and provide a boost to the domestic box office, which is down 7% year-over-year. The film, directed by Jared Hess and featuring stars like Jason Momoa and Jack Black, creatively introduces human characters into the Minecraft world, despite the game's lack of a defined storyline. The film's performance mirrors that of “The Super Mario Brothers Movie,” which also faced mixed reviews but achieved box office success. This opening weekend is encouraging for Warner Bros., which has faced recent setbacks, and a sequel seems likely.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

The history of the video game that inspired ‘A Minecraft Movie’

On April 4, "A Minecraft Movie" will be released, featuring a cast that includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film follows four misfits who are transported to a block-based realm and must unite with Steve, played by Black, to protect their world. "Minecraft" is a sandbox game that allows players to explore and create in a limitless environment, rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. It has two main modes: Creative, which offers unlimited resources and immortality, and Survival, which involves resource gathering and managing health. Markus "Notch" Persson created "Minecraft" in 2009, launching it officially in November 2011 after successful testing. He sold the game to Microsoft in 2014 for .5 billion, after which Jens "Jeb" Bergensten took over as lead designer. As of 2023, "Minecraft" is the second highest-selling video game, behind Tetris, and has received numerous updates, with the latest being the "Trials and Tales Update."

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

New Minecraft Movie Clip Focuses On A Date Night For Unlikely Couple

Warner Bros. has released a new clip for A Minecraft Movie, focusing on a romantic encounter between Jennifer Coolidge's character and a CGI Villager, rather than traditional building elements. The trailer, titled Be Mine, features a humorous dinner scene where Coolidge's character reflects on her divorce and interacts with the Villager. The film's antagonist is a Piglin named Malgosha, and the cast includes Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, and Jack Black, who was not originally set to voice Steve. A Minecraft Movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on April 4.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

When is Vibrant Visuals Coming to Minecraft? Release Date Tracker

Mojang has announced the Vibrant Visuals update for Minecraft, which will enhance the game's visual elements such as reflections, sunlight, water, and draw distances. The update is expected to significantly change the game's appearance while preserving its core essence. The release date is currently unconfirmed, but players on select devices in beta programs can experience it early. Key features of the update include improved shadows, volumetric fog, directional lighting, infinite clouds, thousands of crafted elements, accurate light rays, enhanced glow effects, and more realistic water visuals. The update will follow the upcoming Minecraft Spring to Life update, and players can also expect a new dried ghast that evolves into a happy ghast.