Sign on Options
Theme: [Light Selected] To Dark»

Minecraft Xbox 360 profitable in one hour

[UPDATE] Open-world creation game breaks XBLA digital sales records; series creator Markus Persson says title sold over 400,000 on launch day.

If bringing Minecraft to the Xbox 360 was an experiment, that trial has been a success. Minecraft creator Markus Persson revealed today on Twitter that Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, which launched yesterday on Xbox Live, became profitable in just one hour.

"Well then. Saw the official sales numbers for the first 24 hours of Minecraft Xbox 360, and it's very, very good," he said. "Profitable in an hour."

[UPDATE] PlayXBLA reports today that Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition has broken all previous Xbox Live Arcade digital sales records, dethroning Trials Evolution.

Additionally, Persson revealed on Twitter this afternoon that Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition sold more than 400,000 units during its first 24 hours.

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition was developed by 4J Studios, the Scotland-based shop that built Xbox Live Arcade titles Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, and Banjo-Tooie. It retails for $20 on Xbox Live and will add Kinect support at a later date via a patch.

For more on Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, check out GameSpot's Now Playing video feature.

Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

206 comments
OSJ-1987
OSJ-1987 like.author.displayName 1 Like

The same people whining about the price are probably the same people who spend $15 every few months for garbage CoD map "expansions".  As far as it not being as good as the PC version, that's completely subjective.  Sure, I favor a mouse and keyboard over the controller, but the 360 version makes it much easier to play with friends without setting up a server and I also like the crafting system as well, despite some people saying it takes the "mystery" out of crafting.  What mystery?  Most people that don't have the recipes memorized (like myself) have the Wiki open most of the time anyway.  All these arguments are moot.  If you don't like it, don't buy it.

Triton
Triton like.author.displayName 1 Like

My Alienware mother board took a dump, so I bought this for the box. No problem with the price and love the game. Keep up the great work. Just shows, it's all about the game play, nice to see its not all about graphics even in 2012.

phillkillv2
phillkillv2

If the game is a port then it's a port. I don't really care since I already have it for pc and I'm not going to buy it. People that are complaining most likely didn't buy it for the same reason. Let the kids play together on this one at least.

csward
csward like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

I'm glad games like Minecraft are breaking records and not some shovelware from EA/Activision.

Purpledust
Purpledust

it made so much profit because whoever bought the first xbla minecraft version had to pay 1600msp wich gave em 200% profit right there.

it's not a big deal

but it's a huge price

xRownan
xRownan like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

I'm so tired of hearing everyone complaining. If you don't want to buy it don't buy it. 

kurtven
kurtven like.author.displayName 1 Like

In the first place I don't get how people can get them selves to pay for that, the graphics is so outdated that it makes me sick.

When I tried the game when I tried the game I felt like I was forced back in time.

I don't get that people won't buy Mega Man 10, because of the Old School graphics, but they will buy the ugliest game ever created.

Helfir3
Helfir3

 @kurtven Seriously, if ur even going to bring up graphics when discussing minecraft, get out.

Geertwillers
Geertwillers like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Of course it became profitable after one hour. Minecraft's development costs were almost nothing, and Notch be damned if he invests one cent of his now huge money pile into making it better. 

erik_wolff
erik_wolff like.author.displayName 1 Like

And here comes the onslaught of $20 arcade games. Thanks everyone.

azumabob
azumabob like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

1600 Microsoft spacebucks! Notch is a thief, the game idea was stolen to begin with, but that happens all the time so no biggy, but to charge more than 800 spacebucks for a lego game is insulting, there are indie clones that work just as good for 240 spacebucks. He can't sue, because it wasn't his original idea in the first place!

MUKUSS
MUKUSS

Can't...stop...playing...minecraft...must...solider on.Minecraft is awesome on any system...now may I please have it on my vita so I can play it on break at work:):)

silentscorn
silentscorn like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

sorry, but i'm not paying $20 bucks for this game. no game on live arcade should be priced that high no matter how good it is. that takes away impulse buying when the prices of these games keeps going up. if it was $10 then i would give it a try. it's just greedy turds wanting even more money from us when our money is tight.

GrgSpunk
GrgSpunk like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I've got the PC version and it runs great on my computer.

 

However, unlike some of those of us who own the PC version, I'm actually buying this. But what about all those mods and expansions that the 360 version doesn't have? I've got an answer to that: They're worthless!

 

Most multiplayer servers implement a tremendous amount of mods, plugins and other crap that screw with the experience of the game. When you enter a server, you've got to navigate a huge maze of signs and other stuff that the admins want to force you to see. Once you get into the world, you can't build anything right away because everything is protected--You have to go miles away from the spawn to avoid the protected areas and actually get started (often times the admins and VIP players often build huge walls/structures that block your path), but even then, there's nothing to be found because everything's been scavanged by thousands of other players! It o If you want to do anything in a major server, you have to play by some awkward economy system that differs from server to server, which often forces you to give real money to the server admins for resources and VIP status (so much for the 360 version being more expensive than the PC version). Not to mention, you have to deal with hackers, as well as arrogant, immature admins that try to run their servers in the most inane ways when it comes to the PC version.

 

Really, the only "mods" that actually do no harm are the texture packs and the character skins, but getting none of those are worth the sheer amount of trouble of dealing with the aforementioned gameplay-altering mods, which often hinder new users when it comes to players in multiplayer servers. I'd love to play an online game of Minecraft in a console version that doesn't have all that crap.

jellyman68
jellyman68

 @GrgSpunk That's nonsense. They may be worthless to you, but they've inspired a huge community of modders who are constantly coming up with cool new stuff that only the PC gamers will be able to take advantage of.

 

Also, most of your post is whining about the problems with multiplayer. On the larger servers, without mods people's stuff would be getting destroyed and nobody would want to play at all. There is nothing to stop people doing that on the Xbox. My server has no modifications and uses a whitelist instead, and works absolutely fine. You just haven't looked hard enough.

DrMatta
DrMatta like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

Great, now every XBLA game will be 1600MSP from now on. Good job, Notch. Keep addressing those "greedy publishers" for not being Indie.

TheArcade
TheArcade like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

Could've done a couple million easily if it was 800 MSP.

ZachBobBob
ZachBobBob like.author.displayName 1 Like

I've got it for PC...so I'm gonna skip this. I enjoy the mods and stuff. But hey if I didn't I deffo get it for xbox

warhawk-geeby
warhawk-geeby

Pretty sweet deal for Microsoft.

 

Not gona lie but it makes me wish I had a 360 :/

DeusAlex
DeusAlex like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 6 Like

not surprised. games is awesome. worth the $20.  

muppen
muppen

I wish I could make money that quickly.

Supabul
Supabul

I thought 360 owners only played shooters

xoxStriker7xox
xoxStriker7xox like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

@Supabul I thought PC owners only play shitty MMOs

TheArcade
TheArcade like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @SupabulDon't under-estimate us, the 360 is more than meets the eye why do you think it got all of that marketshare? For instance I never bought a 360 for shooters. I got it for fighting games and beat-'em-ups. TMNT '89 & Guardian Heroes always keep my interest while Phantom Breaker and DOA 4 brings up the rear.

 

DiscGuru101
DiscGuru101 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 10 Like

I can't believe what a money factory this thing is... Totally mind boggling.

IceJester45
IceJester45 like.author.displayName 1 Like

A surprisingly large number of my Xbox LIVE friends had been playing Minecraft knock-offs such as Fortresscraft for months. Of course they jumped at the chance to get the real thing.

xoxStriker7xox
xoxStriker7xox like.author.displayName 1 Like

@IceJester45 hey FortressCraft is a great game!

Rockman999
Rockman999 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

Great news!

I finally bought this baby a few hours ago and I've been playing it straight since.

I've been dying to play this baby for months but couldn't cause my PC was garbage and now I finally have the chance.

Easily the best $20 I've spent this gen.

:D

E-i-N-e
E-i-N-e like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I never liked Minecraft to be honest, but I am glad there is a game doing well on the market. 

Setsuka13
Setsuka13

That's $8 million bucks in one day, not even counting sales tax where applicable. Man oh man.

Virtua_Souls
Virtua_Souls like.author.displayName 1 Like

That'ssss a very nice profit you've got there... sssssss

steelmouth
steelmouth

I fear such success only pushes developers away from AAA tittle, there are just so many XBL games coming out to both high critical and commecial success yet nothing AAA or even just on disk

Carpetfluff
Carpetfluff

 @steelmouth I'd rather have a good game without the AAA production values than a mediocre game with them.

y3ivan
y3ivan

 @steelmouth 

 

frankly speaking most publishers have already migrating away from AAA titles. Its far too expansive to develop and poor sales.

Vodoo
Vodoo like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

I don't even get why Minecraft is so popular. It's a pixely sandbox game.... nothin special. I also thought the developer has nerve to sell it at $20 on Xbox Live Arcade. Top-tier arcade games, like Trials HD & Evolution, Shadow Complex ect..., sold for $15. No games sell for $20. I just can't believe this mediocre game was able to sell for that high of a price, that sooo many people actually paid for it, and that it now holds the top spot above games that rightfully deserve it.

BillyColeman
BillyColeman

 @Vodoo  wow way to hate on something thats  so fun its a very good game try it and if u still hate it maybe thay will give kids like you an ak47 at some point :P

xoxStriker7xox
xoxStriker7xox

@BillyColeman @Vodoo It's funny how you think you know what you are talking about because you actually know the name of ONE weapon, and actually it's AK47. Oh and have you ever actually shot a gun in real life?

DarkAztaroth
DarkAztaroth

 @Vodoo It's a pixely, cube-y sandbox game... indeed... but that's what makes it fun, sandbox amateurs don't get much to play with nowadays with overly linear action games releasing every few weeks... In minecraft you actually get to build whatever you want. It takes time, it's difficult, dunno if it's actually worth the price, but to be frank with you, I probably played Minecraft just as much as I played Skyrim. And I enjoyed them both equally. I personally think it's worth it. I do have the choice between getting a random game I can play in lan for hours or watching a movie with a small sized cola in a cinema for the same price.

Vodoo
Vodoo

 @DarkAztaroth  

I get that alot of people dig it (pun intended). I just don't think it should've been sold for $20, a price point reserved for the most elite of arcade games, and it seems like people are impulsively jumping on the Minecraft band-wagon because it's the thing to do right now. I would almost go so far as to say that Minecraft is a glorified mobile game that seems more appropriate on a smart phone or tablet.

GravyFlow
GravyFlow

 @Vodoo I think it's pretty clear that it's $20 price point was appropriate. It's the best selling arcade game of all time at that price. It's a business

Setsuka13
Setsuka13 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

 @Vodoo  @DarkAztaroth It's really just worth whatever you want to pay. If you love Minecraft and will get endless joy from it, $20 is fine. If you hate it, well it doesn't matter how much it costs then. It's all about perspective

psuedospike
psuedospike like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Minecraft is strangely addictive on any platform!

Succumbus
Succumbus

I've been playing since the game was so unfinished.. Seems the game hasn't changed at all, haha. Now he's breaking bank on it.

y3ivan
y3ivan like.author.displayName 1 Like

wtf? a mediocre game manage to hit the top? i thought Trials was pretty much unbeatable

Conversation powered by Livefyre

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

  • Xbox One has preowned fee - Report

    Xbox One has preowned fee - Report Thumbnail

    Microsoft confirms all discs must be installed to HDD to play; secondhand owners required to pay an unspecified fee. Full Story

    • Posted May 21, 2013 11:44 am PT
  • Xbox One will launch this year

    Xbox One will launch this year Thumbnail

    Microsoft formally announces Xbox 360 successor during media event; will support live TV and Skype; features 500GB hard drive, 8GB RAM, Blu-ray drive; 64-bit architecture. Full Story

    • Posted May 21, 2013 10:09 am PT

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!