Markus “Notch” Persson, the original creator of Minecraft, sparked excitement over the weekend by floating the idea of a “spiritual successor” to his iconic game. The idea emerged after a poll on X (formerly Twitter) revealed overwhelming interest in such a project. However, Persson has since walked back the suggestion, confirming his next game will be something entirely different: a dungeon roguelike called Levers and Chests.
The shift was clarified in a follow-up tweet:
“Talked to the fellas at the office. Looks like we’re making Levers and Chests! Tipping point was PC Gamer saying it seemed interesting, lol. Yeah, I still love PC Gamer.”
Persson expressed skepticism about spiritual successors during the initial poll, describing them as “washed up” and “tragic.” He reiterated this sentiment after some fans voiced disappointment, saying:
“Trust me, the spiritual successor would be way less fun than the dungeon roguelike. They’re always kinda sad nostalgia dumps.”
What Is Levers and Chests?
Levers and Chests, teased by Persson in 2024 alongside his newly established BitShift Entertainment, is shaping up to be a fresh take on the dungeon roguelike genre. While details are sparse, Persson has cited Legend of Grimrock 2 as a key influence, suggesting a focus on intricate puzzles, exploration, and survival mechanics.
Fans eager for a sequel to Minecraft will need to temper their expectations. Persson sold Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, to Microsoft in 2014 and hasn’t been involved in the game since. He reminded fans:
“You’ll have to ask Microsoft about that one.”
While Minecraft continues to thrive under Microsoft’s stewardship, it’s unlikely Persson will ever return to the franchise. In 2019, he was excluded from Minecraft’s 10th-anniversary celebrations due to controversial comments he made online.
Looking Ahead
Though Levers and Chests deviates from the open-world sandbox experience of Minecraft, it has the potential to carve out its own niche. With Persson’s proven ability to deliver genre-defining gameplay, the new project is one to watch for fans of roguelikes and dungeon crawlers alike.
For those dreaming of a true Minecraft 2, the wait continues—likely in Microsoft’s hands rather than Persson’s.
