More than ten years after Minecraft first launched, Mojang continues to iterate on the sandbox, releasing updates and new content. In a recent behind-the-scenes clip on YouTube, lead designer Jens “Jeb” Bergensten explains the studio follows a clear design philosophy during development.
“When we add new things to Minecraft,” Jeb says, “it’s crucial we strike the right balance. We don’t want players to feel we’ve treated them unfairly. Our rule is: bad things should happen, but they should be the player’s responsibility.”
He clarifies that if something goes wrong, ideally the player either caused it or had an opportunity to avoid it. Creative lead Cory “Cojomax99” Scheviak echoes that approach: “We try to follow that principle wherever possible, though we do make a few exceptions.”
THE BIOME THAT BROKE MINECRAFT
Jeb explains that achieving balance in game design comes down to weighing risk against reward. “You want choices to feel meaningful,” he adds. Scheviak notes the team often places tougher encounters deeper into progression and makes them optional—so players who prefer building and exploration can largely avoid high-stakes content.
That design stance hands control to the player: if something goes wrong, it’s usually because the player accepted the risk. Whether you pursue a dangerous route, challenge a boss, or stay in creative mode and build, those decisions determine how the game plays for you. It’s a big part of why Minecraft’s open-ended formula remains successful.
Mojang’s CEO has even suggested that the Creeper—had it been proposed today—“probably would not be added” because it would spark so much debate.
