Minecraft Creator Markus Persson Reignites Debate on Game Ownership and Piracy Amid "Stop Killing Games" Movement
Markus Persson, best known as the original creator of Minecraft, has once again stirred debate in the gaming world with his bold take on the ethics of digital ownership and piracy. In response to growing frustration over publishers shutting down game servers—effectively rendering purchased titles unplayable—Persson stated, "If buying a game is not a purchase, then pirating them is not theft."
This statement comes amid the rising support for the Stop Killing Games initiative, an online petition seeking legislative intervention to prevent game developers and publishers from permanently disabling server-dependent games. The petition, which has now gathered nearly 1.3 million signatures, aims to introduce proposals in both UK and EU parliaments to ensure that games consumers pay for remain accessible, even after official support ends. The campaign's momentum follows announcements like Electronic Arts’ decision to shut down all services for BioWare's Anthem on January 12, 2026, rendering it completely unplayable from that point onward.
Persson's position isn't entirely new. Back in 2012, he famously told a fan who couldn't afford Minecraft to "Just pirate it. If you still like it when you can afford it in the future, buy it then." He even joked, "Don’t forget to feel bad." A year earlier at the Game Developers Conference 2011, he likened piracy to digital replication rather than theft, saying, "If you steal a car, there’s one less car. If you pirate a game, there’s simply another copy and possibly a new fan."
His latest remarks reignite a long-standing conversation about digital rights, game preservation, and consumer protection in an age where ownership often means limited access. Persson criticized modern industry practices, suggesting that publishers should instead take inspiration from older games that allowed players to host their own servers, a solution that preserved access and community engagement long after official support ended.
When asked what developers should do instead of decommissioning games, Persson advocated for open server hosting as a viable solution to keep communities alive. Such practices were common in earlier PC gaming eras, empowering players to keep beloved titles running independently from publisher control.
Persson has largely stepped away from active game development since selling Mojang and Minecraft to Microsoft in 2014, but earlier this year, he hinted at the possibility of working on a spiritual successor to Minecraft. Though no official announcement has followed, the idea was met with enthusiasm by his fanbase.
The broader discussion sparked by Persson’s latest comments underscores a growing disconnect between publishers’ monetization models and players’ expectations of permanent ownership and preservation. The Stop Killing Games petition, which you can follow here, may well become a rallying point for gamers who believe their purchases should come with lasting value—not limited access.
Do you agree with Notch’s controversial view that pirating isn’t theft if games can be taken away after purchase? Should publishers be required to offer alternatives like self-hosted servers? Let us know your take in the comments.
