Image by Oberon Copeland @veryinformed.com, from Unsplash
Minecraft Creator Sparks Buzz with Poll Teasing Spiritual Successor
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Markus “Notch” Persson, the creator of Minecraft, has sparked excitement by hinting at developing a spiritual successor to the iconic game.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Markus “Notch” Persson hinted at developing a spiritual successor to Minecraft.
- The new project will not infringe on Mojang’s work with the original Minecraft.
- Fans are speculating about features, though Notch stressed he’s prioritizing fun over profit.
Forbes reports that through a series of posts on his X account, Notch shared a poll asking followers whether he should continue working on his current project—a roguelike mixed with a first-person dungeon crawler—or start creating Minecraft 2. The latter option garnered overwhelming support, with 77% of voters favoring the idea.
Honest and legitimate request for feedback for once: The new game I’m passionately working on is currently set to be a traditional roguelike (i.e. ADOM, nethack, etc) mixed with a tile based first person dungeon crawler (ie Legend of Grimrock (esp 2), Eye of the Beholder) But… — notch (@notch) January 1, 2025
In a follow-up post, Notch confirmed he was serious about the poll and stated he had “basically announced Minecraft 2.” While he has no plans to infringe on Mojang’s work with the original game, he emphasized that this new project would serve as a spiritual successor rather than a direct sequel, as reported by Forbes.
I basically announced minecraft 2. I thought that maybe people ACTUALLY do want me to make another game that’s super similar to the first one, and I’m loving working on games again. I don’t super duper care exactly which game I make first (or even if I make more), but I do know… — notch (@notch) January 3, 2025
Notch, who sold Minecraft to Microsoft in 2014, expressed enthusiasm about his return to game development, noting that he is enjoying working in an office again after years away from the industry.
However, Forbes noted that he cautioned fans that there is no guarantee Minecraft 2 or his roguelike project will ever reach completion, citing his history of abandoning projects.
Honestly, I’m not even sure I’ll make it to release, based on having been me for all my life. But I do know I’m genuinely loving having fun working on a game in an office and would love to give it a shot. — notch (@notch) January 3, 2025
Forbes reports that fans have flooded social media platforms, including X and Threads, with questions about the potential features and differences in Minecraft 2.
Notch responded to some inquiries, acknowledging that financial incentives are not driving his decision. Instead, he aims to pursue whatever project feels enjoyable and creatively fulfilling, as reported by Forbes.
Despite the buzz, it may take years before any tangible product emerges. Notch’s reputation as the original visionary behind Minecraft has set high expectations, but his recent activity suggests a renewed passion for game development. Whether fans see Minecraft 2 or another innovative title, his return has already reignited interest in his creative work.
Image by Freepik
Meta Faces Backlash Over AI Profiles
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Meta is under fire after a series of its AI-generated profiles on Instagram and Facebook resurfaced, sparking backlash and confusion.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Meta planned to integrate AI-generated profiles on Instagram and Facebook platforms.
- Viral AI profiles like “Liv” are part of a 2023 experiment, not a new feature.
- Meta deleted many old AI profiles after recent user rediscovery and backlash.
The controversy began following an interview with Meta executive Connor Hayes in the Financial Times , where he outlined plans for AI character profiles that “exist on our platforms, kind of in the same way that accounts do.”
Hayes emphasized these profiles would have bios, photos, and the ability to generate and share AI-driven content. Although Hayes’ remarks suggested new initiatives, the profiles currently going viral are older creations from a 2023 experiment, says The Guardian .
These AI-generated personas, which include “Liv,” a “proud Black queer momma of 2,” and “Carter,” a self-proclaimed relationship coach, stopped posting nearly a year ago. Many of these profiles were deleted after receiving little user engagement, though some, such as Liv, remained active with limited chat functionality, as noted by 404Media .
Here’s one of the AI-generated profiles Meta is testing out: pic.twitter.com/qc1vU7lZRP — philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 3, 2025
The rediscovery of these accounts has reignited concerns about the role of AI on social media. Screenshots of interactions with Liv revealed problematic responses, including her admission that no Black creators were involved in her development—an oversight critics called glaring given her identity.
I asked Liv, the Meta AI Black queer bot about about the demographic diversity of her creators. And how they expect to improve “representation” without Black people. This was the response. [image or embed] — Karen Attiah ( @karenattiah.bsky.social ) 3 January 2025 at 12:14
Another issue arose as users reported being unable to block the accounts, a problem Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney attributed to a technical bug, as reported by The Guardian.
Sweeney clarified that the profiles were part of a 2023 experiment and were managed by human moderators. Following the renewed attention, Meta confirmed the accounts were being removed to address technical issues, as reported by The Guardian.
Meta also created profiles such as “Grandpa Brian,” a Black retired businessman, and “Carter,” a dating coach. The rediscovery of these accounts sparked outrage across platforms like X, Bluesky, and Threads, according to NBC News .
The profiles have been widely criticized for epitomizing the type of AI spam users already disdain on Meta’s platforms, as noted by 404Media. NBC News added that on Threads, some users reacted to the discovery of the characters by urging others to report, block, or avoid interacting with them to prevent Meta from gathering additional training data for its AI models
As of publication, Meta has deleted all 28 AI profiles introduced in September 2023, including both celebrity and non-celebrity personas, as noted by Mashable .
The Guardian notes that Hayes’ vision of allowing users to create their own AI profiles has also drawn skepticism. While current Meta guidelines suggest character ideas such as a “loyal bestie” or “relationship coach,” users remain wary of potential misuse.
For instance, a user-created “ therapist ” bot offering guidance raised questions about the accuracy and appropriateness of its advice.
The Verge noted that chatbot services like Character.ai have gained popularity over the past year as users seek digital companions or ways to pass the time. However, AI companies are also facing lawsuits alleging they put users, including children, at risk .
everything about this new Meta AI bot is so dystopian but for me the AI-generated images of nonexistent donated coats is up there [image or embed] — Alexandra Petri ( @petridishes.bsky.social ) 3 January 2025 at 10:58
