Mojang Studios (formerly known as Mojang) is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm, Sweden, and owned by Microsoft. The studio is best known for developing the sandbox and survival game Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time. Mojang Studios was founded by the independent video game designer Markus Persson in 2009 as Mojang Specifications for Minecraft's development. The studio inherited its name from another video game venture Persson had left two years prior. Following the game's initial release, Persson, in conjunction with Jakob Porsér, incorporated the business as Mojang AB in late 2010 and hired Carl Manneh as the company's chief executive officer. Other early hires included Daniel Kaplan and Jens Bergensten. Minecraft became highly successful, giving Mojang sustained growth. With a desire to move on from the game, Persson offered to sell his share in Mojang, and the company was acquired by Microsoft in November 2014. Persson, Porsér, and Manneh subsequently left Mojang, with Jonas Mårtensson replacing Manneh. In May 2020, Mojang was rebranded as Mojang Studios. As of 2021, the company employs approximately 600 people. Executives include chief executive officer Mårtensson and studio head Helen Chiang. Apart from Minecraft, Mojang Studios has developed Caller's Bane, Crown, and Council, and further games in the Minecraft franchise: Minecraft Dungeons, the upcoming Minecraft Legends, and the canceled game Minecraft Earth. It also released smaller games as part of game jams organized by Humble Bundle and published the externally developed Cobalt and Cobalt WASD.
