Before it became the best-selling video game of all time, with over 300 million units sold, Minecraft was a grassroots sensation that brought people together in a way no one could have predicted. Its incredible journey from a humble indie project to a global phenomenon began with a small gathering of fans in a park.
On August 31, 2010, around 50 devoted players trekked to a park in Bellevue, Washington, for what would be the first official in-person gathering of Minecraft fans. The informal meetup, dubbed “MinecraftCon 2010” by creator Markus “Notch” Persson, was organized following a post on his blog. The event was a far cry from the massive conventions it would inspire, but it showcased the burgeoning community that would become the heart of the game.
The inaugural gathering was the first step toward a global movement. A year later, on November 18, 2011, the first official MineCon was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, attracting 4,500 attendees from 24 countries to celebrate the game’s full release. The convention quickly grew into a massive annual event, eventually earning a Guinness World Record for the “largest convention for a single video game” in 2015.
Today, while the in-person conventions have been replaced by the online Minecraft Live broadcasts, the legacy of that first small gathering endures. It stands as a testament to the game’s unique ability to foster a community and prove that even the most blocky adventures can connect people from all corners of the world.
