The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →On May 18, 2020, Microsoft said Minecraft had sold more than 200 million copies and that 126 million people were playing it every month. Those are historical figures announced during the COVID-19 pandemic—not current player or sales totals—and they measure different things: cumulative copies sold and a monthly audience.
What the 200 million sales and 126 million players figures mean
In its May 18, 2020 Xbox Wire announcement, Microsoft Studios reported more than 200 million Minecraft copies sold to date and 126 million people playing each month. The first number is a cumulative sales figure; the second describes people playing during a month.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Minecraft: Switch Edition | $32.65 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Minecraft Legends Deluxe Edition | $49.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Minecraft | Standard Edition | XBOX Digital Code | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Minecraft | Java & Bedrock Deluxe Collection | Windows Digital Code | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The announcement did not detail how the monthly audience was counted, whether people using multiple platforms were deduplicated, or how copies sold relate to unique owners. It therefore does not support treating 200 million copies as 200 million distinct players, or comparing the two numbers as if they measured the same population.
What the pandemic-era usage reports said
The milestone was announced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Microsoft presented Minecraft as a source of escape and social connection. That is the company’s framing of the game’s role; the announcement does not establish how much of the sales or player figures was caused by the pandemic.
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- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
A contemporaneous GeekWire report said new players had increased 25% and multiplayer sessions 40% in the preceding month. GeekWire attributed those percentages to The Verge, so they are secondary-reported figures, not numbers to present as a direct Microsoft statement.
How the figures changed by April 2021
Microsoft’s April 2021 Minecraft franchise fact sheet later reported more than 238 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active users. These are figures for that later date, not updated 2026 totals. The fact sheet does not supply a methodology that makes its audience figure directly comparable to the May 2020 wording.
Rank #2
- Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs
Other pandemic-era Minecraft measures
Microsoft’s pandemic response also included free educational content and family settings. In its March 24, 2020 Xbox Wire post, Phil Spencer described free educational content in a Minecraft Marketplace education category, available through June 30, 2020, and highlighted family controls for screen time, content, purchases, communication, and sharing.
By the May milestone announcement, Microsoft said the free educational content had received more than 50 million downloads since its March 24 launch. That is a download count, not a count of students, households, or monthly players.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Rank #4
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
- SURVIVAL ADVENTURES — Face mysterious foes, travel across varied landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
