When Did Minecraft Come Out? A Complete History

Minecraft first came out on May 17, 2009, when Markus 'Notch' Persson released the initial public version called Minecraft Classic. Since then, it has evolved into one of the most successful games in history, with over 300 million copies sold worldwide.
Explore the complete timeline of Minecraft's development and discover how you can experience this incredible journey with reliable server hosting that supports every version and update from the game's rich history.

View Our Plans

Host Any Minecraft Version

Budget Minecraft Hosting
Great for users on a tight budget - starting at $1/GB, the Budget hosting plans are great for running a private/community server
View Plans
View Specs
  • Intel i9-9900k @ 3.6 / 5.0GHz
    Or similar:
    Ryzen 5700X @ 3.4 / 4.6GHz OR Intel Xeon E-2288G @ 3.7GHz / 5.0GHz
    Click for more details.
  • DDR4 2133MHz Memory
  • Unmetered NVMe SSD Storage
  • North America & Europe
  • 480Gbps DDoS Protection
  • Unlimited Slots
  • 24/7 Discord Support
Premium Minecraft Hosting
Perfect for large servers, modpacks, and public servers, who need the power of the Ryzen 7900 @ 3.7 / 5.4Ghz CPU for best-in-class performance.
View Specs
  • Ryzen 7900 @ 3.7 / 5.4Ghz
    Or similar:
    EPYC 4244P @ 3.8 / 5.1GHz
    Click for more details.
  • DDR5 4800MHz
  • Unmetered NVMe SSD Storage
  • North America, Europe, Australia, Singapore & India
  • 800Gbps DDoS Protection
  • Unlimited Slots
  • Free Daily Backups
  • Hourly Incremental Backups
  • One-click Modpack Installer (12,000 Modpacks)
  • Support for Custom Startup flags
  • 24/7 Discord Support

Start Your Minecraft Journey

Not sure which plan to pick?

Experience Minecraft's evolution with reliable server hosting that supports every version from Classic to the latest updates.


The Complete Minecraft Release Timeline

May 17, 2009 - Minecraft Classic: The very first public version of Minecraft was released, featuring basic building mechanics and creative mode gameplay.

December 23, 2009 - Indev & Infdev: Development versions introduced survival elements, crafting, and infinite world generation.

June 30, 2010 - Alpha: Minecraft Alpha launched with multiplayer support, redstone, and the Nether dimension.

December 20, 2010 - Beta: The Beta phase introduced weather, beds, new biomes, and significant gameplay improvements.

November 18, 2011 - Official Release: Minecraft 1.0 officially launched at MineCon with The End dimension, achievements, and brewing.

From these humble beginnings, Minecraft has continued to evolve with regular updates, becoming the best-selling video game of all time.

UNIVERSAL MINECRAFT MODPACK SUPPORT

PebbleHost now supports any modpack with our modpack installer.
Our system automatically handles client-side mod filtering and builds directly from source, giving you unlimited compatibility with modpacks from CurseForge, FTB, Modrinth and more.

Key Features
  • Client-side mod filtering
  • Complex dependency resolution
  • Forge, Fabric, and NeoForge support
  • Custom configuration options
  • Automatic updates available
  • Full server-side optimization
Supported Platforms
  • CurseForge - 10,000+ modpacks
  • Feed The Beast - 300+ modpacks
  • Modrinth - 500+ modpacks
  • ATLauncher - 200+ modpacks
  • Custom - Build your own pack
1
Choose Any Modpack

Select any modpack from any platform or build your own custom configuration

2
Automatic Server Pack Creation

Our system automatically filters client-side mods and builds a server pack for you.

3
Instant Deployment

Your server is ready to play within minutes with optimal settings and the modpack of your choce!

Loading server versions...

Minecraft's Evolution & Major Milestones

Since its release, Minecraft has undergone incredible transformations that have shaped gaming history:

2012-2014 - Growing Popularity: Major updates introduced emeralds, villager trading, horses, and ocean monuments while the community exploded with millions of players.
September 2014 - Microsoft Acquisition: Microsoft purchased Mojang for $2.5 billion, ensuring continued development and expansion.
2016-2019 - Cross-Platform Era: Minecraft unified across platforms with Bedrock Edition, bringing players together regardless of device.
2019-Present - Modern Updates: Major content updates like Village & Pillage, Nether Update, and Caves & Cliffs have revolutionized gameplay.

Our hosting platform has evolved alongside Minecraft, supporting every major update and version so you can experience the game's complete journey with optimal performance.

Why Minecraft's History Matters for Server Hosting

Version Compatibility
Understanding Minecraft's history helps us provide better hosting solutions that support legacy versions for nostalgia gameplay and latest versions for cutting-edge features.

Performance Optimization
Each Minecraft update brought new features and requirements. Our hosting infrastructure is optimized for every era of Minecraft development.

Community Understanding
With over 15 years of Minecraft history, we understand what players want from different eras and versions of the game.

Future-Proof Hosting
Just as Minecraft has continually evolved, our hosting platform adapts to support new updates, features, and player demands.

Experience Minecraft's Legacy with Modern Hosting

From the simple blocks of Minecraft Classic to the complex worlds of modern Minecraft, every version tells a story. Whether you want to recreate the early Alpha experience, explore Beta's simpler mechanics, or enjoy the latest features, our hosting platform supports your journey through Minecraft history.

Our servers are built to handle everything from nostalgic Classic servers to massive modern communities with hundreds of players, ensuring that no matter which era of Minecraft you want to experience, you'll have the performance and reliability to make it memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to connect a domain

If you own your own domain from a Domain Registrar such as Namecheap or Google Domains, you can set it up by following our guide on setting up DNS records.

All servers have the ability to make a free subdomain ending in .my.pebble.host through their gamepanel.

What's the difference between Budget and Premium

Our Premium hosting uses the faster Ryzen 7900 CPU, which means it's able to handle higher playercounts and more intensive servers than on Budget. The 5x faster NVMe SSDs improve chunk loading speeds, and the extra features such as free automatic backups and automatic one-click modpack installations allow peace of mind and save time setting up your server.

Do I have to port forward?

No, none of our services require port forwarding. The Minecraft server is hosted on our own computers in a datacenter so we handle all of the networking aspects for you. If you require an extra port to use for plugins such as Votifier or Dynmap this can be added in one click inside of our gamepanel

How long does setup take?

Our billing system instantly provisions orders as soon as the payment receives. This means that, as long as you use a payment method which works instantly such as PayPal Balance or Credit/Debit Card, you should receive the service within a few minutes.

It's possible the order details might go to your Spam folder so make sure to check that!

What does 'Unmetered Disk Space' mean?

This means that you can use as much space as you need for your server as long as you follow our Fair Usage Policy which essentially states that any files on the server must be essential to the server's operation.

Can I use a custom modpack/Forge/Fabric/Spigot version?

All PebbleHost services come with full access to all server files. This means you can upload any custom modpacks or JAR files you wish to use, through our gamepanel.

To use a custom JAR file, just select any version at purchase then inside of your gamepanel you will be able to choose the "Custom JAR" option.

Can I use a MySQL Database for my plugins?

Yes, all plans include a free MySQL Database which can be used with plugins such as LuckPerms, Dynmap, CoreProtect, Litebans etc. Additional databases are charged at $1/database/month and can be enabled in your gamepanel under the "MySQL Database" page.

Where is my server located?

We operate in a number of datacenters around the world for the best possible ping. Note that locations marked Premium are only available on Premium plans.

  • North America - Montreal, Canada
  • Europe - Coventry, United Kingdom
  • United Kingdom - Coventry, United Kingdom
  • Australia Premium - Sydney, Australia
  • Singapore Premium - Singapore, Asia
  • Flordia Premium - Flordia, United States
  • United States Premium - Hillsboro, Oregon, United States
  • India Premium - Mumbai, India

Why Choose PebbleHost?

Can I host older Minecraft versions?

Yes! Our hosting platform supports all major Minecraft versions from Classic (2009) through the latest releases.
You can easily switch between versions through our control panel, perfect for experiencing Minecraft's history or running retro servers for nostalgic gameplay.

What was the first version of Minecraft?

The first public version was Minecraft Classic, released on May 17, 2009. It featured basic creative building with simple block placement and removal.
Before that, Notch had been working on early prototypes since May 2009, but Classic was the first version players could actually experience.

How has Minecraft server hosting evolved?

Minecraft server hosting has dramatically improved since 2009, evolving from basic dedicated servers to modern cloud infrastructure with advanced control panels, one-click mod installation, and enterprise-grade performance.
We've adapted our hosting solutions to support every major Minecraft update and continue to evolve with the game.

Which Minecraft version should I choose for my server?

The best version depends on your goals: latest versions offer the most features and active player base, while older versions like 1.7.10 or 1.12.2 have extensive mod support.
Our hosting supports all versions, so you can experiment and find what works best for your community.

Getting Started with Historical Minecraft Hosting

Choose your preferred Minecraft version from our extensive library, select a hosting plan that matches your player count, configure your server with period-appropriate mods and plugins, invite friends to experience Minecraft history together, and enjoy reliable performance across any version or era.