Fortnite may still get the majority of public attention however this doesn't mean it's hurting the other gaming phenomenon. Microsoft's Helen Chiang told Business Insider in an interview that Minecraft currently has 112 million active users every month, a surge of 20 million compared to figures in October 2018. This includes all players, including players who play via an Xbox Game Pass. However it's still an impressive achievement for a game which has existed in some form for over a decade.
Chiang claimed that this is partly due to the innovative game's enduring popularity -- people "keep coming back" to it. You might fire up Fortnite or any other game that get the spotlight but there's a great chance you'll return to building homes and tunnels in Minecraft after that.
Other factors are likely to be important too. On top of its sheer popularity across platforms, Minecraft's blocky graphics and simple gameplay make it easy to play on devices with modest hardware such as a budget PC or a smartphone. You can still have a great experience with a modest investment in hardware.
Microsoft's current challenge is to ensure that the game is relevant. The augmented reality of Minecraft Earth helps, as does ray-tracing and other attempts to enhance the look. But it's not clear whether that's enough. Roblox recently hit 100 million monthly players, and Fortnite may be close (it was reported to have 78.3million users in August 2018). It could not take long for other games to capture cultural zeitgeist.
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