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Levers and Chests: Notch’s Bold Return to Game Development

5/09/2025

Levers and Chests: Notch's Bold Return to Game Development

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Markus "Notch" Persson, the visionary behind Minecraft, is staging a comeback with Levers and Chests, a voxel-based first-person roguelike dungeon crawler developed by his new studio, Bitshift Entertainment. Announced in April 2024, this pre-alpha project blends retro-inspired mechanics with modern flair, generating buzz among fans eager for Notch's next hit. Despite his controversial past, Levers and Chests promises a quirky, replayable adventure. Here's everything we know about the game-its gameplay, development, and potential impact.

A New Chapter for Notch

Since selling Minecraft to Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014, Notch's journey has been rocky. His post-Minecraft projects, like the unfinished 0x10c, stalled, and his polarizing statements-such as transphobic remarks and QAnon support-drew backlash, leading Microsoft to erase him from Minecraft's credits. In April 2024, Notch launched Bitshift Entertainment, a small, self-funded studio, and unveiled Levers and Chests as his creative comeback.

Bitshift is a lean outfit, with Notch leading design and coding alongside rendering engineer Daryl Zuniga and a small business team. A January 2025 X post sought a Los Angeles-based voxel/pixel artist, signaling plans to refine the game's visuals. Notch's iterative, community-driven approach echoes Minecraft's early access days.

What Is Levers and Chests?

Levers and Chests is a first-person roguelike dungeon crawler with looter-shooter elements, set in a procedurally generated underworld of caves, tombs, and fractal-like structures. Inspired by classic roguelikes (ADOM, Spelunky), dungeon crawlers (Dungeon Master, Ultima Underworld), and loot-driven titles (Borderlands, Diablo), it reimagines ideas from Notch's pre-Minecraft RPG, Legend of the Chambered, and a conceptual Minecraft expansion, Dungeons and Levers.

Core Gameplay

Players explore blocky dungeons, engaging in first-person combat and interacting with two defining elements:

  • Levers: Triggers that open passages, unleash traps, or reshape the dungeon, adding dynamic puzzles.

  • Chests: Sources of loot-weapons, gear, and potentially cursed items that can empower or hinder. These drive a high-stakes risk-reward loop.

The game embraces roguelike staples:

  • Procedural Generation: Randomized dungeons ensure unique playthroughs.

  • Permadeath: Death resets progress, heightening tension.

  • Unpredictable Mechanics: Notch's "ridiculously broken" systems, like cursed items, create wild, memorable moments. He likens the loot system to Borderlands with D20 dice mechanics for tactical depth.

Technical and Visual Style

Built in JavaScript with WebGL via TWGL, Levers and Chests features a custom voxel renderer with experimental ray-tracing, producing striking effects like voxel fractals. Its retro-modern aesthetic blends Minecraft-esque blockiness with custom mobs, such as giant spiders and ghostly figures. Early builds used placeholders (e.g., Voxel Doom's Pinky Demon), but recent updates show polished assets and a functional inventory UI with character portraits and flavor text.

Movement is smooth, with free navigation, collision, jumping, and customizable key bindings. Time pauses when idle, and animation speed scales with input for a responsive feel. While Notch has explored multiplayer, he currently views it as incompatible with his vision, though he remains open to real-time solutions.

Development Journey

Notch shares regular X updates, charting Levers and Chests' evolution:

  • April 2024: Bitshift and the game are announced, with prototype screenshots showing placeholder assets.

  • May 2024: Graphical tweaks (e.g., SSAO dithering) and a playful "totally legit ad" set the tone.

  • July 2024: Notch confirms the roguelike direction and rediscovers a minimap from early notes.

  • September 2024: Gameplay footage showcases movement, combat, and animated character portraits.

  • January 2025: Notch abandons a Minecraft 2 spiritual successor to focus on Levers and Chests, prioritizing its potential.

  • March 2025: Pre-alpha builds feature new mobs, UI updates, and renderer experiments.

Notch aims for an "extremely early" public test by late 2025, inviting feedback to shape the game, much like Minecraft's early access. No release date is confirmed, and community speculation on platforms like Manifold suggests uncertainty.

Community and Reception

The Levers and Chests subreddit (r/leversandchests), launched April 2024, has nearly 500 members discussing updates and drawing parallels to Balatro or UnderMine. Fans see it as a spiritual successor to Minecraft's exploration or Legend of the Chambered, but Notch's unshipped projects and controversial persona fuel skepticism. Some supporters view backing the game as defiance against his critics, while others hesitate.

Media outlets are cautiously optimistic. Game World Observer, 80.lv, and IndieKings praise the game's voxel charm, but GamesRadar+ and Techopse question Notch's ability to deliver. Aligning with the roguelike resurgence (Hades, Dead Cells), Levers and Chests could find a niche if it navigates development challenges.

Challenges and Opportunities

Strengths

  • Notch's Vision: Minecraft showcased Notch's genius for innovative gameplay. His focus on unpredictable systems could make Levers and Chests a standout.

  • Unique Mechanics: Levers, chests, and cursed items promise emergent storytelling and replayability.

  • Community Engagement: Early access and X updates could foster a dedicated fanbase.

Challenges

  • Scope Creep: Notch's ambitious ideas and small team risk delays or cancellation, echoing past failures.

  • Technical Hurdles: The custom renderer and JavaScript/WebGL stack may face performance issues.

  • Controversy: Notch's public image could limit the game's audience.

Cultural and Industry Context

Levers and Chests taps into the roguelike renaissance, where titles like Hades and Balatro blend accessibility with depth. Notch's unpredictable mechanics could carve a unique space. As a self-funded indie project, it reflects a trend of developers prioritizing creative control. For Notch, it's a chance to redefine his legacy beyond Minecraft's shadow.

Looking Ahead

In May 2025, Levers and Chests is a promising work in progress. Notch is honing combat, loot, and procedural systems, with plans for an early access release to leverage community input. A 2026 launch seems more likely than 2025, given the pre-alpha status and small team. Fans can track progress on X (notch, BitshiftEnt) or r/leversandchests.

Whether Levers and Chests becomes a genre-defining hit or another chapter in Notch's complex story is uncertain. For now, it's a bold experiment channeling the exploratory spirit that made Minecraft iconic. Bitshift Entertainment is one to watch.

Follow Notch and Bitshift Entertainment on X or join r/leversandchests for the latest on Levers and Chests.