The Library of Congress announced that the soundtrack of the ultra-popular video game Minecraft has been inducted into its National Recording Registry.
According to the announcement, the induction recognizes the cultural significance of Minecraft’s tunes by German electronic musician Daniel Rosenfeld (also known by his pseudonym “C418”) in the form of the 2011 album Minecraft – Volume Alpha.
The announcement mentions that the music was key to the early success of Minecraft, which is now one of history’s most successful video games.
The influence of Rosenfeld’s music on the proliferation of ambient scores appearing in video games released after Minecraft is also recognized, alongside its role in the cultural phenomenon of “lo-fi hip-hop.”
Below, you can read the full reasoning behind the induction, which also includes the classic Microsoft Windows Reboot Chime from 1995 in the same batch.
“Since its official release in 2011, Minecraft has grown into a cultural phenomenon, building its legacy as one of history’s most successful video games one voxel at a time. Key to the game’s early success is the ambient-style soundtrack, created by German producer Daniel Rosenfeld under his alias, C418.
The gentle electronic score lends itself perfectly to the game’s open-ended design and sandbox environment, which invites players to interact, explore and build, free from any specific narrative constraints. Inspired by pioneers of intelligent dance music such as Aphex Twin and the ambient music of Brian Eno, Rosenfeld’s original soundtrack to the game, compiled on the 2011 release “Minecraft: Volume Alpha,” provides a soothing and inviting backdrop to the video game’s open-world environment, creating instant nostalgia in the process.
The influence of C418’s music can be traced through the proliferation of ambient scores appearing in video games since Minecraft’s initial release, as well as the cultural phenomenon of “lo-fi hip-hop,” which grew in popularity during the late 2010s and shares many of the same calming and nostalgic musical aesthetics as those found in Minecraft’s original score. “
If you’re unfamiliar with the National Recording Registry, it was created under the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000.
Every year, the Librarian of Congress, with advice from the National Recording Preservation Board, selects 25 titles that are recognized as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The titles selected must be at least 10 years old, and the Library of Congress makes sure they are preserved and available for future generations.
Minecraft, which surpassed 300 million copies sold last year, is currently available on basically every platform with a chip inside. If you have a console, PC, or smartphone, it’s very likely that there is a version of this ultra-popular game for you.
Recently, developer Mojang revealed its plans for the next Game Drops, including a “Vibrant Visuals” graphics update.
The franchise has recently debuted on the Silver screen with a dedicated movie.
