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Steve became a widely recognized character in the video game industry following the critical and commercial success of the Minecraft franchise. Steve is the official mascot of Minecraft and Mojang, his likeness has been featured extensively in advertising and merchandise, including apparel and collectibles. The character also inspired a number of unofficial media and urban legends, most notably the "Herobrine" creepypasta, which was widely shared in internet communities as a meme during the 2010s.
Steve became a widely recognized character in the video game industry following the critical and commercial success of the Minecraft franchise. Steve is the official mascot of Minecraft and Mojang, his likeness has been featured extensively in advertising and merchandise, including apparel and collectibles. The character also inspired a number of unofficial media and urban legends, most notably the "Herobrine" creepypasta, which was widely shared in internet communities as a meme during the 2010s. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mathi234756 (talk • contribs) 00:17, 25 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]
The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.A summary of the conclusions reached follows.
Herobrine is, fundamentally, a completely different entity from Steve. Even if they have near the exact same appearance, one is a legitimate, official "character", while the other is a fanmade urban legend. When a casual reader reads about Steve, they want to read about Steve (and the other skins)'s role in Minecraft and its associated works, not a silly creepypasta. The current arrangement of this is similar to that of a WP:COATRACK in my personal opinion. This is why I am proposing Herobrine receive his own article. The sourcing to establish Herobrine's standalone notability is more than plentiful, and is absolutely enough to create a standalone article (while a Reception section could be hard, Legacy would be easy). Even if some of his sourcing is technically listicles, several sources exist that spend at least a few paragraphs discussing him, starting with these: [1], [2], [3], [4] (kinda), [5], [6] (non-English), [7] (scholarly), as well as the sourcing that's already present here that discuss him ([8], his placement in the GWR, etc.) So we're looking at a pretty decent article that could exist without being detrimental to this article either. I'm looking forward to knowing what y'all think. λNegativeMP108:29, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Support, Herobrine is a completely different character to Steve. And as you say, Herobrine really has no relation with Steve except for his appearance. There aren't a huge amount of sources but I'd say there is enough to establish notability for a standalone article. —Panamitsu(talk)09:55, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Support: If you have found enough source to make independently notable, then I believe a split is perfectly justifiable, especially considering Herobrine's presences in internet creepypasta mythology. CaptainGalaxy18:54, 29 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
Lead section is of an adequate length. Layout is up to code. Article is not infected with words on the WTW list. Fiction is out-of-universe. List incorporation policy does not apply.
2a. it contains a list of all references (sources of information), presented in accordance with the layout style guideline.
No bare URLs spotted. References and further reading sections are in the correct place.
2b. reliable sources are cited inline. All content that could reasonably be challenged, except for plot summaries and that which summarizes cited content elsewhere in the article, must be cited no later than the end of the paragraph (or line if the content is not in prose).
Reliable sources are cited (save for a few Kotaku articles).
What makes Quartz, Deadline, Huffpost, and Lego Club Magazine reliable?
All of the above except Lego Club Magazine are reliable per WP:RSP. Lego Club Magazine is a print source from Lego themselves, so I would say it's perfectly fine.
Per WP:VG/S, content from CBR post-2016 is considered unreliable.
The situation regarding CBR is more complex than that, and several editors have differing opinions beyond "post-2016 is unreliable". The discussion that determined that was around 50/50. I've removed it anyways since it didn't back up all that much, though.
Optional: Italicize game names for references per WP:CONFORMTITLE - personal preference
Are all of the sources listed in the further reading section reliable?
They're all published papers and journals from experts, and they're not really sources per say. I think they're all fine.
Reference number #39 (Sakurai tweet in Japanese) could use an English translation
Not sure how to go about this as I don't speak the language, nor did I add the reference.
I'd suggest linking every website name (up to you, I prefer blue links)
Will do soon.
Esports coverage on Dexerto is considered iffy per WP:VG/S.
I personally dislike Dexerto, but the discussion at the RS noticeboard pointed out that they did get some awards for their esports coverage. The rest of the site is iffy, but esports coverage (especially in a section about banning the character) should be okay.
I see a duplicated reference in the further reading section. Not sure which one to keep.
I'd unlink "video game" (rephrase to "2011 sandbox game")
Is "video game developer" a necessary link? Kind of feels like I'm floating in a MOS:SEAOFBLUE.
Shrink link: "Java-based version" -> "Java-based"
and introduced in the initial Java-based version of Minecraft which was first publicly released on May 17, 2009, -> ...and introduced in the 2009 Java-based version...
Steve was designed for Minecraft by the game's creator Markus Persson. - Change to active voice Changed my mind; rephrase sentence to "Steve was designed by game creator Markus Persson."
Done.
He is presented as a human character
Done.
which is consistent with the aesthetic and art style of the game - most people know what Minecraft looks like
Not removed since there's still the off-chance some people in a general audience isn't aware of what exactly Minecraft looks like, so better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.
is a eight-by-eight pixel image -> is an eight-by-eight pixel image
Done.
"usually adorned" - why "usually"? I thought that was his default skin?
This is referring to his goatee, which has appeared off and on throughout the games history.
In the console edition of the game...
Done.
in a variety of different outfits
Done.
from Persson due to being "generic" -> ...due to Persson thinking it was "generic"
Done.
So people just started calling him Steve out of nowhere?
In spite of his masculine name and features, Persson claimed that Steve's gender was never intended to be fixed. - Should be cited + "claimed" is a weasel word + "fixed" is a strange word to use IMO
Fixed, also the citations are at the end of the next sentence.
Also, the word "masculine" should be linked earlier
Done.
reinforced a default aesthetic for the game which is "traditionally masculine" -> ...reinforced the "traditionally masculine" aesthetic of the game
Done.
where "gender doesn't exist" -> ...where everyone was included(?) Better idea: "He emphasized that Minecraft was designed to be an inclusive, genderless game..." (word is repeated later)
Done I think?
Cut comma between "exist" and "and"
Done.
"intended to represent a human being" - Why is this in quotes?
It isn't anymore.
"intended to represent a human being" who was genderless -> ...supposed to be a genderless human being...
Done.
the gender option ("options") to just male
Done.
"is telling everybody this is a boy game only" -> would insinuate Minecraft was a "boy game only"
Done.
Again, there's the word "claimed"
Reworded.
claimed that he
Reworded per above.
character model
Done.
Remove comma between "Minecraft" and "but"
Done.
"the results have been extremely sexist." -> the final design had been "extremely sexist".
Done.
As part of the motive behind making the game more gender-neutral -> "To keep the game gender-neutral"...
Done.
Steve's goatee was removed in 2009, but continued to appear in other media -> "Steve's goatee was removed in 2009 but has reappeared in other media."
Done.
another default skin that is complimentary for all Minecraft players named Alex -> "Alex, another complimentary default skin for all players, was added..."
Rewritten based on this.
Link Windows, Macintosh, and Linux?
Sure.
Not sure why Java Edition is italicized
Not anymore.
...mobile versions of Minecraft...
Done.
Cut comma between "Steve's" and "but"
Done.
she has orange hair tied into a ponytail and narrower arms -> ...her orange hair is tied into a ponytail. (I don't see how mentioning narrower arms is important here)
I would personally argue it to be a significant detail, since its technically a different character model and describing how the models are different should be kept in. Reworded it as advised beyond that, however.
Commenting on Minecraft's reputation for better gender representation compared to other video games in the industry as of the 2010s -> Commenting on Minecraft's campaign(?) for better gender representation compared to other games...
Done.
Helen Chiang, the Microsoft studio head responsible for the Minecraft franchise, - Person = Studio???? Misread, misinterpreted, sorry.
to leverage the power of the Minecraft brand to subvert traditional gender stereotypes. -> "to use the Minecraft brand as a tool to subvert gender stereotypes."
Done.
"as having" -> "with"
Done.
"identical" -> "similar"
Done.
"physical capabilities" -> "abilities"
Done.
Cut "as each other"
Done.
"this reinforces" -> "it would reinforce"
Done.
"and their commitment to its ideals" - kinda unnecessary?
Done.
Cut "to allow for more detail" - doesn't really add on to the sentence + sounds awkward imo
This is a pretty widely used feature in the game's skins, so I don't think the detail should be completely cut. Maybe a reword depending on your suggestions?
In August 2022, an update to Minecraft - already said
Done.
for both Steve and Alex
Done.
"which utilized" -> "using"
Done.
more detailed texturing
This is a detail I don't see a point in cutting, personally.
also restored
Done.
Add comma between "goatee" and "which"
Done.
removed a more than a decade prior
Reworded to say thirteen years instead, since I believe that's more accurate.
Done.
Steve and Alex character model - "character models"?
Gah.... ref numbers... no.... must not complain about ref numbers... hrghhhhhhh!
I'll fix that anyways.
that are available to(?)
Done.
A skin is the appearance of the player's avatar that represents the player in the game world, which can be changed, altered, or replaced by the player. - A wikilink would work better than a sentence (actually, you can cut this sentence)
A quick, basic description of what an in-game skin is doesn't hurt in my opinion. See MOS:NOFORCELINK.
All zombie mobs found in Minecraft appear to be wearing the same clothing as Steve, although no official explanation was ever given for why. - How is this relevant?
Removed.
Uncapitalize "mobile" in "Mobile editions"
Done.
they've -> "they have"
Done.
up to eight variants of Steve were also offered, none of them female -> "up to eight male variants of Steve were offered"
Done.
a greater variety of characters that were available to those who purchased them as part of bundles -> characters that could be purchased from bundles.
Done.
manually selected - just sounds weird?
Done.
"randomly assigned" how?
Reworded to say its randomized between the two.
the version of Minecraft being played -> "depending on which version of Minecraft is being played"
Done.
Cut "backstory provided in" - I get the feeling it's like fanfiction or something IDK it's 11:00 PM, and I want sleep
Critics noted that Steve has achieved a level of cultural impact and viral recognition outside of the character's original purpose as a baseline or default skin for new players of Minecraft. - "Noted that" is only used for facts\
Changed.
"original purpose" - ???
Changed to "origin".
as a baseline or default skin for new players of Minecraft
Done.
As the face of the franchise in promotional and advertising materials, some commentators - Commentators = face of franchise?
Fixed.
has to a protagonist or main character - "protagonist" should be linked first
Fixed.
This is in spite of the fact that his existence is not asserted by way of an official backstory or in-game dialogue unlike most other video game characters. - Relevant? Prose sounds kind of awkward; also, I think the same topic was mentioned earlier in the article
Probably relevant enough to mention again in Reception?
staff of publications -> "publication staff of"
Done.
Actually I'm just gonna copyedit small mistakes instead of pointing 'em out here (it'll save you some time)
Appreciate it.
In 2010, Herobrine, a creepypasta that is a derivative design of Steve with white, solid eyes, was created on 4chan, gaining prominence amongst the Minecraft community and becoming an internet meme. - Tried copyediting this sentence. Not sure if this works.
Ah shoot... an edit conflict
Kotaku staff were divided over the playable iteration of Steve in Ultimate. - "playable iteration"?
Fixed.
I believe "observe" is a word to watch
Unsure if there a better way to word this?
Some players began advocating for Steve to be banned from tournaments, fearing the character's dominance could negatively affect viewership like Bayonetta had for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. - ???
Might have fixed?
due to the discovery of a new technique that negates hitstun, removing knockback from opponent attacks and effectively allowing Steve to immediately retaliate. - Sounds too technical
Attempted to make it easier to comprehend to a general audience.
Steve embodies this possibility more than most with a process akin to a kind of scaffolded pixel art enabling the redesign of the entire surface of the body beyond changing a pre-defined hairstyle or skin color. - ??????????
Reworded.
This process is particularly visible through the proliferation of online communities and forums set up to share user-generated adapted skins. - Could use simplifying
Done.
Who's the "he" in "Nevertheless, he observed that..."?
I assume Bailey.
due to their enthusiasm in engaging with the possibility of customizing their avatars' appearances. - ???
Simplified.
which represents a player's direct input in how they want to be represented in-game. - Uhhhhhhhhhh
Honestly, I'm not sure what the problem is with this one in particular.
So what I'm seeing here is that Steve can be used as a way to express one's identity and creativity because he's a customizable character (you can put a cap, sunglasses, jeans, etc.)?
Yes. You can change literally any aspect about Steve.
Not sure what "regardless of whether it is similar to or in contrast to the player's identity in the real world" has to do here.
I would say that it represents how players can choose to be themselves or do whatever else they want. I mean, a lot of Minecraft skins don't make much sense, so...
NHis design consists of a light blue top, a pair of blue trousers, and shoes, while his face is an eight-by-eight pixel image usually adorned with a goatee. - Nothing about the face is mentioned
Resolved.
YWhile the name Steve originated as a joke due to Persson thinking it was "generic", the name was adopted by the community and became official in the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft.
NLike Steve, Alex initially could not be selected in these console versions, and the skin chosen is randomly assigned whenever players start a new game. - Nothing said about Alex not being able to be selected in console versions
To my knowledge, reference #5 verifies this, not reference #1.
Y Backstory in Lego Club Magazine - Moved the reference for you
#5
YIn spite of his masculine name and features, Steve's gender was never meant to be specific. In 2012, Persson explained that Minecraft's blocky graphics reinforced the "traditionally masculine" aesthetic of the game.
#20
NAs of 2022, both Steve and Alex, as well as the other seven default skins, can be manually selected in all versions of the game, either via an in-game menu or in the game launcher, depending on the version of Minecraft being played. - Does not mention the other seven default skins
Added a new reference to this sentence that should resolve this problem.
#25
NSteve also appears a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where Alex and some enemies from Minecraft are featured as alternate costumes. - Removed for you
YCosmetics based on Steve's head appear in Borderlands 2 and Hybrid.
#27
NCosmetics based on Steve's head appear in Borderlands 2 and Hybrid. - The Borderlands 2 easter egg involves punching Minecraft blocks and defeating Creepers for loot
Completely removed this sentence.
#40
YPatricia Hernandez of Polygon and Nadia Fox of US Gamer noticed a suggestive animation was featured at the character's win screen, which generated more publicity surrounding the character's imminent debut in Ultimate. - I miss his meat :(
All above nay's have been resolved. I apologize for some of the failed verification's, as I was not the one to originally place some of these citations. λNegativeMP117:24, 29 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
I'm slightly confused about this comment, do you mind elaborating any further? I'm not sure what you're referring to with the "Press F to pay respects" bit too. λNegativeMP101:33, 18 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Cause it was stated at the article, but after reading through to it again I guess it may be not relevant somehow. But, thanks for weighing in. GreenishPickle! (🔔) 01:47, 18 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I'm very certain that this is not part of the GA criteria. Can you show some current GAN reviews where the reviewer is requiring this? λNegativeMP103:39, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I'm 100% sure on this btw, but most of the GAN at the characters I received requires them to be removed. But, I guess removing it will solve the minor issue if you they can't implement it at the article. GreenishPickle! (🔔) 03:43, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I guess so, since this is quite popular, and I am not surprised that the article got protected indefinitely from non-autoconfirmed users today. GreenishPickle! (🔔) 03:48, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The non-free image provides a better, angled shot of the whole character. By means of identification and fully illustrating the character, which is the ultimate goal of an infobox image, the non-free image is better. The one of commons, on the other hand, is a front-facing image and completely hides the legs. It does not fully demonstrate the character. It's also significantly lower quality and somewhat washed out in color due to the in-game position it was taken in, and also allows parts of the game environment to seep into the screenshot as its not a transparent image. The infobox one is far better in terms of quality and I completely oppose swapping it out. λNegativeMP116:52, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It doesn't matter if the non-free image is better than the free one- if a free image exists there is no justification for a non-free image, and it should be deleted. The non-free one may be better, but they serve the same encyclopedic purpose. I don't think the legs being included in the NF image is a major enough difference to matter. Eddie891TalkWork18:45, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The legs not being included is infact a major enough difference because it is not the full character. There is more encyclopedic value in an image that demonstrates the full character in proper detail at a better angle and in better quality. That quality difference is significant enough to infact alter the encyclopedic understanding of the character and I disagree with the idea that they serve the same encyclopedic purpose. λNegativeMP118:54, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Quality of the image is definitely not a valid reason for non-free image over a free one. Otherwise we would have vastly different images of, say, historical figures. Your stronger case is be that the difference in what the images show of the character is substantial. I'm not sure I agree with that, but will let others weigh in. Eddie891TalkWork19:14, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Admittedly, the quality thing is definitely just me having nitpicks against the image. But I still maintain the character not being fully visible in the image is a major issue. I would be open to replacing the image to something like what is being presented right now if it shows the character from a decent angle as well as their full body even if I dislike the quality. λNegativeMP120:40, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
This is how the character appears in-game To note that the non-free picture is from the marketing material and isn't how Steve appears in-game. The commons image, however, is more representative of his in-game appearance. JackFromWisconsin (talk | contribs) 15:02, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
This part is true, but then again, his appearance in that marketing material is almost universal. Practically any physical copy of Minecraft has Steve appear in that way. Same with every trailer and animated short unless that trailer is shot in game. But the commons image still does not fully demonstrate the actual full in-game appearance of Steve due to its washed out colors and not properly demonstrating his entire lower portion. If we wanted an image that actually demonstrated Steve's in-game appearance, I'd rather go with his Super Smash Bros. Ultimate render, which is outright how he appears in Minecraft with zero alterations. λNegativeMP116:59, 12 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'd Support using this free use image. Free use images should always be used in place of fair use ones, and nearly all of Steve's core traits are present here (Blocky appearance, face, major color palette and design quirks, etc). Sure, he doesn't have his legs, but I don't think anyone really needs to see his legs to understand the character. Additionally, I've had a lot of similar discussions regarding these kinds of discussions at the Doctor Who WikiProject recently, and we repeatedly determined via consensus that the free use images, even if they didn't have the same level of quality as fair use images, were preferable for use and communicated enough to be included instead. The Steve image is not so low quality that it cannot represent the character. Magneton Considerer: Pokelego999 (Talk) (Contribs) 15:22, 13 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. M.Bitton (talk) 00:11, 25 March 2023 (UTC)
The redirect Steve? has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 May 7 § Steve? until a consensus is reached. signed, Rosguill talk 19:22, 7 May 2023 (UTC)
Nothing too problematic.
His design consists of a light blue top, a pair of blue trousers, and shoes, while his face is an eight-by-eight pixel image usually adorned with a goatee. - Nothing about the face is mentioned
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