If something looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck; but if something looks like Minecraft, plays like Minecraft, and even has code like Minecraft, it might not actually be Minecraft—
Because this game actually launched on Steam.
As everyone knows, Minecraft has an ancestral rule: it will never launch on Steam. This was true before Microsoft acquired it, and it remains true after. When you open the game, you might even see this random line of text, prompting corresponding jokes.
But a few days ago, a game strikingly similar to Minecraft, named Kogama, suddenly appeared on the Steam store. Its pixel-art 3D title is indistinguishable from Minecraft's; if you only looked at the preview images, you might mistake them for screenshots from an older version of Minecraft—times have indeed changed, and now foreigners have their own Mini World.
Beyond just looking similar, Kogama plays like Minecraft too. Although it hasn't officially launched yet, the developers have released actual gameplay footage on X, showing an interface identical to Minecraft, complete with all vanilla achievements, emphasizing a one-to-one replication. The key to this replication lies in Kogama's description: "LCE Fork."
LCE stands for "Legacy Console Edition," referring to the original console versions of Minecraft. Before the Bedrock Edition unified the platforms, each console had its own version of Minecraft. Kogama, based on an LCE Fork, can be said to be developed entirely from Minecraft's source code. Or rather, it simply renamed and pirated Minecraft onto Steam, which explains why it is nine or ten parts similar.
As for where this source code came from and why it ended up on Steam, it all starts with a Microsoft code leak incident earlier this year.
From late February to early March, the source code for the console edition of Minecraft began circulating online. The initial source was likely 4chan, while users on Reddit stated that an incomplete PlayStation 3 version leaked on 4chan first, followed by leaks of the Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions by others.
Regardless of its source, the authenticity of this code can be proven. Shortly after the leak, people attempted to port and run it on PCs. According to community discussions, the code seems to contain a method to run the old console edition natively on PC without an emulator.
Given Minecraft's strong culture of MOD development communities, this source code leak prompted many to explore it further. They discovered that the source code contained a plethora of scrapped content never officially released, along with certain exploitable development tools. Thus, the modification of the original console edition of Minecraft began.
Since the leaked source code is from an older version, people are adding various new features to it, backporting official new updates to this original console edition. Nowadays, some have even used assets from newer versions to recreate the Nether Update content, with update speeds seemingly faster than Minecraft's official team.
Since the leaked source code was from the console edition, bringing it to PC meant embracing the traditional art of modding. As a result, you can see mods like conveyor belts and robotic arms added to the original console edition, allowing you to experience mechanical power gameplay even in older versions.
Interestingly, many international players have reacted to this backporting with enthusiasm.
Many people choose to download the community-portable original console edition packs and start a new world, reliving their childhood and the bygone era of the console edition. In fact, many have stated that they downloaded the leaked version specifically to reminisce about the version they first experienced when opening Minecraft.
In response, people created various memes celebrating how the original console edition won its revival match and escaped the underworld thanks to the source code leak and the technical skills of community players.
Some have even pointed fingers at Microsoft, arguing that if Microsoft hadn't mishandled things, players wouldn't be so disgruntled, leading them to engage in extensive porting of the leaked version.
After all, the Bedrock Edition has received considerable criticism, ranging from various bugs to Redstone mechanics that are almost completely different from the Java Edition, making it hard for veteran players to accept. Many believe that the original console edition shouldn't have been so hastily evolved into the Bedrock Edition.
More importantly, the Bedrock Edition is essentially the original PE Edition (Pocket Edition, or mobile version). When it became the new cross-platform standard, the original console editions were abandoned. Eventually, they became lost media existing only in memory to some extent. For example, the Switch version of Minecraft, released only digitally on the eShop without physical cartridges, became an incredibly rare version after the launch of Bedrock Edition.
The project that best embodies this resistance against the official stance is one called "Minecraft Community Edition."
They used the original console edition code from this leak, aiming to push out the official developers and create a "world of their own" not controlled by the officials—a world built specifically for the community. In other words, everyone can contribute to this project, offering even more freedom than the already open Java Edition. We have X (formerly Twitter) to thank for going open source.
However, this project hasn't made huge waves yet. Although it has high attention and many participants, I'm not optimistic about its future. After all, the entire project remains a group formed by interest, somewhat decentralized. If they don't implode due to internal disagreements before Microsoft even sues them, they'll be lucky.
So, if you really want to make an impact and create a new version of Minecraft free from Microsoft and Mojang's control, you need to pull off a big stunt—like Kogama mentioned at the beginning.
Like the Community Edition, Kogama also uses the leaked code. The difference is that Kogama, listed on the Steam store, is clearly a centralized product: it has a clear official entity, a dedicated store page, and even changed its name in a transparent attempt to cover its tracks... Therefore, many people are not buying it—if you're going to play Minecraft, why play your pirated copy?
Kogama's response was quite clever: if you don't accept it because it's identical to Minecraft, surely changing the texture pack would be acceptable?
After news of Kogama launching on Steam spread and sparked discussion, they quickly updated the screenshots on the Steam store page. Although it still looks similar to Minecraft, a closer look reveals that the entire game has switched to a new texture pack, finally distinguishing it from the original.
However, Microsoft's legal department is certainly not idle. In recent days, Microsoft has begun cleaning up specific content related to this source code leak circulating online, with Kogama being the primary target. Currently, the game itself has been removed from the Steam store, and the official account promoting it has been banned on X due to a DMCA takedown.
By the way, this avatar comes from the NetEase version of Minecraft. He really understood the assignment when it came to stitching things together.
Besides that, interest in content related to the source code leak is gradually fading. Most people were just there for the spectacle; there's really no need to dig too deep into content with such shady origins and official intervention.
But don't forget, many players are using this incident to express their dissatisfaction. Essentially, the hype stems from player discontent with the official company's actions. If this opportunity leads Microsoft to listen more to player demands, or even release an official legacy version, it wouldn't be a bad thing. After all, the activity in related communities proves these players' sentiments. Going with the flow might lead to the best outcome.
Of course, with Everythinggj settled, I should probably end this article here... but hold on, there's a bonus chapter—the short-lived Kogama still has more to uncover.
The so-called Community Edition at least has traceable origins, growing out of the Minecraft community. But Kogama appeared like a mysterious comedian dropping out of nowhere, pulling a stunt and then immediately dying off. So... where did this thing come from?
In fact, after the incident gained traction, people on the international web dug up the mysterious figure closely associated with Kogama: SparklingPishy. He is the one who uploaded this game to the Steam store.
As a repeat offender, his track record is searchable online; failing to steal something within three days counts as a failure. Several years ago, he was caught red-handed stealing maps from others in the popular game Roblox.
Additionally, he previously created adult content in Roblox and directed traffic to his Discord server, where the requirement to join was sending an obscene photo of oneself, with no age restriction.
Even more outrageously, in August 2025, he harassed minors on Discord, primarily by exposing himself, engaging in highly inappropriate behavior that led to his account being permanently banned.
In short, we can view this person as an unpredictable internet troll who occasionally pulls off stunts—and his latest stunt was uploading Kogama, a pirated version of Minecraft, to the Steam store.
The so-called Community Edition can at least tie into the complicated history between the original console edition and the Bedrock Edition. But Kogama? It's just this internet troll riding the wave of the source code leak to clown around online. In the end, it just caused a mess—muddying the waters of the entire incident and leaving netizens with a bunch of laughs.
Then again, doesn't this just add another bold stroke to his record of lawbreaking, marking him as someone sanctioned by Microsoft's iron fist? Truly something to celebrate.