Who Were the Old Minecraft YouTubers?
When Minecraft first launched in 2009, no one could‘ve predicted the immense cultural phenomenon it would spark. The sandbox game was an indie project, but content creators on the fledgling platform of YouTube would soon catapult Minecraft into mega-stardom.
The very first wave of Minecraft YouTubers set the templates that others would follow. They cemented let‘s plays, mod spotlights, adventures, and tutorial videos as evergreen Minecraft content. Though rudimentary by today‘s high production value standards, these OG Minecraft channels paved the way.
The leading old school Minecraft YouTubers included:
- CaptainSparklez – Singlehandedly popularized Minecraft parody songs
- DanTDM – Peak popularity from 2015-2017, inspired a generation of kid gamers
- StampyLongHead – Beloved family-friendly channel, hosted the long-running Lovely World series
- SSundee – Comedy gaming persona won millions of subscribers
- Sky Does Minecraft – Uploaded hugely influential mod videos
- Yogscast – Formed one of the first gaming Multichannel Networks
The Epic Origin Story of CaptainSparklez
Jordan Maron began his CaptainSparklez channel in 2010 while studying game design in college. He originally planned on covering Call of Duty, but decided to pivot to the quirky new sandbox game Minecraft.
In the early days, Jordan‘s videos consisted of off-the-cuff commentary while exploring Minecraft worlds. But it was his iconic Minecraft parody song of "TNT" in 2011 that truly launched him into fame. This single video has amassed over 300 million views to date.
The TNT song demonstrated the potential for YouTube videos to reinvent gaming culture. Jordan continued releasing several more beloved Minecraft parody songs like "Fallen Kingdom" and "Minecraft Style." Beyond music, he expanded into playthroughs, mod reviews, and co-op adventure maps.
Now with over 11 million subscribers, CaptainSparklez remains a stalwart in the Minecraft community. He still uploads Minecraft content along with other games like Reddit Reactions and Our World.
DanTDM – The Child-Friendly Goofball Turned Superstar
Back in 2012, a young British gamer named Dan Middleton started his YouTube channel The Diamond Minecart, dedicated to family-friendly Minecraft videos. Dan‘s infectious enthusiasm, goofy personas, and kid-appealing style struck a chord.
By 2015, DanTDM was the biggest Minecraft YouTuber and one of the most viewed channels period with over 10 billion views that year. At his peak, he earned a place in Guinness World Records for the most views garnered by a dedicated Minecraft channel.
Dan‘s silly personalities like Dr. Trayaurus resonated with children worldwide. His tours of epic Minecraft mods and ongoing series like Diamond Dimensions fueled excitement. While parents may have seen Minecraft as a pixelated kids game, Dan revealed a world of boundless creativity.
Now under the simplified name DanTDM, Daniel Middleton has 28 million subscribers. Though he branched out into other popular games like Fortnite and Pokémon, Minecraft remains a staple on his channel. He helped define what family-friendly gaming content could look like for the next generation.
| YouTuber | Subscribers | Total Video Views |
|---|---|---|
| CaptainSparklez | 11 million | 3+ billion |
| DanTDM | 28 million | Over 15 billion |
| StampyLongHead | 10 million | Over 5 billion |
YouTube and Minecraft Co-Evolved Across Distinct Eras
In the early years from 2009-2013, Minecraft content followed basic let‘s play and tutorial formats. Production value remained raw and unedited, but this authenticity added to the fun.
The golden age from around 2013-2016 drove Minecraft obsession into the mainstream. Top YouTubers like SkyDoesMinecraft and JeromeASF ruled with funny montages and mod videos. Companies like Disney and Mattel partnered with kid-friendly channels.
In Minecraft‘s current era on YouTube, elite creators have turned Minecraft into an esport and entertainment empire. Dream popularized high stakes Minecraft Manhunt challenges. MrBeast hosts outlandish stunts like finger-tipping an iceberg. The oldest channels continue thriving among a new guard captivating modern audiences.
The Future of Minecraft on YouTube
As Minecraft creator Mojang rolls out updates like 1.20 with long-awaited features including camels and bamboo wood, excitement on YouTube remains unabated entering 2023. Views continue breaking records, especially surrounding highly anticipated announcements at MINECON livestreams.
And with Microsoft‘s purchase of Activision Blizzard, I speculate that we may see whole new generations drawn into Minecraft through cross-promotions across Xbox, Call of Duty, and the greater Metaverse. The barriers between gaming, social media, and entertainment continue blurring in surprising ways.
No matter what comes next, one truth remains clear – Minecraft and YouTube will continue redefining entertainment hand-in-hand for years to come thanks to the beloved creators who pioneered this unthinkable rise from humble indie origins over a decade ago.
