Mineplex

Mineplex is one of the most historically significant Minecraft servers ever created. Founded on January 24, 2013, by Gregory Bylos (known in-game as "Sterling_") and Jarred van de Voort (known as "Spu_"), the server launched during the golden age of Minecraft multiplayer and quickly became one of the defining experiences of the era. By 2015, Mineplex had grown so large that it set a Guinness World Record for the most concurrent players on a single Minecraft server: 34,434 players online at the same time. That record was later surpassed by Hypixel the same year, beginning a rivalry that would define both servers for years to come.

At its peak in 2015-2016, Mineplex attracted millions of unique players monthly. The server was a pioneer in the Minecraft minigame format, offering custom game modes like Survival Games (a Hunger Games-inspired last-player-standing mode), Champions (a class-based capture-the-flag game), MineStrike (a first-person shooter mode inspired by Counter-Strike), Super Smash Mobs (a Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game using Minecraft mobs), and Block Hunt (a hide-and-seek variant where players disguise as blocks). The server supported both Java Edition and, later, Bedrock Edition, making it accessible to a massive cross-platform audience.

The decline was gradual but unmistakable. After 2020, updates slowed, staff turnover increased, and the player base eroded as competitors -- particularly Hypixel -- continued to innovate. Long-standing bugs went unaddressed, community engagement dwindled, and the server increasingly felt like it was running on autopilot. On May 11, 2023, the servers went offline without prior announcement, shocking the community. A few days later, an official announcement on Discord confirmed the closure was permanent, citing operational challenges and financial sustainability concerns.

The story did not end there. On May 27, 2023, former Mineplex administrator and Overwatch content creator Samito Dawahare (known as "Samito") acquired full ownership of Mineplex under the new entity Mineplex Studios LLC. The acquisition aimed to revitalize the server while preserving its legacy. After extensive development work, Mineplex entered a closed beta on May 2, 2025, reopening for both Java and Bedrock editions with access to classic minigames and new maps. The revival focused on community engagement, tournaments, and establishing Mineplex Studio as a platform for developers to create and share gaming experiences within the Minecraft ecosystem.

On the Marketplace side, Mineplex has published over 200 pieces of Bedrock Edition content, primarily skin packs and persona items. Products like Exotic Fruity Fashion, Picnic, and City Chums represent the cosmetic side of the brand, generating revenue independent of the server's operational status.