Editing Steve (Minecraft) (section)

==Concept and design==
Steve is presented as a human character with a blocky appearance, which is consistent with the aesthetic and art style of ''Minecraft''. His name originated as an [[in-joke]] by Persson,<ref name="SVG">{{cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Emily |date=October 26, 2020 |title=Minecraft Creator Reveals The Truth About This Popular Steve Fan Theory |url=https://www.svg.com/267672/minecraft-creator-reveals-the-truth-about-this-popular-steve-fan-theory/ |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=SVG.com}}</ref> and was confirmed as his official name in the "''Bedrock Edition''" of ''Minecraft''.<ref name="Everything" /> Steve's face consists of an eight-by-eight pixel image, usually adorned with a [[goatee]]. He wears a light blue top, a pair of blue trousers, and shoes.<ref name="Greatest" /> In console editions of ''Minecraft,'' Steve appeared in a variety of different outfits, such as a [[tuxedo]] and prison outfit.<ref name=":1" />{{Efn|name=editions|A distinction is made between the differences of the two different editions of ''Minecraft''. This article refers to the game on consoles and smartphones where customization of skins is limited to skins that exist in the virtual store. This is in contrast with the Windows, Linux, and Macintosh versions where skins are completely customizable, as users may upload image files to [[Mojang]].}}

[[File:SteveandAlex.png|thumb|Side by side comparison of the character skins for Steve ''(left)'' and Alex ''(right)'' used in all versions from 2014 to 2022.|alt=Isometric view of both Steve (left) and Alex (right). They are blocky figures made up of rectangular cubes. Alex is a feminine-looking character. She has long orange hair painted on the skin and skinnier arms. Steve is more masculine-looking. He has short brown hair and thicker arms than Alex.|198x198px]]
In spite of his masculine name and features, Persson claimed that Steve's gender was never intended to be fixed. In 2012, Persson explained that ''Minecraft''{{'s}} blocky graphics inadvertently reinforced a default aesthetic for the game which is "traditionally [[masculine]]".<ref name=":1" /><ref name="GenderInMinecraft">{{cite web |last=Persson |first=Markus |author-link=Markus Persson |date=July 28, 2012 |title=Gender in Minecraft |url=https://notch.tumblr.com/post/28188312756 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728170757/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/28188312756/gender-in-minecraft |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=September 25, 2021 |website=[[tumblr]]}}</ref> He emphasized that ''Minecraft'' was designed to "be a game without a gender element" in a game where "gender doesn't exist", and that the [[3D modeling|character model]] was "intended to represent a human being" who was [[Unisex|genderless]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Good |first=Owen |date=July 28, 2012 |title='Minecraft Guy' Isn't Supposed to Be a Guy—or a Girl, Says Game's Creator |url=https://kotaku.com/minecraft-guy-isnt-supposed-to-be-a-guy-or-a-girl-says-5929849 |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref> Admitting that limiting the gender option to just male "is telling everybody this is a boy game only", Persson claimed that he once attempted to create a proper female character model in ''Minecraft'', but said "the results have been extremely sexist."<ref name=":1" />

By August 22, 2014, another default skin that is complimentary for all ''Minecraft'' players named Alex was added to the ''Java Edition'' of ''Minecraft'', for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.<ref>*{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=April 27, 2015 |title=You can finally choose to play as a girl in Minecraft |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/27/8503863/minecraft-female-default-character |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bergensten |first=Jens |author-link=Jens Bergensten |date=August 22, 2014 |title=Minecraft 1.8 Pre-release – The Bountiful Update |url=https://www.mojang.com/2014/08/minecraft-1-8-pre-release-the-bountiful-update/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822113047/https://www.mojang.com/2014/08/minecraft-1-8-pre-release-the-bountiful-update/ |archive-date=August 22, 2014 |access-date=September 25, 2021 |website=[[Mojang]]}}</ref> The character was added to the console and mobile versions of ''Minecraft'' at a later date.<ref name=":1" /> Alex's character model is similar to Steve's, but with a more [[feminine]] appearance: she has red hair tied into a ponytail, and narrower arms.<ref>*{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Owen |date=April 27, 2015 |title=New skins! Achievements! Music! |url=https://mojang.com/2015/04/new-skins-achievements-music/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427183642/https://mojang.com/2015/04/new-skins-achievements-music/ |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=mojang.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andu |date=July 17, 2014 |title=Minecraft developer says narrower arms provide a more feminine look |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-developer-says-narrower-arms-provide-a-more-feminine-look/ |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Messina |first=Lynn |date=October 2, 2015 |title=Dear Minecraft Villagers: I'm Worried About You. |url=https://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/dear-minecraft-villagers-im-worried-about-you/ |access-date=September 25, 2021 |website=[[New York Times]] |quote=Recently, they added the first default female character. All human beings are no longer automatically a stubble-hewn male guy named Steve.}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Commenting on ''Minecraft''{{'s}} reputation for better gender representation compared to other video games in the industry as of the 2010s, Helen Chiang, the Microsoft studio head responsible for the ''Minecraft'' franchise, explained in a 2018 interview that it is important for her company to leverage the power of the ''Minecraft'' brand to subvert traditional gender stereotypes. By presenting Alex and Steve as having identical physical capabilities or qualities as each other, Chiang said this reinforces the studio's stance on gender equality and their commitment to its ideals.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fessler |first=Leah |date=August 2, 2018 |title=Minecraft's head says American employees should get a gap year like they do in Sweden |url=https://qz.com/work/1346078/minecrafts-helen-chiang-says-us-employees-should-get-a-gap-year/ |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]}}</ref>
[[File:Minecraft Defaults Skins.png|thumb|260x260px|(From left to right) Sunny, Kai, Makena, Steve, Alex, Zuri, Efe, Ari, and Noor.]]
On August 22, 2022, exactly 8 years after Alex was added, an update to the ''Minecraft'' launcher implemented a redesign of both Steve and Alex. The new skins were mostly the same as before, but were more textured. They also utilized multiple layers, a feature originally added to ''Minecraft''<nowiki/>'s skins alongside Alex in 2014, but that had only ever been utilized by custom skins prior to this update. These redesigns also restored Steve's goatee, which had been removed in a 2009 update.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-22 |title=Minecraft Steve regrows beard after more than a decade |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/minecraft-steve-regrows-beard-after-more-than-a-decade |access-date=2022-10-23}}</ref>

On October 24, 2022, seven more default skins were added to ''Minecraft'', all using the existing Steve and Alex character models. The skins are known as "Noor", "Sunny", "Ari", "Zuri", "Makena", "Kai", and "Efe". These skins were added for increased diversity within the games  community.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-24 |title=Minecraft skins get seven more inclusive options |work=pcgamersn.com |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/skins-default-options |access-date=2023-07-26}}</ref>