Minecraft 1.4.4 launches as fans decipher a code that unlocks 1,000 copies of 0x10c

Minecraft version 1.4.4 launched today bringing bug fixes to the game's PC and Mac versions, according to a post on developer Mojang's official blog, which recently posted a cryptic message from Markus "Notch" Persson that unlocks 1,000 copies of Mojang's upcoming 0x10c.

The 1.4.4 update is bug-focused, fixing issues that prevented the tab key from working on Macs, fixed chickens' heads animated with inverted movement and water currents so strong that it prevented users from swimming upstream, among other things.

The release comes in the wake of Minecraft's 8 millionth sale. Minecraft programmer Notch responded on Mojang's official blog earlier this week to the milestone with a cryptic message reading:

69I960EHE0A4A0IVG0EHE02500R4R0G1T30PLJ00V6V0EHE0V1U01V10U5U0VGV0V4R

Theories abounded about what it might reference, including a Reddit thread that speculated that it might refer to Mojang's next game, 0x10c and a separate Reddit thread that conjectured that the code referred to the game's release date.

A third Reddit thread contains the solution.

When translated to binary, the 32-base digit code refers to a URL on 0x10c's website, from which anyone can download a .7Z zip file. Using the password "MONTAUK" (the codename for 0x10c) extracts a text file with 1,000 codes for 0x10c, redeemable on Mojang's website. The introduction to the file reads:

HELLO; 1000 CODES FOR 0x10^C WHICH WILL EVETUALLY [sic.] BE RELEASED; PLEASE SHARE THESE WITH THE COMMUNITY; TO REDEEM ACODE GO TO ACCOUNT.MOJANG.COM; WE LOVE YOU

As of this writing, all of the codes have been claimed.