Editing Steve (Minecraft) (section)

==Concept and Creation==
Steve, the ''Minecraft'' character, was designed by the game’s creator Markus "Notch" Persson and has a blocky, pixelated appearance consistent with the game’s aesthetic. His basic design includes a light blue shirt, blue trousers, and shoes, sometimes with a goatee. Though originally created as a joke due to his "generic" appearance, Steve became an official character in ''Minecraft''’s Bedrock Edition. While Steve has traditionally been presented as male, Persson emphasized that ''Minecraft'' was designed to be gender-neutral, with Steve being more of an androgynous or genderless figure.

In response to concerns about gender representation, the character '''Alex''' was introduced in 2014, providing a more feminine alternative to Steve, with orange hair tied in a ponytail and narrower arms. Despite the aesthetic differences, Alex and Steve are functionally the same, reinforcing ''Minecraft''’s stance on gender inclusivity.

An update in 2022 reintroduced Steve's goatee and added new textures to both Steve and Alex. Additionally, the game expanded its diversity with seven more default skins—Noor, Sunny, Ari, Zuri, Makena, Kai, and Efe—using the same base models but offering more representation within the game. This move aligned with Microsoft and Mojang’s efforts to promote equality and inclusivity in gaming.