According to Mojang CCO, developers of Minecraft "probably would not add" the Creeper to the game today because "it would be so controversial."

If I were to ask you about the mascot of Minecraft, which one of Steve or a Creeper comes to mind first? It must be a Creeper, the green monster that explodes and has been roaming people's bloated maps since 2011. 

The Creeper is a permanent fixture of the sandbox game. It can be found on a wide range of merchandise, has been the subject of numerous memes, and most recently made its way to the big screen in A Minecraft Movie. However, due to the fact that it spawns in the dark, sneaks up behind players, and explodes, it doesn't fit in with the current design principles, so the team probably wouldn't add it right now if it weren't already available. 

"If you were to follow the rules that we have today, we probably would not add the Creeper," Mojang CCO Jens Bergensten stated in a Minecraft development video. "Because it would actually be so controversial to have a monster that would show up and destroy what you built."

 However, he admits that the explosive work is "iconic," which is an understatement. Without their unpredictable risk factor, Minecraft wouldn't be the same. Creepers keep you on your toes as you build and gather resources, despite being annoying and occasionally frightening. 

They are, in my opinion, crucial to its overall popularity because they are both an engine for disaster and a slightly cooler "face" of the brand than Steve (no offense, buddy). Over the course of more than a decade, Minecraft has become a small business on YouTube and other platforms. The sudden terror and despair at the disastrous arrival of Creepers has resulted in numerous hilarious viral moments, promoting the joy that comes from owning these cubes. Overall, they won't go anywhere. 

Sincerely, I'm happy; all you have to do is stay away from my next floating castle.