At the very summit of the Throat of the World — the highest point in Skyrim — embedded in a rock just below the peak, is the Notched Pickaxe. It is a functional weapon with a unique enchantment that buffs Smithing. It is also one of gaming’s most straightforward tributes to another creator.
The pickaxe is a direct reference to Markus ‘Notch’ Persson, creator of Minecraft. The game was released just three weeks after Skyrim, and Notch had publicly expressed excitement about Skyrim’s release. Bethesda placed a tribute at the literal top of their world.
The enchantment itself — boosting smithing while dealing shock damage — is a nod to Minecraft’s crafting and mining systems. Nothing about the item is accidental. The placement at the highest reachable point in the game is also deliberate: it rewards players who climb to the summit for no questline reason.
Skyrim is dense with these small tributes and hidden nods. The notched pickaxe stands out because it required climbing to a location that most players reach exactly once, in a scripted story moment, and never return to. The easter egg was designed for explorers who went back on their own.
This is exactly why I love this game. So many layers underneath the surface if you just take the time to look.
Stumbled across this on a late-night session and couldn’t believe it. Your explanation finally made it click.