Minecraft Steve's Face: Is it a beard or a smile?

[TransEuropaExpress]

Even after I've been told it's apparently a beard, I still can't see it.

Click to shrink...

This haha...I just cannot unsee this as a mouth, sorry.

 

[Spooky_Lantern]

I think upon inspection, it's clear it was supposed to be a beard (it's the same color as the hair).

HOWEVER, it looks like a mouth. And I have a hard time seeing it as anything else.

 

[WestEgg]

So I came across last month's Game Informer, and it seems like this one is about settled (assuming this art is officially approved)

 

[Danthrax]

It's the same color as his hair. It's clearly a beard. Or a goatee.

 

[PSqueak]

It's a beard, much like 16 bit RPG sprites, human models in minecraft don't have mouths in their neutral expression.

 

[pinkurocket]

It's trash.