Mojang Studios, a company integrated into Xbox Game Studios, has announced that it prohibits the use of NFT and blockchain technology within the Minecraft client. Minecraft is one of the best-selling games in history and its popularity has only grown over the years thanks to its open world sandbox and a constant stream of updates with new content.
In a post on their official blog, Mojang Studios states that the use of NFTs is against the spirit of Minecraft and violates the terms and conditions (which are in the process of being updated). These same rules are what allow server owners to charge for entering and also say that all players must have the same features at their fingertips. The rules, terms and conditions exist to “ensure that Minecraft remains a community where everyone has access to the same content,” says Mojang Studios.
In the opinion of the study, NFTs make it possible to turn scarcity into a business and exclusion model. “To ensure that Minecraft players have a safe and inclusive experience, the integration of blockchain technologies within our Minecraft server and client applications is not permitted. […]”, says Mojang Studios. You also may not use Minecraft content, such as worlds and skins, to create digital assets using blockchain technology.
Some companies have released through collections or NFT rewards associated with Minecraft files. Mojang Studios affirms that the NFTs do not include the entire community and create a scenario where some have and others do not. In addition, the developer maintains that NFTs draw attention away from the game and encourage speculation, which “we believe is incompatible with the long-term satisfaction and success of our players.” Mojang Studios recognizes that creations within Minecraft have value, and that is why there is a marketplace where content such as skins and textures are shipped.
Minecraft has sold more than 200 million units and exceeds 131 million players per month. It is also by far the most popular game on YouTube. In 2020, it registered 201,000 million views, double that of the previous year. Second on the list is Roblox with less than half the views.