While the whole NFT thing seems to be thankfully on the decline, there are still companies, like Square Enix, trying to justify associating themselves with technology that exists solely as a huge scam. Mojang is clearly not one of them.
In a lengthy statement posted on the Minecraft site, the team goes into great detail explaining why they have not embraced the technology to date and why they have taken steps to ban any implementation of anything blockchain-related in Minecraft.
While the whole NFT thing seems to be thankfully on the decline, there are still companies, like Square Enix, trying to justify associating themselves with technology that exists solely as a huge scam. Mojang is clearly not one of them.
In a lengthy statement posted on the Minecraft site, the team explains in great detail why they have not embraced the technology to date and why they have taken steps to ban any implementation of anything blockchain-related in Minecraft.
OUR POLICY ON NFTS AND MINECRAFT
In our Minecraft Usage Guidelines, we describe how a server owner can charge for access and that all players must have access to the same functionality. We have these rules to ensure that Minecraft remains a community where everyone has access to the same content. However, NFTs can create patterns of scarcity and exclusion that conflict with our Guidelines and the spirit of Minecraft.
To ensure that Minecraft players have a safe and inclusive experience, blockchain technologies are not allowed to be integrated within our client and server applications, nor is Minecraft game content such as worlds, skins , personal items, or other modifications, is used by blockchain technology to create a scarce digital asset. Our reasons follow.
Some companies have recently released NFT implementations that are associated with world files and Minecraft skin packs. Other examples of how NFTs and blockchain can be used with Minecraft include the creation of Minecraft collectible NFTs, allowing players to earn NFTs through activities done on a server or earn Minecraft NFT rewards for activities outside of the game.
Each of these uses of NFTs and other blockchain technologies create digital ownership based on scarcity and exclusion, which does not align with Minecraft’s values of creative inclusion and co-play. NFTs do not include our entire community and create a rich-have-not scenario. The speculative pricing and investment mentality around NFTs draws attention away from the game and encourages speculation, which we believe is incompatible with the long-term joy and success of our players.
We are also concerned that some third-party NFTs are not trustworthy and will end up costing players who purchase them. Some third-party NFT implementations are also completely reliant on blockchain technology and may require an asset manager that could go away without notice. There have also been cases where NFTs were sold at artificially or fraudulently inflated prices. We recognize that creation within our game has intrinsic value, and we strive to provide a marketplace where those values can be recognized.
As such, to ensure that Minecraft players have a safe and inclusive experience, blockchain technologies are not permitted to be integrated within our Minecraft server and client applications nor may they be used to create NFTs associated with any content. of the game, including worlds, skins, personal items, or other modifications. We will also be paying close attention to how blockchain technology evolves over time to ensure the above principles hold and determine whether it will enable more secure experiences or other practical and inclusive applications in gaming. However, we have no plans to implement blockchain technology in Minecraft at this time.
