Minecraft Owner Bans In-game NFTs to stop Profiteering

Minecraft developer Mojang Studios is taking a strong stance against NFTs. In a blog post entitled "Minecraft and NFTs," the studio is owned by Microsoft, wrote that "integrations of NFTs with Minecraft are generally not something we will accept or support."

Mojang declared that blockchain technology is not allowed to be integrated into our client or server applications. "To ensure that Minecraft users have a safe, inclusive experience, neither can Minecraft game-related content like skins, worlds, or items be utilized by blockchain technology to create a unique digital asset."

According to Mojang, some companies have developed "NFT implementations that are bundled with Minecraft world skin packs and files." The studio suggests that there could be Minecraft "collectible" NFTs or that players could earn NFTs by performing tasks in Minecraft on a server, or earning them outside the actual game.

Mojang claims that these practices promote digital exclusion and scarcity, which goes against Minecraft's principles. The studio has stated that NFTs "are not inclusive of all our communities and create a system that has-nots and have-nots are a part of the same." Mojang adds that NFTs their speculative nature "encourages profiteering."

I strongly suggest that you go through the entire blog post, as it succinctly lays out the many critiques of NFTs and blockchain-related projects in a way that's simple to comprehend. Lalalalal (There are many more quotes that I could add to the list.

Valve has also taken a hard stance against NFTs and blockchain-based games on Steam. The majority gamers have opposed NFTs. Ubisoft stopped making NFTs to Ghost Recon Breakpoint only a few months after the initiative launched. Epic Games said last year it was "open" to blockchain games available on the Epic Games Store, and the first blockchain game came to the store in June.

While Mojang doesn't completely shut the possibility of adding blockchain technology in the future, it ends by saying that "we don't have plans of implementing blockchain technology into Minecraft right now."

Next Up In Gaming

Join Verge's newsletter to receive Deals Newsletter

Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week.

We've just sent you a confirmation email to confirm your subscription.