Developer Mojang Studios released a statement that Minecraft will not support anything NFT or blockchain technology.
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NFT is still a controversial topic. Depending on one’s mind, they could be the start of a new internet, a promising technology still finding a real application, or simply a scam of scale. As a result, some gamers are still apprehensive about NFT coming to the gaming industry, and that’s understandable.
Gamers who opposed NFT had a small victory when Mojang announced that Minecraft would not support NFT or any other blockchain technology. The Minecraft developer announced the decision in a statement saying that the nature of NFT “doesn’t align with Minecraft’s values of creating and playing together.”
As Mojang’s statement makes clear, Minecraft’s terms of use allow owners of servers to charge other players for access. These server owners must provide all users with access to the same content. The studio explains that this policy stems from Mojang’s desire to keep Minecraft as safe and inclusive as possible. However, NFTs derive value from their exclusivity and artificial scarcity, which the studio feels runs counter to those principles. As a result, Mojang has decided to ban all blockchain technology from Minecraft, its servers, and related applications. This includes all user-generated or third-party content, such as mods, skins, worlds, and personal items.
In the statement, Mojang noted that several companies have released NFT skins and Minecraft worlds. The studio also acknowledges the possibility of other NFT implementations such as collectibles, in-game rewards, and out-of-game rewards. However, Mojang argues that all of this violates the studio’s attitude towards Minecraft.
Mojang also expressed concern about the safety and reliability of third-party Minecraft-related NFTs. The company notes that some NFTs dependent on asset managers may disappear without warning. Not to mention that there is also the risk of sellers pushing the NFT to fraud or be overvalued to blind buyers. While Mojang acknowledges that Minecraft players have a right to profit from their in-game creations, the company does not consider NFT an appropriate way to facilitate this.
Mojang’s statement made no mention of the commonly made allegation that the NFT was a scam. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates seems to hold that view, as last month he denied that NFT was a scam. It’s unclear if Mojang’s decision was influenced by that comment from the parent company’s co-founder, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Gates’ comments had some influence. Either way, Mojang Studios says it may reconsider its stance depending on how blockchain technology evolves, but the studio won’t be bringing NFT to Minecraft anytime soon.