Minecraft developer bans blockchain and NFTs

Mojang, the company behind popular game Minecraft, has clarified its stance on blockchain and NFTs.

Mojang, the developer of the mega-popular video game Minecraft, published a blog outlining its stance on blockchain technology and NFTs. In short, it want nothing to do with them — going as far as to ban any use of blockchain technology with its service, any Minecraft assets, or Minecraft servers.

So what are cryptocurrency, the blockchain and NFTs? Essentially, it is unregulated speculation that is based on fictional digital currency. You purchase a receipt that states the uniqueness of a digital asset, and then you later sell it (or get it stolen, as many in the NFT business have). NFTs and blockchain technology are terrible for the environment and their value is questionable at best — unless you’re lucky enough to have sold them during the boom and made lots of real money.

So it’s no surprise that companies are starting to finally shy away from crypto. Minecraft’s developers are only the latest to make its stance publicly known, with the following statement: “blockchain technologies are not permitted to be integrated inside our client and server applications, nor may Minecraft in-game content… be used by blockchain technology to create a scarce digital asset.”

The company’s reasoning is simple: “All players should 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.” Continuing, Mojang states: “Digital ownership based on scarcity and exclusion … does not align with Minecraft values of creative inclusion and playing together.”

With the volatility that comes with unregulated digital currencies, companies that invested previously are discovering no shortage of woes. Game development company Ubisoft recently dabbled with the blockchain and NFTs and came out worse for the wear with only around $400 USD worth of assets being bought and sold over the span of one month.

Although Mojang leaves some room for a potential change of heart, it is heavily dependent on blockchain technology evolving over time to meet the company’s principles. However, as of now, there are no plans to begin implementation in any capacity.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.