Minecraft Studio Wants nothing to have to do With NFTs
Don't expect to purchase a creeper skin as an NFT (non-fungible token) and plug it into your Minecraft server in the near future. Mojang has taken a firm stance against the popular game's use of NFTs and blockchain technology. "[To] ensure that Minecraft players have a safe and a fair experience, blockchain technologies are not permitted to be integrated into our Minecraft client and server applications, nor may they be used to create NFTs with any in-game content, including worlds, skins, persona items or other mods," the developer said in a statement. It will soon update the guidelines for the game accordingly.
Minecraft has a marketplace where people can sell their creations to others to use. Mojang notes that some companies have recently begun offering NFTs that are connected to the game. Certain NFTs can be purchased for Minecraft skin packs or world files. According to the studio, it was possible for players of Minecraft to earn Minecraft NFTs through activities done in the game or in other places. Mojang isn't on board with any of it.
It was stated that each of these uses of NFTs or other blockchain technologies creates a digital owner based on scarcity, exclusion, which is not in accordance with Minecraft values of inclusion and creativity. "NFTs do not encompass all members of our community, and create a situation of haves and the have-nots."
While Minecraft server owners are allowed to charge for access, Mojang rules state that everyone should have access the same features and content. "NFTs, however, can create models of exclusion and scarcity that conflict with our guidelines and the spirit of Minecraft," the studio said.
Mojang also expressed concern over the speculative nature NFTs and pointed out that certain were sold at "artificially and fraudulently overinflated prices." Given that Minecraft has millions of young players, it probably wouldn't be a great look for the game to be a supporter of NFTs. Mojang said that NFTs are speculative pricing and investment mentality distracts from the game and promotes profiteering. This is contrary to the long-term joy of our players.
The studio and its parent company Microsoft have good reasons to be cautious about NFTs and blockchain tech. There has been a massive opposition from the gaming community against these technologies. Additionally, cryptocurrency prices have dropped dramatically and the NFT market has been drained. Even the erstwhile leader in the field of blockchain gaming, Axie Infinity, was the target of a major hack (with victims losing money as a result) and the number of players on its daily basis has dropped by more than two thirds over the past few months.
Other major players in the gaming sector have also shunned NFTs or blockchain. In October of last year, Steam banned games that enable cryptocurrency and NFT trading. Sony recently announced a PlayStation Rewards program that will include digital collectibles. It stated that they cannot be traded , and that the program does not include NFTs or blockchain. minecraft servers
However, Mojang isn't completely rejecting the blockchain. The company has stated that it will monitor the evolution of the technology to "determine whether it can allow for safer gaming or other practical and inclusive applications in gaming."
