'Minecraft' Studio Wants nothing to have to do With NFTs
Don't expect to buy a creeper skin as an NFT (non-fungible token) and connect it to your Minecraft server in the near future. Mojang has taken a clear stand against the hugely popular game's involvement with NFTs and blockchain technology. "[To] ensure Minecraft players have a safe, inclusive experience Blockchain technology isn't allowed to be integrated into our Minecraft client or server applications, nor can it be utilized to create NFTs linked to any in-game content such as skins and worlds, persona objects, or any other mods," Mojang stated in a statement. It will soon update the game’s guidelines accordingly.
Minecraft offers a marketplace where users can sell their creations to others. Mojang states that some companies recently started offering NFTs that can be used in connection with the game. There are some NFTs associated with Minecraft skin packs and world files that players can buy. According to the studio, it was possible for players of Minecraft to earn Minecraft NFTs by doing activities within the game or elsewhere. Mojang isn't on board with any of this.
It said that each of these applications of NFTs or other blockchain technologies creates digital owner based on scarcity and exclusion, which isn't in the spirit of Minecraft values of inclusiveness and creativity. "NFTs are not inclusive of all of our community and create a semblance of the haves and the have-nots."
While Minecraft server owners are able to charge users for access, Mojang rules state that everyone should have access to the same features and content. "NFTs however, could create models of scarcity and exclusion that do not conform to our guidelines and the spirit of Minecraft," the studio said.
Mojang also expressed concerns about the speculation-based nature of NFTs and noted that some were sold at "artificially or fraudulently overinflated prices." Given that Minecraft has millions of players in its youth, it probably wouldn't be an ideal choice for the game to support NFTs. Mojang stated that NFTs' speculative pricing and investment mindset distracts players from the game and encourages profiteering. This is in opposition to the long-term happiness of our players.
The studio and Microsoft the parent company, have every reason to be cautious about NFTs or blockchain tech. There has been a significant opposition from the gaming community against these technologies. Another reason is that prices for cryptocurrency have dropped, and the NFT market is becoming less viable. Axie Infinity was once a leader in blockchain gaming. In the end, players lost money and daily player numbers dropped by more than two-thirds during the past few months.
Other major players in the gaming sector have also resisted NFTs or the blockchain. Steam recently stopped NFT trading and games that use cryptocurrency in October. Sony recently announced a PlayStation rewards program that will include digital collectibles. However, it emphasized that these could not be traded and that the program does not involve NFTs or the blockchain.
Mojang doesn't necessarily reject blockchain technology, but it doesn't mean that it is a must. The studio said it will be monitoring the development of the technology to "determine whether it will allow for more secure experiences or other more inclusive and practical applications in gaming."