Minecraft and NFTs

Sat Dec 3. 2022

We've received feedback from the community recently asking for clarity and transparency about Mojang Studios' and Minecraft's positions on NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and blockchain.

We are updating our Minecraft Usage Guides to provide more detailed guidance on new technologies. However, we wanted to share our opinion that NFT integrations with Minecraft are not something we support or allow. Let's take a closer look.

WHAT IS A NFT?

An NFT is a unique digital token that cannot be edited and is often purchased with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. An NFT can be associated to any digital asset, such as an MPEG and a GIF. However, digital art like JPEGs is the most popular use case for an NFT. An NFT is the token that identifies the owner of the original digital file. However, any digital file can be copied and moved or deleted. NFTs and Blockchain have been associated with speculation. This is where prices can rise rapidly and, as we have seen, may fall quickly.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME

We strongly recommend that you read the following information if you are a player or creator involved in the trading, buying, or selling of NFTs that use Minecraft (like skins and worlds). If you don't, these changes will not affect you.

OUR POLICY ON MINECRAFT AND NFTS

Our Minecraft Usage Guidelines outline how a server owner may charge for access and that all players should have the same functionality. These rules are in place to ensure Minecraft remains a community that allows everyone access to the same content. NFTs can, however, create scarcity and exclusion models that are not in line with our Guidelines and the spirit and purpose of Minecraft.

Blockchain technologies are not allowed to be integrated into our client and server apps. Neither may Minecraft in-game content like worlds, skins and persona items be used by blockchain technology to create a rare digital asset. These are our reasons.

NFT implementations have been launched by some companies that can be linked to Minecraft world files and skin pack. NFTs and blockchain can also be used with Minecraft to create Minecraft collectible NFTs. This allows players to earn NFTs by performing activities on a server or earning Minecraft NFT rewards.

Each of these uses for NFTs and other Blockchain technologies creates digital ownership that is based on scarcity or exclusion. This is not in line with Minecraft values of creative inclusion, playing together, and sharing our resources. NFTs do not include all members of our community and create a situation of the haves and have-nots. NFTs encourage profiteering and speculative pricing, which we believe is incompatible with long-term joy and success for our players.

We are also concerned about third-party NFTs not being reliable and could end up costing players who purchase them. Third-party NFT implementations may also be dependent on blockchain technology. They may need an asset manager who could disappear without notice. NFTs have been sold at artificially high or fraudulentlyinflated prices in some cases. We recognize the intrinsic value of creation within our game and strive to create a market where those values are recognized.

To ensure Minecraft players have a safe, inclusive experience, blockchain technology is not allowed to be integrated into our Minecraft client or server applications. They also cannot be used to create NFTs with any in-game content including worlds and skins, persona items, and other mods. We will also monitor how blockchain technology develops over time to make sure that the above principles are not violated and to determine if it will provide more secure experiences or other practical, inclusive applications in gaming. We do not plan to implement blockchain technology in Minecraft at this time.

We will be sharing more information with you soon. You can read our guidelines here, but in the meantime, we hope to have more to share with you. Keep watching!