Minecraft developer Mojang bans NTFs and blockchain

Game developer Mojang announced today Minecraft will officially ban the use of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and blockchain technology.

At its official website, Mojang mentioned various factors for the prohibition of these new technologies. This comes after Mojang noticed some companies introduced NFT implementations associated with skin packs and world files for Minecraft. The developer takes into consideration that other NFT activities could be used with the game, such as allowing users to earn NFTs for activities completed on a server, and to reward players with NFTs for work done outside the game.

“Each of these uses of NFTs and other blockchain technologies creates digital ownership based on scarcity and exclusion, which does not align with Minecraft values of creative inclusion and playing together,” says the post.

“NFTs are not inclusive of all our community and create a scenario of the haves and the have-nots. The speculative pricing and investment mentality around NFTs takes the focus away from playing the game and encourages profiteering, which we think is inconsistent with the long-term joy and success of our players.”

Mojang is concerned about the weaknesses of blockchain and NFTs. “Some third-party NFT implementations are also entirely dependent on blockchain technology and may require an asset manager who might disappear without notice.” Some other NFTs have also been priced at elevated prices.

To make sure that Minecraft continues to be a safe place to play, “blockchain technologies are not permitted to be integrated inside our Minecraft client and server applications nor may they be utilized to create NFTs associated with any in-game content, including worlds, skins, persona items, or other mods.”

[Source]: Mojang: Minecraft and NFTs – [Archive].