Microsoft to blockheads: NFTs and blockchains aren't welcome in Minecraft
(2022/07/21)
- Reference: 1658383324
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/07/21/minecraft_nft_ban/
- Source link:
Mojang Studios, the Microsoft-owned-and-operated developer of Minecraft, has decided not to allow integration of non-fungible tokens or other blockchain-related tech in the game.
"NFTs and other blockchain technologies create digital ownership based on scarcity and exclusion, which does not align with Minecraft values of creative inclusion and playing together," states a Wednesday [1]post by Mojang staff.
The post notes that third parties have "recently launched NFT implementations that are associated with Minecraft world files and skin packs." Others have considered "creating Minecraft collectible NFTs, allowing players to earn NFTs through activities performed on a server, or earning Minecraft NFT rewards for activities outside the game."
[2]
Mojang won't allow any of those activities.
[3]
[4]
"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."
The post also reports that Mojang is "concerned that some third-party NFTs may not be reliable and may end up costing players who buy them. Some third-party NFT implementations are also entirely dependent on blockchain technology and may require an asset manager who might disappear without notice."
[5]
"There have also been instances where NFTs were sold at artificially or fraudulently inflated prices."
[6]Broadcom's VMware buy got you worried? Give these 5 FOSS hypervisors a spin
[7]Linux Foundation thinks it can get you interested in smartNICs
[8]Xen patches three bugs that allow guest-host takeover
Mojang has therefore decided on the following policy, in the name of creating a "safe an inclusive experience":
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.
That stance isn't necessarily permanent. Mojang states it will keep an eye on "how blockchain technology evolves over time to ensure that the above principles are withheld and determine whether it will allow for more secure experiences or other practical and inclusive applications in gaming."
"However, we have no plans of implementing blockchain technology into Minecraft right now."
Mojang's view of NFTs and other digital assets aligns with that of central banks and financial regulators, who have increasingly warned that blockchain-backed assets have no intrinsic value and represent both a risk to consumers and a threat to the stability of financial systems.
While it's hard to know precisely how many people still play Minecraft, [9]estimates put the number at over 140 million – many of them children who are less able to exercise informed judgement about the value of digital assets than their parents or guardians. Keeping Minecraft free of risk – other than the game's fiendish addictiveness and occasional bad user behavior – is therefore a smart move as the game is an important part of Microsoft's STEM education efforts and [10]reportedly delivers over $400M of revenue each year. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-and-nfts
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
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[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/09/vmware_foss_hypervisor/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/21/linux_foundation_smartnic/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/14/xen_guest_escape_flaws/
[9] https://techacake.com/how-many-people-play-minecraft/
[10] https://www.businessofapps.com/data/minecraft-statistics/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"NFTs and other blockchain technologies create digital ownership based on scarcity and exclusion, which does not align with Minecraft values of creative inclusion and playing together," states a Wednesday [1]post by Mojang staff.
The post notes that third parties have "recently launched NFT implementations that are associated with Minecraft world files and skin packs." Others have considered "creating Minecraft collectible NFTs, allowing players to earn NFTs through activities performed on a server, or earning Minecraft NFT rewards for activities outside the game."
[2]
Mojang won't allow any of those activities.
[3]
[4]
"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."
The post also reports that Mojang is "concerned that some third-party NFTs may not be reliable and may end up costing players who buy them. Some third-party NFT implementations are also entirely dependent on blockchain technology and may require an asset manager who might disappear without notice."
[5]
"There have also been instances where NFTs were sold at artificially or fraudulently inflated prices."
[6]Broadcom's VMware buy got you worried? Give these 5 FOSS hypervisors a spin
[7]Linux Foundation thinks it can get you interested in smartNICs
[8]Xen patches three bugs that allow guest-host takeover
Mojang has therefore decided on the following policy, in the name of creating a "safe an inclusive experience":
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.
That stance isn't necessarily permanent. Mojang states it will keep an eye on "how blockchain technology evolves over time to ensure that the above principles are withheld and determine whether it will allow for more secure experiences or other practical and inclusive applications in gaming."
"However, we have no plans of implementing blockchain technology into Minecraft right now."
Mojang's view of NFTs and other digital assets aligns with that of central banks and financial regulators, who have increasingly warned that blockchain-backed assets have no intrinsic value and represent both a risk to consumers and a threat to the stability of financial systems.
While it's hard to know precisely how many people still play Minecraft, [9]estimates put the number at over 140 million – many of them children who are less able to exercise informed judgement about the value of digital assets than their parents or guardians. Keeping Minecraft free of risk – other than the game's fiendish addictiveness and occasional bad user behavior – is therefore a smart move as the game is an important part of Microsoft's STEM education efforts and [10]reportedly delivers over $400M of revenue each year. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-and-nfts
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YtkjwSvBOkh8NL83lzV-TgAAAAg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/09/vmware_foss_hypervisor/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/21/linux_foundation_smartnic/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/14/xen_guest_escape_flaws/
[9] https://techacake.com/how-many-people-play-minecraft/
[10] https://www.businessofapps.com/data/minecraft-statistics/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"you get when you spend decent money on an artwork"
LDS
The difference is you get the physical artwork also.
Good
Pascal Monett
Glad to see that one of my favorite games is not going to fall prey to this nonsense.
Re: Good
John D'oh!
Yes it's good to see somebody taking a stand against this bullshit rather than just looking to see how they can profit at every turn.
Just remember
Alan Bourke
NFT = No F**king Thanks
kudos !
Anonymous Coward
Rarely have I read a post (from Mojang) explaining so clearly what NFTs are in reality. Kudos to them for this ! I wish other gaming companies would do the same.
Hopefully, they will be an example soon followed.
"That stance isn't necessarily permanent. Mojang states it will keep an eye on "how blockchain technology evolves over time to ensure that the above principles are withheld and determine whether it will allow for more secure experiences or other practical and inclusive applications in gaming.""
Ah, don't hold your breath, here, Mojang, really don't !
Provinemce
NFTs are basicly a digital version of the "Certificate OF Authenticity" you get when you spend decent money on an artwork, and, pass on if you sell it.
These certificates have no real value and are easy to fake but you always get one from the dealer and any buyer expects to see one. Its the the equivalent of kicking the tyres when you buy a used car. It's pointless, but everybody does it and is part of the ritual.
So now we have a digital equivalent of the shiny parchment sheet which is just as worthless and just as useless, and much much easier to fake. Just how would you verify that an NFT is genuine? How would you verify that its not the tenth copy of the NFT that is being sold to you. How is your copy of the digital artifact better than the millions of other copies without an NFT?
The main use case for blockchain is to part the gullible from there money.