Notes

Minecraft Says no to NFTs because they Create'scarcity And Exclusion'

Minecraft players Minecraft will not be permitted to purchase in-game content such as worlds, persona items, skins and other mods with NFTs.



Minecraft, the top-selling video game of all time does not support NFTs because they "create an environment of haves and the not-so-haves".



In a highly worded article posted on the Minecraft website yesterday (20 July), developer Mojang Studios said that the inclusion of NFTs is against the game's principles.



The company stated that NFTs and other blockchain technology create digital ownership based on the concept of scarcity and exclusion. This is not in accordance with Minecraft values of creativity, inclusion, playing together, and sharing our resources.



"The speculation-based pricing and investment mindset that surrounds NFTs take the focus away from playing the game and encourages profiteering, which is inconsistent with the long-term enjoyment and success of our players."



Minecraft stated that the statement was in response to community members who wanted clarifications about the studio's position on NFTs, and blockchain.



This signifies that, unlike other virtual world games, Minecraft does not allow blockchain integrations in its server and client applications. NFTs are not allowed to be used in-game to create content, such as skins, worlds, and other items, in addition to other mods.



Mojang is a Microsoft-owned business, said it is also concerned about third-party NFTs. These NFTs could be unreliable and result in a cost to those who purchase them. It outlined scenarios where third-party NFT managers could "disappear suddenly" or NFTs could "be sold at fraudulently or artificially high prices".



"We recognize that what we create in our game is intrinsically valuable and we strive to create a marketplace where these values are recognized."



Online gaming has seen an increase in interest in blockchain technology such as NFTs. This was also discussed at Future Human earlier in the year.



GameStop and other companies have expressed their confidence in NFTs, and launched its own NFT marketplace.



However, other companies are not going all in just yet. DOWNWITHDESTRUCTION EA's CEO has said that blockchain and NFTs could be the future of gaming. However, he also said: "Right now it's not something we're driving against."



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