Minecraft Will Not Allow In-Game NFTs

Minecraft mentioned in an announcement as we speak that it’s going to not allow the usage of NFTs in its fashionable voxel sandbox sport.

Minecraft Rejects NFT Integration

Minecraft mentioned that “integrations of NFTs with Minecraft are usually not one thing we are going to help or permit.”

It added that blockchain applied sciences aren’t permitted on its shopper and server purposes and that in-game content material and mods can’t be used to “create a scarce digital asset.”

Minecraft famous that server homeowners may cost for server entry however mentioned that each one gamers ought to have the identical expertise. NFTs are in battle with this purpose because the expertise “can create fashions of shortage and exclusion,” it argued.

The staff additionally warned of the speculative nature of NFT costs, suggesting that NFTs “might find yourself costing gamers who purchase them.” It additionally warned of fraud and worth inflation.

Minecraft famous that varied third-party firms have already launched non-fungible tokens related to the sport, together with NFTs distributed for enjoying on sport servers and NFTs for finishing duties exterior the sport.

Whereas the staff could also be unable to regulate the usage of NFTs off-platform, it mentioned that these tasks do “not align with [our] values of artistic inclusion and enjoying collectively.”

Ecological Issues Raised Earlier

Minecraft didn’t point out any issues concerning the environmental influence of NFTs in as we speak’s announcement.

Nevertheless, Local weather Replay—a bunch consisting largely of Minecraft builders—revealed a petition in April that addressed the problem. There, Local weather Replay known as NFTs “deliberately inefficient” with a “concrete, vital environmental influence” and an “pointless expenditure of bodily sources.”

Most NFTs are circulated on Ethereum, which makes use of about 78 TWh of vitality per 12 months to course of transactions. Although some firms have chosen to make use of second-layer networks with decrease vitality calls for, the problem stays a priority for a lot of.

As such, Minecraft’s opposition to NFTs covers nearly all grounds, from accessibility to the setting.

Not all hope is misplaced for NFT followers, although. Surprisingly, Minecraft proprietor Microsoft partnered with Enjin final 12 months on a challenge that concerned Minecraft-integrated NFTs. These efforts may pave the way in which for a extra refined coverage sooner or later.

Disclosure: On the time of writing, the writer of this piece owned BTC, ETH, and different cryptocurrencies.