Generally speaking, technology is neither good nor bad; that distinction is for people. Technology is simply a fancy word for tools; generally speaking, banning tools is a way for central authorities to demonstrate and maintain power. Minecraft is a central authority clearly afraid of decentralized technologies (such as blockchain and NFTs) and how Web3 tech might empower its users.
Minecraft is a private company that can ban anything it wants to. It’s sad that the company is banning tech and hiding behind a “we know what’s best for you” story rather than fostering innovation and encouraging new ideas.
As they intimate in their statement, blockchain technology and NFTs are a clear and present danger to Minecraft. I’m sure the stakeholders at Mojang Studios (the company behind Minecraft) are happy with their new policy.
I expect to see many central authorities (companies, governments, etc.) do their best to ban or slow down the advent and adoption of decentralized technologies. This is a highly predictable outcome in the transition from Web2 to Web3, but it is the wrong approach.
Mojang Studios is the central authority behind Minecraft. For all practical purposes, they own the community that has formed around the game. What would a mixture of approaches look like? A centralized core with a constellation of decentralized tools gravitationally tied to it? You might call it a Web2.5 approach to the opportunity. (It’s how we are approaching Web3 with our major sports league and brand clients.) Unfortunately, Minecraft’s approach is to quash innovation by banning tech. Minecraft used to be all fun and games. Now it’s just scared.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.