Minecraft Server Removes Play-to-Earn Feature Following Mojang’s Demand
The Satlantis server, an independent Minecraft server that rewarded players with Bitcoin, has announced that it will be removing its play-to-earn functionality. According to the server administrators, this decision was made in response to a demand from Mojang, the creator of Minecraft and a subsidiary of Microsoft.
The play-to-earn feature allowed users to earn and withdraw small amounts of Bitcoin. However, following Mojang’s request, the functionality will be disabled at 12 p.m. ET on Monday. The administrators have advised players to withdraw their Bitcoin earnings from the server before the deadline.
Despite the removal of the play-to-earn feature, Satlantis plans to revive the concept in another game in the future. The administrators expressed disappointment but reassured players that Satlantis will continue to exist on a platform that encourages innovation.
After the deadline, Satlantis will remain online without Bitcoin earnings enabled. Players will still be able to withdraw their Bitcoin outside of the game.
Mojang’s Request and Minecraft’s Guidelines
Mojang reportedly threatened Satlantis with legal action if they did not comply with their request to remove the play-to-earn feature. The updated usage guidelines for Minecraft now explicitly ban play-to-earn features in user-operated servers, along with a previously announced ban on NFT functionality.
This situation is reminiscent of what happened with NFT Worlds, a project that sold tokenized land plots for a Minecraft fan server. When Mojang announced its ban on token-gated features, NFT Worlds rebranded as Hytopia and created its own Minecraft-like game engine.
Other Games Banning NFTs and Cryptocurrency
Minecraft is not the only game to ban NFTs and cryptocurrency from its fan servers. In November 2022, Rockstar Games announced a ban on both in the popular game Grand Theft Auto V. This decision was made due to the rise of servers where users sold NFTs representing limited-edition in-game items.
Hot Take: Minecraft Server Forced to Remove Play-to-Earn Feature
The Satlantis Minecraft server has been compelled to remove its play-to-earn feature following a request from Mojang. The functionality allowed players to earn and withdraw small amounts of Bitcoin. Despite the disappointment, Satlantis plans to continue on a platform that fosters innovation. The updated Minecraft guidelines now explicitly prohibit play-to-earn features in user-operated servers, joining the previously banned NFT functionality. This situation mirrors what happened with NFT Worlds, which rebranded as Hytopia and created its own Minecraft-like game engine. Other games like Grand Theft Auto V have also banned NFTs and cryptocurrency due to concerns about limited-edition in-game item sales.
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