Minecraft: Difference between revisions

{{Ph-C-CIS}}Under [[Microsoft]]'s ownership, Minecraft has undergone multiple anti-consumer changes in order to acquire more user data and utilizing undisclosed and an ever changing EULA terms to censor user-generated content. These practices are especially concerning since a significant amount of Minecraft players are children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Capel |first=Chris J |date=2019-09-25 |title=Believe it or not, the average age of a Minecraft player is 24 |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/player-age |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=PCGamesN}}</ref>

On October 21st, 2020, [[Mojang]] announced that all Minecraft Java Edition users must migrate their Mojang accounts to Microsoft accounts to retain access to the game. On December 18th, 2023, consumers who did not do so lost access and needed to re-purchase the game to regain it. Any game progress, including purchased first and third party in-game items were lost.

{{Main|Minecraft post-purchase ownership rights changes}}

Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).

{{Main|Minecraft enforceing undisclosed server EULA terms}}

[[wikipedia:Minecraft|Minecraft]] began taking action against mod developers and servers in 2023 for using firearms, which was deemed 'adult' by their [[End-user license agreement|EULA]]. When asked for clarification of the changes made to their EULA, Mojang gave little response, and eventually pointed them to a new EULA which had been changed without either informing consumers about the change or asking for permission to change the contract. This information was available only internally, and was later revealed by whistleblowers, since the documents holding the internal changes to their EULA was held under NDA.

 

In addition they selectively ignore their own EULA rules on "gambling" (loot boxes and literally gambling) servers, and even made contract with [[wikipedia:Nerf|Nerf]] to create Minecraft inspired weapons and in game items, while still refusing to allow weapon mods.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderca |first=Cristina |date=2023-10-02 |title=NERF World brings blasters into Minecraft |url=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/nerf-world-brings-blasters-minecraft |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Minecraft}}</ref>

 

{{Main|Shutting down of community-run Minecraft servers by Mojang}}

For the past 5-8 years, [[Mojang]] have enforced countless server shutdowns citing violations of the Minecraft End User License Agreement (EULA). However, said enforcements have been unfairly biased against operators of smaller [[Minecraft]] Java Edition servers, abusing vague and often inaccessible community guidelines to shut down these servers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brose |first=Kian |date=Dec 3, 2024 |title=Hold Mojang Accountable For Their Unlawful Behaviour |url=https://www.gofundme.com/f/hold-mojang-accountable-for-their-unlawful-behaviour |access-date=May 12, 2024 |website=GoFundMe}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brose |first=Kian |date=Dec 3, 2024 |title=Suing Minecraft Because They Broke The Law & Pissed Me Off |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5RvoPQZQeM |access-date=May 12, 2024 |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Brose |first=Kian |title=Lawsuit Video Accompanying Document |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l3fxs_pZBTdWu7q_iiRKwQdhkEKp8zkuw0O3KBVWC-I/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.8vmqv8enui5u |access-date=May 12, 2025 |website=Google Docs}}</ref>

 

An example of this occurred in late 2024 involving the [[Minecraft]] server '''McWar''<nowiki/>', wherein Mojang contacted the developer of the server to shut it down.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

 

{{Main|Minecraft Beta pre-1.8's lack of authentication}}

 

 

*lose part of the playerbase due to a need of modding the game client (and server) to fix the authentication issue,

*become completely insecure by allowing non-premium Minecraft users to join (e.g. opens the risk of botting the server, or brute-forcing user login passwords),

*break the EULA of the game due to allowing non-premium Minecraft users to join their server.