Minecraft LAN gameplay paywall: Difference between revisions
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This overlap between ownership and subscription access has previously caused confusion, but until 2025, LAN play remained accessible to all players who had purchased the game outright. | This overlap between ownership and subscription access has previously caused confusion, but until 2025, LAN play remained accessible to all players who had purchased the game outright. | ||
== | ==LAN multiplayer paywall== | ||
In February 2025, Xbox players began reporting that Minecraft’s [[Local Area Network]] (LAN) multiplayer no longer functioned unless the account owner held an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. Previously, LAN sessions were available to all players who had purchased the game, independent of subscription status. | In February 2025, Xbox players began reporting that Minecraft’s [[Local Area Network]] (LAN) multiplayer no longer functioned unless the account owner held an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. Previously, LAN sessions were available to all players who had purchased the game, independent of subscription status. | ||
Reports surfaced on Mojang’s official bug tracker and in Xbox support forums, where users documented being unable to connect to local games without Game Pass. Despite community workarounds, the issue spread widely after a game update, raising concerns about the removal of a long-standing feature. | Reports surfaced on Mojang’s official bug tracker and in Xbox support forums, where users documented being unable to connect to local games without Game Pass. Despite community workarounds, the issue spread widely after a game update, raising concerns about the removal of a long-standing feature. | ||
=== | ===Mojang's response=== | ||
Mojang support staff responded to bug tracker reports by stating that LAN was not intentionally gated behind Game Pass and attributed the issue to a “technical problem.” As of March 2025, no official patch or clarification has been issued that restores universal LAN access on Xbox, leaving many players without a clear resolution. | Mojang support staff responded to bug tracker reports by stating that LAN was not intentionally gated behind Game Pass and attributed the issue to a “technical problem.” As of March 2025, no official patch or clarification has been issued that restores universal LAN access on Xbox, leaving many players without a clear resolution. | ||
==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
The change triggered strong backlash across forums. Many players argued that removing or restricting a feature that was present at the time of purchase amounted to deceptive practices and a breach of consumer trust. <ref>{{Cite web | | The change triggered strong backlash across forums. Many players argued that removing or restricting a feature that was present at the time of purchase amounted to deceptive practices and a breach of consumer trust. <ref>{{Cite web |author=Registered User |date=2025-05-27 |title=LAN and Gamepass |url=https://feedback.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/community/posts/36923769821069-LAN-and-Gamepass?|work=Minecraft Feedback}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=u/Status_Horror7976 |date=2025-03-29|title=Lan locked on Xbox without game pass now |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/1jmmcfu/lan_locked_on_xbox_without_game_pass_now/? |work=Reddit|access-date=2025-09-26}}</ref> | ||
Some parents noted frustration that siblings in the same household could no longer play together without paying a recurring fee. Others drew parallels to broader industry trends of subscription lock-ins and feature erosion, citing concerns that purchased digital products were increasingly unreliable over time. | Some parents noted frustration that siblings in the same household could no longer play together without paying a recurring fee. Others drew parallels to broader industry trends of subscription lock-ins and feature erosion, citing concerns that purchased digital products were increasingly unreliable over time. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Minecraft]] | |||