Mojang shuts down community-run Minecraft servers: Difference between revisions

==Shutdowns==

When Minecraft version 1.9.3 pre-release 2 released, the client had an encrypted "server blacklist"<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/ceruleanReverie |date=May 2, 2016 |title=Mojang's "server blacklist", what it is, and why it's a big deal |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/4hh3ns/mojangs_server_blacklist_what_it_is_and_why_its_a/ |access-date=Feb 4, 2026 |website=[[Reddit]] - r/Minecraft}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Blocked server list |url=https://sessionserver.mojang.com/blockedservers |access-date=Feb 4, 2026 |website=Mojang.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=15773 |date=Feb 24, 2016 |title=Mojang EULA Enforcement |url=https://www.spigotmc.org/threads/mojang-eula-enforcement.125792/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251022040914/https://www.spigotmc.org/threads/mojang-eula-enforcement.125792/ |archive-date=Oct 22, 2025 |access-date=Feb 4, 2026 |website=Spigot Forums}}</ref> which if the user attempted to access a server that was on this blacklist, they would only receive a "connection error". When this list was discovered shortly after the update, the blacklist carried only 31 servers/domains, currently, this list reaches >100 servers.<ref name=":3" /><!--Would love to include this as a ref, but the domain has been usurped by a malicious actor, would give better insight into who was banned at the time:

https://blocklist.tcpr.ca/--><!--Modern ban list?

Notably during this period, the servers known to be blacklisted were primarily ones who were selling cosmetics and "pay to win" content, which violated the EULA at the time, however this enforcement later-on would become lenient enough to leave these previous rulings to be questionable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TheMisterEpic |date=Sep 21, 2024 |title=Exposing Minecraft's ILLEGAL Server Gambling Operations... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgrKo1mpeGo |access-date=Feb 4, 2026 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

During some period in 2023, Mojang updated their EULA to classify "guns and weapons" as "non-compliant features under our Adult Content requirement." There was no prior notification to the EULA change for server owners to capably comply in-time before enforcement could occur.

What makes it OK for these items to be available to kids but not our server? Are these items, too, going to be removed?</blockquote>In summary, the email outlined how Mojang chose to focus its enforcement on the GTM server before focusing on moderating content that infringes these same rules on the BE marketplace, as well as how the rules are too vague for server owners to adequately comply.

Prior to October 2025, as part of the free speech policy that was enforced for 15 years, nothing a player could say would result in a ban/official reprimand. After these changes, players are required to receive moderation action on JE servers for violations of the [https://www.minecraft.net/usage-guidelines Minecraft Usage Guidelines], [https://www.minecraft.net/community-standards Minecraft Community Standards], and [https://www.xbox.com/legal/community-standards Xbox Community Standards]. This essentially forces all Minecraft servers to enforce these rules, or risk being blacklisted by Mojang's systems.<!--Need to cover this enforcement on 2b2t and MC Online in particular. Maybe a good idea to cover other relevant servers that add more data to this problem. - JamesTDG-->

===Mojang's response<!--Likely covering public responses Mojang has had to shutdowns, as well as lack of general transparency to this day-->===

==Lawsuit<!--Still waiting for this lawsuit to be active...-->==

===Claims===

===Outcome===

<references />

[[Category:Incidents]]