Minecraft Earth shut down because its central design depended on moving around in the real world and playing with other people—activities Mojang said had become nearly impossible during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studio also said it would move resources to other areas of the Minecraft community. The service ended June 30, 2021; Mojang’s announcement did not cite sales, player counts, or operating costs as reasons.
Why did Minecraft Earth shut down?
In its January 5, 2021 announcement, Mojang explained: “Minecraft Earth was designed around free movement and collaborative play – two things that have become near impossible in the current global situation.” The studio said it had decided to reallocate resources to other areas that provide value to the Minecraft community and end support for the game in June. Mojang’s announcement did not identify financial performance, operating costs, or player numbers as causes, so those should not be treated as the established explanation.
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Why did pandemic restrictions affect the game?
Minecraft Earth was a mobile augmented-reality game for AR-capable iOS and Android devices. Players could explore, find and battle mobs, and build with friends by placing creations in the real world at life size. That made going out and meeting up central to its intended play, rather than an optional extra. The official FAQ describes those activities and the game’s free-to-play format.
Mojang tried temporary changes first
In April 2020, Mojang said it was removing public Adventures temporarily because public places were closed in many locations and those activities could be inaccessible or dangerous. To support play at home, it introduced Adventure Crystals, increased Tappable spawns and density, and made other adjustments. These steps show an attempt to adapt the game during the pandemic; Mojang did not say that any particular change failed for a commercial reason. The April 2020 update explains the changes.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
When did Minecraft Earth close?
Mojang announced the end of support on January 5, 2021, and the service’s final day was June 30, 2021. An official Japanese-language notice specified that, after June 30 (U.S. time), the game could no longer be downloaded or played. It said player data other than data associated with Character Creator and Minecoins was scheduled for deletion on July 1 (U.S. time). The notice gives those post-shutdown details.
What changed in Minecraft Earth’s final update?
The January 2021 final build was adjusted for the game’s remaining months. Mojang said it removed real-money transactions, sharply reduced ruby costs, added completed content that had not yet been released, and cut crafting and smelting time requirements. Unused crafting and smelting boosts were replaced with radius boosts of the same level. Players who signed in between January 5 and June 30, 2021 were promised Character Creator items. Mojang’s announcement lists these changes.
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- Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs
What happened to Minecraft Earth purchases?
Mojang described two separate digital remedies, each with its own eligibility condition:
| Player’s eligibility | Announced remedy |
|---|---|
| A player had a paid ruby balance | Minecoins for use in the Minecraft Marketplace |
| A player had ever made a purchase in Minecraft Earth | A free copy of Minecraft Bedrock Edition |
These were not described as a blanket replacement for every player. The terms appear in Mojang’s closure announcement.
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- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
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