Mojang Studios is shutting down its AR mobile game Minecraft Earth in June. The developer cites the COVID-19 pandemic as a key reason for the decision.
Released in 2019, Minecraft Earth is a mobile game similar to Pokémon Go. The game features a heavy multiplayer component that encourages players to meet up in the real world and play together.
Mojang says that the game will shut down on June 30. All player data will be deleted on July 1, and players will no longer be able to download or access the app. According to Mojang, the shutdown is related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which put a wrench in the studio’s intended plans for the social game.
Minecraft Earth will be closing down in June 2021. Please read our full message below for details. We appreciate all the support from the community!
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— Minecraft Earth (@minecraftearth) January 5, 2021
“Minecraft Earth was designed around free movement and collaborative play — two things that have become near impossible in the current global situation,” Mojang says in a blog post.
Anyone player who has made a purchase in the game will receive a free copy of Minecraft‘s bedrock version. Players who bought rubies in the mobile game will have their balance converted to Minecoins, which can be used in the Minecraft Marketplace. Players will not receive a monetary refund for any purchases made in the game.
To send the game off, Mojang released a final update for the game today. The update removes paid microtransactions from the game, reduces the cost of rubies, and makes crafting much easier. Mojang says it hopes that the update will encourage players to build more in the game “while staying safe indoors.”
