Minecraft Earth Sheds This Mortal Coil Due To Coronavirus Concerns

Minecraft Earth
Minecraft Earth
Mojang

2020 claims one more from the grave.

You might remember Minecraft Earth, the AR Minecraft spinoff for your phone. Personally, I haven’t thought about it since 2019, but there’s some unfortunate news for players of the game. The game will be shutting down in June of this year.

As to why, Mojang cites concerns that have risen due to the ongoing global pandemic. Namely, that its style of play is basically impossible due to the various restrictions that the ‘rona has placed on everybody.

Minecraft Earth was designed around free movement and collaborative play – two things that have become near impossible in the current global situation. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to re-allocate our resources to other areas that provide value to the Minecraft community and to end support for Minecraft Earth in June 2021.

Q: Why is Minecraft Earth being shut down?

A: Due to the current global situation, we have re-allocated our resources to other areas that provide value to the Minecraft community and we have made the difficult decision to sunset Minecraft Earth.

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t play it through the June 30th, 2021 end date. As a matter of fact, they’re dropping one last update to make its final few months playable. The changes vary from the removal of real-money transactions, the dumping of all finished content still in the pipeline into the game, and sharply reduced ruby costs, to changing crafting times and the way boosts are applied. They’re even giving all players who sign in between January 5th and June 30th a set of Character Creator items. This update releases today.

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Anything not related to Character Creator or Minecoins will be deleted on July 1st, so that item set is nice. Moreover, it’s best to spend any rubies on Character Creator items, since those carry over on your account. Moreover, anyone that’s made so much as a singe monetary purchase of rubies in Minecraft Earth will get a download token for Minecraft (Bedrock Version) absolutely free.

Minecraft Earth isn’t the first of these AR games to make such changes. Niantic’s Pokémon GO did much the same to make playing inside a bit more feasible. But Minecraft Earth is the first to fold.

So get out there… er, stay home, and build those brown bricks while you still can.

Source: Gamespot

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B. Simmons

Based out of Glendale California, Bryan is a GAMbIT's resident gaming contributor. Specializing in PC and portable gaming, you can find Bryan on his 3DS playing Monster Hunter or at one of the various conventions throughout the state.

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