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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesMinecraft Earth shut down on June 30, 2021, because Mojang said its pandemic-era restrictions made the game’s core activities—moving through the real world and playing collaboratively—nearly impossible. Mojang also said it would redirect resources to other areas of the Minecraft community. Its announcement did not cite sales, player numbers, or operating costs as reasons for the closure.
What Mojang said about the shutdown
On January 5, 2021, Mojang announced that it would end support for Minecraft Earth in June. The studio described the game as being built around free movement and collaborative play, then explained: “Minecraft Earth was designed around free movement and collaborative play – two things that have become near impossible in the current global situation.” The statement was published by Minecraft Staff.
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Mojang said it had decided to reallocate resources to other areas that provided value to the Minecraft community. Those were the stated reasons: the pandemic’s effect on the game’s central style of play and the studio’s decision about where to focus its resources. The announcement did not provide a financial analysis or say that poor sales or low player numbers caused the closure.
Why pandemic restrictions affected the game
Minecraft Earth was a free-to-play mobile augmented-reality game for AR-capable iOS and Android devices. Its features included exploring, discovering and battling mobs, and building with friends. Players could place creations in real-world locations at life size, so going out and sharing activities with others were integral to the experience—not optional extras.
#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
Mojang had already adjusted the game during the pandemic. In an April 10, 2020 update, it said it was temporarily removing public Adventures because public places were closed in many locations and those activities could be inaccessible or dangerous. It also described changes intended to support playing at home, including Adventure Crystals, more Tappable spawns, and increased Tappable density. These measures show that Mojang tried temporary adaptations before announcing the shutdown; they do not establish why those changes did not lead the studio to continue the service.
When Minecraft Earth ended
Mojang announced the end of support on January 5, 2021, with June as the planned end month. The game’s final service day was June 30, 2021. Minecraft’s Japanese-language shutdown notice specified that the date was June 30 in U.S. time and said downloading and playing would no longer be possible after service ended. It scheduled deletion of player data other than data associated with Character Creator and Minecoins for July 1, also in U.S. time.
Rank #2
- 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 the final update changed
The January 2021 final build was designed to make more of the remaining game available before service ended. Mojang said it:
- Removed real-money transactions.
- Drastically reduced ruby costs.
- Added completed content that had not yet been released.
- Reduced crafting and smelting time requirements.
- Replaced unused crafting and smelting boosts with radius boosts of the same level.
Mojang also announced Character Creator items for players who signed in between January 5 and June 30, 2021.
Rank #3
- 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
What happened to purchases
Mojang described two separate purchase-related remedies. They had different eligibility rules; neither was a blanket replacement for every player.
| Who qualified | Remedy announced by Mojang |
|---|---|
| Players with a paid ruby balance | Minecoins for use in the Minecraft Marketplace. |
| Anyone who had ever made a purchase in Minecraft Earth | A free copy of Minecraft Bedrock Edition. |
The first remedy depended on having a paid ruby balance. The second depended on having made any purchase in Minecraft Earth at some point. Mojang’s announcement did not describe these as physical products or say that all players qualified for both.
