Minecraft Developers' Petition Against Gaming NFTs Gets Just 72 Signatures

Climate Replay, a group that includes several Mojang Studios developers, invited developers and gamers worldwide to join its NFT commitment on Monday. The promise, which is structured in an instructional handbook, encouraged game makers to consider the environmental, venal, and mental health risks of NFTs, among other things.

The low signature count thus far could indicate that the outrage gamers have shown toward in-game NFTs is waning. Many in the gaming industry, including Sebastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, believe this.

The commitment singled out "play-to-earn" games, in which players can earn cryptocurrencies and NFTs by fulfilling activities or quests. The developers stated that gaming is supposed to be a pleasure, not work.

The commitment reflected environmental concerns about proof-of-work blockchains, which consume a lot of electricity. The article failed to explain that the Ethereum blockchain, which handles the vast majority of NFT minting, is transitioning to a proof-of-stake consensus architecture, significantly lowering its carbon footprint. The so-called "merge" is expected by the end of the summer.

Another concern for the developers is the ecosystem's apparent lack of security, with billions of dollars being hacked every year. One example is the recent breach of Axie Infinity's Ronin Bridge, a blockchain-based gaming environment where gamers were plundered for about $600 million.

Traditional game producers are similarly suspicious of cryptocurrencies and NFTs due to their speculative and volatile character.