Microsoft will be shutting down its augmented-reality version of Minecraft, known as Minecraft Earth, beginning in June 2021, the company said on Tuesday, January 5. Microsoft blamed the pandemic as a cause, as well as the lack of freedom of movement that the game required.
At its core, Minecraft Earth was a game based upon exploration and discovery. During the early days of lockdown, my kids and I would wander around the neighborhood, looking for animals, ores, and dungeons to explore. But Microsoft said that the “current global situation” prevented the free movement and collaborative play that allowed Minecraft Earth to survive.
As a result, Minecraft Earth will be turned off in June. “On June 30, we will discontinue all content and service support for the game,” Microsoft said in…