Minecraft: New Marketplace For Community Creators Minecraft A new marketplace for community creators By Steffan Powell Newsbeat reporter 10 April 2017 Minecraft wants to make it easier for players to access of content created by community creators and fans.

Minecraft: New Marketplace For Community Creators

Minecraft A new marketplace for community creators By Steffan Powell Newsbeat reporter

10 April 2017

Minecraft wants to make it easier for players to access of content created by community creators and fans.

Many users already build complex worlds to explore, thrilling adventures to play, or even alter the game itself to offer new experiences within it.

They will be able to sell content in the brand new Minecraft Marketplace.

"We would like to help entrepreneurs to establish businesses through our platform," producer John Thornton informs Newsbeat.

The people who make adventure maps skin packs for characters, or other experiences for the game haven't been allowed to sell directly to other players.

Only officially licensed Minecraft content can be sold in that way However, it's not stopped some people from making a living from the game.

James Delaney is the founder of Blockworks, an organization made up of Minecraft creators. He's managed to create a business despite all the limitations.

The Marketplace is a welcome development for him.

"Hopefully it's the start of steady and regular income," he tells Newsbeat.
Servers

"In the past, we've relied on commissions that come in, and you're never quite certain when that will happen."

He is responsible for 62 creators who work in 20 countries.

Their main source income is from the creation of Minecraft-based material for marketing and educational purposes.

James "got really into" creating Minecraft maps with his online friends, and realised in the following years that it was possible to make money from it.

"At least we know there is a market for our content right now," he says.

"If it's successful, then we know we can keep working on a more regular and stable basis.

"Also it's content that we can choose to produce, rather than being required to create therefore we have creative control over it in that regards."

The marketplace will launch later this year and be available on the Windows 10 and Pocket versions of the game.

This means that the vast majority of Minecraft players around the world, estimated at 120 million gamers, will be able to play the game. However console gamers won't.

John Thornton states, "Our vision is for us to try and connect creators and our players."

"On Pocket edition, it isn't always easy to download content onto devices. This makes it difficult for users and creators to share content they love with the world.

"By connecting creators and the marketplace, it will be easier for players to find something they like, buy it, and then download it available on their devices."

The players will continue to be able to create community experiences outside of the marketplace, with players having access to them for free.

Producers hope that viewers will choose to pay for the content that is simpler to locate.

"If you are planning to share content at the moment you must put it on the internet and tell people where to find it," says John.

"You can use existing social networks for this, but it's much more effective if you bring that into the game."

"Players in the context of playing the game they enjoy, can just choose the things they'd like to interact with."

He hopes that the game will help James to start a successful business.

The Minecraft team has launched the new service that features nine creators from all over the world.

The adventure maps, skin packs, and experiences will be scrutinized by the central Minecraft team to make sure they're suitable for the game's target audience.