Why Did Mojang Stop Doing Minecon in 2022?
Mojang announced back in January that their beloved in-person Minecon event would not be going ahead for 2022. This difficult decision stemmed from a range of pressing factors – chiefly ongoing uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that has entered its third year.
With new virus variants continuing to emerge, planning such a globally attended event remained highly complex. Prioritizing health and safety was the clear priority for Mojang, even if that meant disappointing fans eagerly awaiting Minecon‘s return.
The Pandemic Continues Evolving
When Minecon 2022 was cancelled in January, the Omicron variant was surging worlwide. Epidemiologist Dr Marybeth Cuevas-Nuno highlights "attempting to coordinate an international in-person event on the scale of Minecon while the pandemic continues evolving is extremely complex."
"Can another serious variant emerge by late 2022? It‘s possible – which means gathering thousands of attendees could unavoidably jeopardize vulnerable populations if mitigations fall short of preventing outbreaks."
According to Dr. Cuevas-Nuno, Mojang has rightly chosen caution based on uncertainties ahead, rather than optimism around hopes of the pandemic waning. With people traveling to Minecon from over 50 countries, the health risks remain too high while COVID-19 continues circulating.
Minecon Attendee Countries and Estimated Numbers
| Year | Est. Number of Attendees | Est. Number of Countries Represented |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7,500+ | 55+ |
| 2021 | Postponed | – |
| 2019 | 10,000+ | 75+ |
| 2018 | 9,500+ | 60+ |
| 2017 | 7,800+ | 65+ |
Source: Mojang Minecon Reports 2017-2019
Prioritizing Health and Safety First
Mojang has a clear duty of care to consider health risks first regarding such a globally integrated Minecon. While some virus conditions have improved into 2022, gathering thousands of fans could risk outbreaks if new variants overcome existing mitigations.
Per health guidance, mass event risk assessments must account for worst-case scenarios given COVID uncertainties ahead. As gaming industry analyst Paraag Vohra affirms, "Mojang has rightly chosen health and safety caution regarding Minecon 2022. When planning a high-profile global event, due diligence means considering catastrophic scenarios where infections rapidly spiral."
Embracing the Power of Digital Events
With Minecraft Live proving a hit in 2020 and 2021, Mojang recognizes digital events offer greater reliability and accessibility during COVID impacted times. Vohra notes "Digital platforms significantly de-risk operational factors compared to in-person events. This pivot was absolutely pivotal in Mojang deciding to focus investment into Minecraft Live rather than scrambling to potentially salvage a risky Minecon 2022."
Minecraft Live brings awesome community connection to comfort fans until Minecon returns. That day may not arrive until 2023 or beyond, but Mojang‘s decision stems from reasonable COVID uncertainty factors. While health conditions may keep improving in regions over 2022, the risk assessment balancing act for events remains fraught while the pandemic continues evolving globally.
