Minecraft could soon be coming to a theme park near you. UK theme park company Merlin Entertainments has announced the completion of a $110 million deal with developer Mojang to open Minecraft-themed attractions in the US and the UK. The attractions are planned to open in 2026 and 2027 and will either be new additions to existing parks or a wholly new experience. The game seems well-suited for the theme park treatment with in-game activities like mine cart rides, fighting creepers, taking trips to the The Nether, and more.
Minecraft joins a number of video game franchises and companies making the jump into theme parks and other forms of entertainment. Nintendo opened its theme park Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan in 2021. The Mario developer also opened a US-based version of the park at Universal Studios Hollywood last year and plans on opening a similar park in Orlando, Florida and Singapore. Atari also has designs on the public entertainment market announcing a licensing deal in 2020 to create Atari-themed hotels.
Beyond theme parks, movies have been the number one way companies have extended their brands beyond video games. Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $1 billion dollars in 2023. The company is planning a sequel for the movie and has recently announced that a live-action movie based on The Legend of Zelda franchise is officially in the works. Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has two successful movies under its belt with a third hitting theaters in December.
Minecraft too has made inroads with other forms of entertainment with Warner Bros. jointly producing a Minecraft movie starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa set to debut in theaters in April 2025.