‘Minecraft’ theme park attractions in development from creators of Legoland
Mojang and Merlin Entertainment have teamed up to create “Minecraft”-themed attractions in the U.S. and U.K., opening in 2026-2027. This collaboration will bring interactive and immersive entertainment attractions themed to the best-selling game of all time across the globe.
Minecraft attractions in U.S. and U.K.
Merlin Entertainments will invest $110 million in its first two “Minecraft”-themed attractions, which are expected to open between 2026 and 2027 in the U.S. and the U.K. In these “Minecraft” spaces, visitors will find first-of-its-kind concepts for guest accommodations, food & beverage, and retail, as well as a “Minecraft” ride, as announced Nov. 19, 2024. Merlin has not yet revealed specific locations for these attractions; the company looks to expand the Minecraft experience across the globe over time.
“Minecraft” company Mojang Studios and Merlin Magic Making will develop the experience together, marking Merlin’s first partnership with the gaming brand. This collaboration furthers Merlin’s strategy to collaborate with well-known IP across its experiences.
Fan immersion ‘in ways they’ve never imagined’
“Minecraft” is a game about building with blocks and creating your own adventure, embracing the player’s creativity in whichever way they choose to play the game. “Minecraft” is even used in schools as an education tool. The franchise is always branching out with spinoff games, books, and an upcoming major motion picture.
If the name Merlin Entertainment rings a bell, it’s because they are the minds behind plenty of themed experiences across the world, including Legoland, Alton Towers, The London/Orlando Eye Ferris Wheels, and the recent Peppa Pig Theme Park.
Entering a world near and dear to your heart is one of the qualities that attracts people to theme parks across the world. Flying the Millennium Falcon in a galaxy far, far away. Being sorted into your Hogwarts house. They’re experiences that people dream of having, and one day, those dreams come true, as will be the case in the near future for “Minecraft” fans.
“This is a significant milestone for Merlin, which reinforces our commitment to reaching new audiences through bold and captivating concepts, and directly supports our ambitions for growth,” said Scott O’Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments. Scott goes on to say, “’Minecraft’ is the best-selling video game of all time, and this world-first will see fans experience its thrill and creativity in real life, at theme parks and city-center attractions in leading tourist destinations. This initial investment is just the beginning, replicating Merlin’s tried-and-tested approach to globally launching new concepts and platforms, as we have with LEGO, Peppa Pig, Sony Pictures, CBeebies, and others.”
“Our vast and diverse community is always looking for new opportunities to explore and engage with ‘Minecraft,’ and we are thrilled to build touchpoints around the globe that will surprise and delight them,” said Kayleen Walters, VP of franchise development for gaming at Microsoft, the parent company of Mojang Studios. “These new real-life ‘Minecraft’ experiences will not only grow our community, but also offer fans many more opportunities to immerse themselves in the world of ‘Minecraft’ in ways they’ve never imagined.”
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