Skyblock
{{Short description|Minecraft minigame}}
Skyblock is a downloadable world and minigame in the sandbox video game Minecraft. The original world consists of a small island floating in the air, on which a player must survive on and complete various tasks, while having limited resources.{{cite web|title=5 Best Minecraft Servers: Mineplex & More (Updated!)|url=https://heavy.com/games/2014/11/best-minecraft-servers/|work=Heavy.com|last=Pugatschew|first=Rhys|date=April 22, 2018|access-date=July 22, 2020}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-27 |title=The best Minecraft servers list 2025 - Java and Bedrock |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/15-best-minecraft-servers |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=2024-01-08 |title=Update ruins Minecraft streamer's 200-hour challenge just one week after he completed it: "Oh my god this whole playthrough was for nothing" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/update-ruins-minecraft-streamers-200-hour-challenge-just-one-week-after-he-completed-it-oh-my-god-this-whole-playthrough-was-for-nothing/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} It was originally created by a user named Noobcrew{{Cite book |last=Mojang |first=AB |title=The World of Minecraft |publisher=Random House Worlds |year=2024 |isbn=9780593722497 |location=U.S |pages=162 |language=English |quote=Skyblock’s creator Noobcrew started out as a mapmaker in 2011, using Codewarrior’s top-down landscaping tool MCEdit to make easy-to-build maps for other players.}}{{Cite book |last=The Official Minecraft Team |first=Mojang AB |title=Minecraft: Maps – An Explorer’s Guide to Minecraft |publisher=Crown / Penguin Random House |year=2019 |isbn=9781101966440 |pages=128 |language=English |quote=Skyblock – map by community creator Noobcrew.}} on September 4th, 2011, where it was published to Minecraft Forum.{{Cite web |title=[Surv] Skyblock - Maps - Mapping and Modding: Java Edition - Minecraft Forum - Minecraft Forum |url=https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding-java-edition/maps/1473433-surv-skyblock |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=www.minecraftforum.net}}
Being one of the first pieces of user-generated content for Minecraft, Skyblock has become iconic and has been used on various Minecraft servers.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Greg |last2=Radcliffe |first2=Jessica Lynn |date=2022-12-28 |title=Minecraft: 19 Best Gameplay Challenges For Veteran Players |url=https://gamerant.com/minecraft-best-difficult-gameplay-challenges/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Copeland |first=Sarah Richter Contributions from Wesley |last2=Henley |first2=Stacey |last3=Watts |first3=Rachel |last4=updated |first4=Jason Coles last |date=2022-11-01 |title=The 16 best Minecraft servers |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-minecraft-servers/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}} It has also inspired various Minecraft mods and maps,{{Cite web |last=Rosenberry |first=Jared |date=2023-03-26 |title=10 Most Influential Minecraft Maps Of All Time |url=https://www.thegamer.com/minecraft-most-influential-maps-ever/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=TheGamer |language=en}} as well as derivative game modes for other games.{{Cite web |last=Quick |first=William |date=2023-06-03 |title=Best Minecraft Skyblock Modpacks |url=https://www.thegamer.com/best-minecraft-skyblock-modpacks/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Kai |last2=Claudino |first2=Ashely |date=2023-03-02 |title=Fortnite: Best Creative Maps To Play With Friends |url=https://gamerant.com/fortnite-best-creative-play-friends/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}
Gameplay
In the original Skyblock, you spawn on a tiny L-shaped grassy island suspended in the sky, populated with just one oak tree and a lone chest. The player is given a limited amount of materials that must be strategically used with the main goal of surviving, expanding the island, completing challenges,{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Skyblock Official Site |url=https://skyblock.net/challenges |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=skyblock.net |language=en-US}} obtaining food, and continuing to stay alive. Depending on the version selected, an additional Sand Island, access to the Nether, or the materials in the chest may differ, which can ultimately change the objectives a player can achieve. There is no end goal with Skyblock and the player is left with their imagination and creativity to turn their small floating patch of dirt into whatever they can dream of.{{cite web |last=LeBlanc |first=Wesley |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Minecraft: How to Play Skyblock on Xbox One |url=https://twinfinite.net/2019/07/minecraft-how-to-play-skyblock-on-xbox-one/ |access-date=15 January 2025 |work=Twinfinite}}
History
According to [https://skyblock.net/ skyblock.net], Skyblock and all of its original versions (version 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, and 2.1) have been downloaded over 12.3 million times.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Skyblock Official Site |url=https://skyblock.net/downloads |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=skyblock.net |language=en-US}}
Since the release of the map, various YouTubers have made videos about the map, which greatly increased its popularity. One of the first YouTubers to review the map was CaptainSparklez, who started a video series about Skyblock on October 2, 2011, just 29 days after the map's release.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Skyblock Official Site |url=https://skyblock.net/faq |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=skyblock.net |language=en-US}}
Variations of Skyblock have been created on several Minecraft servers, such as Hypixel,{{cite web|title=Best Minecraft servers 1.16.1 - Survival, Skyblock, Factions, and more|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/07/20/best-minecraft-servers-1-16-1-survival-skyblock-factions-and-more/|work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|last=Toms|first=Ollie|date=July 20, 2020|access-date=15 January 2025}} the most popular server in the game.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/riot-games-leads-investment-hypixel-game-studio-1168889 |title=Riot Games Leads Investment in Hypixel Game Studio |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en |date=13 December 2018|access-date=15 January 2025 |df=mdy-all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221000646/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/riot-games-leads-investment-hypixel-game-studio-1168889 | archive-date=21 December 2018 |url-status=live }} Skyblock on Hypixel was released on June 11th, 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-06-11 |title=New Prototype Game - Hypixel SkyBlock |url=https://hypixel.net/threads/new-prototype-game-hypixel-skyblock.2061182/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Hypixel Forums |language=en-US}} Skyblock has its own official Minecraft server.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-27 |title=The best Minecraft servers list 2025 - Java and Bedrock |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/15-best-minecraft-servers |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}
On September 24, 2024, Noobcrew posted a public statement regarding their legal issues with Microsoft and various Minecraft Marketplace–related companies since 2019–2020.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Skyblock Official Site |url=https://skyblock.net/threads/skyblock-and-the-minecraft-marketplace-a-legal-battle.145369/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=skyblock.net |language=en-US}} Noobcrew claims that he tried to stop the commercialization of "Skyblock" branded products within the Minecraft Marketplace without his permission. Despite being the original creator and having provided Skyblock for free on his platform since 2011, the involved companies are attempting to invalidate his intellectual property rights. Noobcrew describes how some of the companies have provided Skyblock products for purchase, often labeling them as "Skyblock" directly with no secondary meaning, or names such as "Original Skyblock", and have generated substantial revenues from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Despite backlash from the Minecraft community in favor of Noobcrew, the situation seems to be ongoing as of April 2025.{{Cite web |title=USPTO TTABVUE. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System |url=https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91268696 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=ttabvue.uspto.gov}}{{Cite web |title=USPTO TTABVUE. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System |url=https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91266862 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=ttabvue.uspto.gov}}
Clones
Minigames similar to Skyblock have been created in other video games, such as Terraria,{{Cite web |date=2022-11-18 |title=Terraria 1.4.4 Skyblock map is its toughest challenge yet |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/terraria/1-4-4-skyblock-map |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} Roblox{{Cite web |last=Novichenko |first=Artur |date=2024-12-17 |title=Roblox: Skyblock Tycoon Codes |url=https://gamerant.com/roblox-skyblock-tycoon-codes/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Krstić |first=Jovan |date=2024-12-23 |title=Skyblock Tycoon Codes (December 2024) [NEW] |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/skyblock-tycoon-codes/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=The Escapist |language=en-US}} and Fortnite.
On July 14, 2020, Skyblock was created as a minigame in Roblox, which become among the most popular games on the platform, with over 40,000 players. After a DMCA request by Noobcrew, however, the game was shut down due to copyright issues. The developer, Easy Games, changed the game's name to "Islands" and was allowed to continue operation.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Skyblock Official Site |url=https://skyblock.net/threads/skyblock-and-the-minecraft-marketplace-a-legal-battle.145369/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=skyblock.net |language=en-US}}
Additionally, on November 22, 2023, Skyblock was re-created as a minigame on Fortnite, and achieved over 20,000 players. Due to a DMCA request by Noobcrew, the game was shut down temporarily, and the developer, VisionCreatesFN, later changed its name to "Block Tycoon".{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Skyblock Official Site |url=https://skyblock.net/threads/skyblock-and-the-minecraft-marketplace-a-legal-battle.145369 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=skyblock.net |language=en-US}}
References
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{{Minecraft}}