Yahoo News First Minecraft theme park experience to open in UK after deal with Thorpe Park, Chessington and Legoland owners
Fans of Minecraft will be able to enjoy a world first as the game is set to be brought to life at a UK theme park. Merlin, which runs Legoland, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and Alton Towers, has struck a deal with Mojang Studios to create the first Minecraft attraction.
The partnership will see an investment exceeding £85 million to create two Minecraft attractions within Merlin's existing parks in the UK and US, which are set to launch between 2026 and 2027. These attractions will feature innovative concepts for Minecraft-themed accommodation, retail, restaurants, and a unique ride, with plans to expand to other global destinations over time.
Scott O’Neil, chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, said: "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. 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-centre attractions in leading tourist destinations."
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Kayleen Walters, Microsoft's vice-president of franchise development for gaming which acquired Mojang in 2014, added: "Partnering with Merlin Entertainments is an incredibly exciting step for us at Mojang Studios. Merlin’s expertise in creating world-class attractions makes them the perfect partner to help us bring Minecraft to life in new and immersive ways in permanent locations around the globe."
Minecraft, the bestselling video game of all time, boasts 140 million players each month. A star-studded Minecraft film featuring Hollywood heavyweights like Jason Momoa and Jack Black is set for release next April. Earlier this year, Netflix revealed plans for an animated series based on the game. In 2005, Merlin acquired four Legoland theme parks from Lego.
In 2022, it partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to introduce the Jumanji film franchise to its parks, with a variety of rides and attractions debuting at Chessington in the UK last year. Merlin also announced an expansion of its Peppa Pig deal earlier this year, planning to create rides and attractions in Duplo-themed areas at several of its parks.
Last year, Minecraft became the first single video game to surpass 300 million sales, outperforming other top-selling global titles like Grand Theft Auto V and Nintendo’s Wii Sports. In 2020, Minecraft made its educational-themed worlds available for free to support students unable to attend school due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The firm, expressing its desire to "help keep young minds sharp and stimulated", has made available 12 digital lessons. These include a game centred around generating power from renewable energy sources and an interactive lesson on ancient Greece.
