Minecraft Realms subscription service to offer kid-friendly servers

Mojang is preparing to launch Minecraft Realms, a subscription service that will provide families a safe and easy way to play Minecraft online.

Speaking with GI.biz, Mojang CEO Carl Manneh revealed the kid-friendly service is in the works. Realms will carry $10-$15 monthly fees to free parents from the server administrator role.

[Realm] customers are parents who are tired of trying to act as server administrators on behalf of their kids,” said Manneh. Minecraft Realms will be a simpler kind of service, aimed at families and kids. In the future we aim to offer certain profiles with mods that are certified to work without crashing, but this will still be a safe and easy way for kids and families to play Minecraft online.”

Manneh added that, on top of Realms’ ‘monitored playground’ environment, he believes the service’s viral nature will drive more sales for the indie blockbuster.

In the end I think this will get Minecraft new players, since there is a viral aspect of Realms. Kids will probably invite friends who don’t have Minecraft yet to play with them.”