A Minecraft theme park land is set to open in the UK as part of a multi-format, multi-territory partnership that Merlin Entertainments has agreed with Mojang Studios.
This deal will consist of an initial investment of over £85 million in Minecraft-themed real-life experiences in the UK and the US with Chessington World of Adventures tipped to be the home of a UK Minecraft theme park complete with the park’s recently proposed indoor rollercoaster as part of Project Refresh.
Adventures Made Real” is a recently trademarked slogan by Merlin which will form the basis of this new Minecraft implementation into Merlin products as the best-selling video game of all time is coming to life.
Merlin will create new and exciting ways to immerse yourself in the physical Minecraft world including digitally enabled real-life experiences, as well as the creation of touchpoints that will allow guests to unlock exclusive in-game content to continue their gaming journey.
The first two attractions will be launching in the US and the UK between 2026 and 2027. This first-of-its-kind concept will include guest accommodation, retail, food & beverage outlets in addition to the Minecraft-themed ride coming to Chessington.
Minecraft Village could also be a Chessington addition because in recent plans posted by the park they proposed lodge-style accomodation.
Longer-term, Merlin will expand these experiences to other destinations globally.
CEO of Merlin Entertainments Scott O’Neil 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.
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. This is an exciting opportunity for our Merlin Magic Making team, working collaboratively with Mojang Studios to bring cross-reality experiences, themed accommodation and other elements to life for the largest gaming community in the world.”
Vice-President of Franchise Development for gaming at Microsoft Kayleen Walters said:
“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. 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. 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.”
Scott and Kayleen will be discussing more about this exciting partnership at IAAPA Expo 2024 in Orlando where further details will be revealed.
With how the blueprints are designed in blocky style and given the nature of the announcement and how close both of these announcements have been we have absolutely no doubt that Chessington World of Adventures will be getting a Minecraft-themed land.
Check out the video we posted a month ago discussing the very thought of a Minecraft land at Chessington:
