Minecraft theme parks are coming to the U.S. and UK from Merlin Entertainments, the company behind Legoland, Alton Towers, and Madame Tussauds.
The Mincraft theme parks will be built in existing Merlin locations in 2026 or 2027 with further locations across the globe coming later. It's unclear which locations will see the Minecraft attractions built as of yet, but Merlin did say it will be investing in excess of £85 million ($110 million) in the first two.
Merlin is looking to "bring Minecraft adventures to life," the company said. "This will include the development of first-of-its-kind concepts for Minecraft-themed guest accommodation, retail, and food and beverage, alongside exciting experiences including a Minecraft-themed ride at Merlin locations in these two countries."
The theme parks will be built in collaboration with Minecraft developer Mojang to "ensure authenticity" and locations will include "touchpoints" for fans to interact with and unlock content in the game itself. A rendering of what the Minecraft theme park will look like can be seen above.
This announcement comes as Minecraft continues to expand its brand far beyond its game, which is one of the most popular of all time already. Minecrat Lego and other toys have existed for years, though a live action film starring Jack Black will bolster the IP when it arrives April 4, 2025.
"Partnering with Merlin Entertainments is an incredibly exciting step for us at Mojang Studios," commented Kayleen Walters, Vice-President Franchise Development for Gaming at Microsoft.
"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."
Video games are increasingly encroaching on the theme park space overall, with Nintendo leading efforts through its Super Nintendo World locations across the globe. These are continuing to expand too, with Donkey Kong soon being added to the mix.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
