[2023] Why does Mojang allow this, it's literally an Aether ripoff

Hi there! To clarify first, I'm speaking in this thread only as a community member and an ex-lead for the Aether Mod team, as I now work as a designer at Mojang Studios. I am still in constant communication with the Aether Mod team and good friends with Oscar who is the current team lead and the person who continued the project after I left. It's true that when the original Aether Dimension map came out that I felt both surprised and concerned as it was using the same name as the mod we created all those years ago. However, since then a lot of communication has happened, and I can say that everyone within the original mod team is happy with how it's turned out.

So, I wanted to clear the air a little around the Ether Dimension II map specifically. A while ago I was in contact with Oscar to figure out how to proceed. We contacted the developers over at SNDBX about the Aether Dimension project (as it was originally named when the first map was released), and both of us explained to them that we would be more comfortable with them creating content inspired by the Aether mod if they used a different name. This concluded in the Aether Mod team requesting if SNDBX could change the name of the project. There is nothing wrong with creating maps or content that explores the skyland dimension concept - it's something that I encourage, if anything. However, the important thing was that players did not get confused thinking that the project was made by the same developers that created The Aether mod. We wanted to prevent that confusion as much as possible.

Thankfully, we can say that SNDBX was very understanding and accepted this request, rebranding the project to a name agreed upon by both parties. It is also good to see from the trailer that the map has branched out and explored new concepts beyond pure inspirations of the original mod, and the different name will at least allow players to understand that this is developed by a different team.

To focus on some positive news, I know that Oscar and the Aether Mod team has been accepted as a marketplace partner and are already planning to develop a map that brings The Aether experience to the Bedrock platform. This means it would be made by the same people and with the same vision that shaped the original mod. In the end, I think this is a win-win for everyone as both parties get to develop their own takes on the skyland dimension formula. Diversity in approaches on the formula is far from a bad thing, and even cooler if players get to explore niches of it that are better suited to their playstyle.

I hope this clarifies the situation better and gives everyone an understanding that the original team has no qualms with the project this thread is referencing.