Even Apes Are Playing Minecraft Now

2025 has proven to be an exceptional year for Minecraft enthusiasts, with the blockbuster success of a Minecraft film and the game’s enduring appeal. Notably, two of these fans are apes who have learned to play Minecraft at the Ape Cognition & Conservation Initiative in Iowa.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share an incredible tale about my favorite research institute, the ACCI, which is all about studying our fascinating cousins, bonobos. These extraordinary apes, closely related to us humans, chimps, and gorillas, are not just physically similar but also possess a unique talent for understanding symbols and language. They even use complex lexigrams to communicate with their human companions!

In an amazing breakthrough, two of these bonobos, Kanzi and Teko, have learned to master Minecraft through a touchscreen interface! Yes, you heard that right – bonobos playing video games! And here’s the cherry on top: according to Sara Skiba from the ACCI, it was none other than Teko who delivered the final blow to the Ender Dragon in this digital world. Now, isn’t that just mind-blowing?

Last year, ChrisDaCow’s live stream featured a lengthy video showing how the non-human primate, Kanzi, mastered Minecraft using a reinforcement system. This method highlighted the game’s fundamental concepts. Essentially, Kanzi was given treats, his preferred snacks, each time he mined, gradually teaching him other aspects of the game as he continued playing.

I was deeply saddened to learn that our remarkable bonobo friend, Kanzi, left us earlier this year at just 44 years old. The amazing folks at the ACCI shared that Kanzi was renowned for his exceptional grasp of conversational English, surpassing even those of his fellow bonobos.

According to the ACCI, there’s uncertainty about the continuation of their research projects due to the possibility of losing government support. However, the researchers are determined and steadfast in fulfilling their objectives.

In central Iowa, Jared Taglialatela, the president and director of ACI, is uncovering a wealth of knowledge about the local species. This newfound information is significantly altering our perception of their species as well as our own.

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2025-05-20 19:09