If you want to make Minecraft a bigger part of your social life, good news: Microsoft is making it easier for players to join multiplayer worlds.
You already can play with thousands of other Minecraft gamers on customized multiplayer areas called servers, but it's kind of a pain. Microsoft's aspirin will come this summer, though, when Minecraft will get a built-in server browser that makes servers easier to discover and use, said Minecraft marketing leader Emily Orrson. Microsoft announced the move Sunday in conjunction with the massive E3 videogame conference.
“The amount of different ways to play is going to exponentially expand,” Orrson said. Think of it as adding a little more escapism to your escapism.
The server browser is good news if you're looking for a fresh way to play the game. And with more than 100 million copies of Minecraft sold, it's a good bet plenty of people will try the servers. Already today millions of people play on servers — more than with some high-end triple-A gaming titles.
Four servers will be available to start: Lifeboat, InPvP, Mineplex and CubeCraft. But more will come later. As with Microsoft's addition recently of Microsoft's marketplace to buy assets like character skins and downloadable minigames, though, Microsoft plans to expand beyond the limited number of launch-time partners, Orrson said.
In the blocky virtual world of Minecraft, you survive by digging and harvesting raw materials, “crafting” those ingredients into tools, weapons, and more refined materials, then using all that to survive the nightly onslaught of bad guys called mobs. You can also play in a no-threat creative mode that lets you build everything from fanciful floating castles to working electronic devices powered by Minecraft's “redstone” circuitry.
Xbox, Switch join Minecraft ‘Bedrock'
The changes come with the “Better Together” update to Minecraft, so named because Microsoft is bringing some relatively isolated versions of the game into the fold. The company builds its “Bedrock” version of Minecraft for Windows 10 PCs, Apple TV, Oculus Rift and Gear VR headsets, and mobile devices powered by Apple's iOS and Google's Android.
With the summer update, Minecraft for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles also will become bedrock versions. That means anyone playing with those versions will have access to the same marketplace and server options as the other versions, and that any purchases made on one system will be available to you on the other — as long as you log in with an Xbox account.
That convergence also means playing multiplayer games on a variety of hardware is easier. Any of the Bedrock versions can work together, said Jesse Merriam, Minecraft's executive producer.
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The art of Minecraft: Building beauty, block by block
The Xbox 360 and Wii U editions still remain separate for now. So, too, are the original versions for Mac and Windows, built with the Java programming language. All the Bedrock versions now are simply being called “Minecraft,” while the Java-based versions will be called Minecraft Java Edition.
Microsoft's desire for convergence has its limits, though. Its Mojang studio continues to develop Minecraft Java Edition even as it brings its more advanced features to the Bedrock versions.
“We have no intention to push people one way or other,” said Minecraft communications manager Aubrey Norris.
As part of the company’s big show at E3 Microsoft talked about the latest Minecraft update.
The“Better Together Update” unifies console, mobile and Windows 10 versions of the game.
The new update also features better graphics and cross-platform support to let Windows 10 and mobile Minecraft players play the game together.
As part of the update, Minecraft is ditching any special branding associated with Minecraft for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile games or VR — they’ll all just be known as “Minecraft”. There’s a ‘Minecraft: Java Edition’, which is the original PC game (still supported).
The unified branding is designed to let buyers know they’re all getting the same game, that they can play with anyone no matter what device they’re using, the company said.
Supported devices for unified game play include:
Windows 10
iOS
Android
XBox One
Nintendo’s Switch
If players own Minecraft for mobile or VR, they’ll get an update for the summer. Minecraft for Xbox One or Nintendo Switch owners will get a new update for free, and the existing worlds that gamers have created are going to be available on the new game.
The new update also means that any downloadable content will be available across all devices. So a pack bought on mobile will also be available on Xbox and Windows 10 editions too.
As an additional added perk, Minecraft is throwing in a server browser to its latest update. Launching with four servers, Lifeboat, Mineplex, InPVP and Cubecraft — which lets players join public servers that have monthly users numbering in the millions according to the company.
It’s different from Minecraft Realms, which are privately cloud-hosted servers available for smaller groups.
Finally, there’s a new graphics pack for 4K viewing — better lighting, shadows, and water effects, the company said.
Cross-platform play! Super Duper Graphics! In-game servers!
This E3 we shared our plans to introduce the Better Together Update to unify console, mobile and Windows 10 versions of the game under a single edition. And that’s not all! This swish new version brings in-game multiplayer servers, an update to give your worlds a lick of graphical paint, and cross-platform support – letting console, Win 10 and mobile Minecrafters play together for the first time!
We've put together this handy post, with a summary of what this mean for your Minecraft:
Better Together Update
A game all about teamwork, building together and creating communities shouldn't be restricted to one device, which is why our Better Together Update introduces cross-platform play, breaking down the barriers and letting people play the same complete Minecraft with each other across devices! We've wanted to integrate cross-platform for ages, essentially making a version of Minecraft that's consistent no matter what device you're choosing to play on.
So going forward, the edition you'll find on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile and VR will simply be known as ‘Minecraft', a separate entity from ‘Minecraft: Java Edition', which is the original PC game (that we'll continue to support, of course). This means when you buy ‘Minecraft', you're buying a game that can you can play with friends across devices.
Anyone playing the game on Windows 10, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and VR devices will be able to play online together. If you own Minecraft for your mobile or VR device, you'll get this as a free update this summer. If you own Minecraft: Xbox One Edition or Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition, you’ll receive the brand new version of Minecraft for free, and your existing worlds and DLC will come along to the new version with you. What’s more, any DLC you purchase will be accessible amongst the various devices at no extra charge. (For example: if you buy the Greek Mythology pack on Nintendo Switch, you’ll also own it on the mobile, Xbox One and Windows 10 Editions too – no extra charge).
In-Game Servers
Independent servers, run by members of the amazing Minecraft community, have been around since the earliest days of the game. They're essentially online platforms where you can socialise, play and collaborate with millions of other players! Basically, servers make it easier for you to enjoy multiplayer Minecraft and access new mini-games, worlds, and friends to craft with! Nice!
Unlike Minecraft Realms, which gives you access to a private, cloud-hosted world for you and your friends, servers are open and accessible to everyone – some have monthly users in the millions!
So this Summer, all platforms receiving the Better Together Update will then have a server browser in the Minecraft start menu. This'll let you search a list of servers which you can join right away! We'll be launching with four servers – Lifeboat, Mineplex, InPVP, and Cubecraft – with more to follow. Plus we've made sure that parental controls and other safety features will be in place, so you decide what your child can access. We'll have a more detailed summary of servers closer to the update. After all, we live to serve(er)! …sorry.
Super Duper Graphics Pack
Finally, this Fall, we'll be releasing a free update that allows you to boost Minecraft's graphics. Minecraft will get 4K HDR graphics which include improved lighting, shadows, water effects… basically, it'll be like giving your eyes a luxury massage. This’ll be available to folks playing on Xbox One, Windows 10, iOS, mobile, and VR – essentially every platform that gets our Better Together update.
We'll also be releasing new DLC, the Super Duper Graphics Pack. On top of the free 4K update, the Super Duper Graphics Pack introduces features like dynamic shadows, lighting that streams through fog, movement in leaves and grass, new textures for mobs and villagers, directional lighting, edge highlighting and more! This Pack will be available on Xbox One and Windows 10, performing best on high-end PCs and the Xbox One X (formerly known as Project Scorpio).
Now keep in mind that these are entirely optional. We wanted to take advantage of 4K gaming and give players a whole new way to see the game. But only if you want! Minecraft's original lovely look is going nowhere. We'll have more info about the release date of the free 4K update and Super Duper Graphics Pack DLC closer to release.
And that's it! We hope you're excited as we are about this year’s plans for Minecraft. 4K gaming, cross-platform play and in-game servers… makes you wonder how we could possibly top this next year! Gulp. Happy crafting!
Although missing out on some great Mash-Up packs and the like, the original Java version of Minecraft has received the 1.12 World of Color update. This comprehensive update brings a number of new colored blocks and other rich additions, as evident by its name.
In celebration of the update, Mojang had asked Reddit users to make some colorful Minecraft builds, and some of these impressive creations are showcased in the new World of Color update trailer, seen below.
Existing items such as wool, shulker boxes, banners, as well as beds are now available in a wide range of colors. New colored blocks, Glazed Terracotta and Concrete, are also excellent additions for experienced Minecraft builders to make use of in their worlds.
Moreover, the update includes a highly useful recipe book which unlocks and stores recipes for later use, and also replaces the achievement system with the new advancements for guiding new players.
There's also the addition of parrots as a brand new mob, which are tamable using seeds. In-game parrots were initially tamed using cookies in a pre-release version, but this was replaced with seeds following an outcry on Reddit. As Minecraft cookies look like they include chocolate chips, and chocolate is poisonous to birds, users were concerned that a child could feed their pet birds chocolates without realizing the real-world consequences.
The Minecraft World of Color update is now available for download on the game's Java Edition, and for those interested, the update's extensive changelog can be read on this Reddit thread.
Minecraft’s latest update brings the mothership build to 1.12 and is substantial enough that it has a name: World of Color. Don’t blame me for the missing U; I’m as upset about it as you are.
Rolling out now for the core Mac and PC build, and presumably destined for the Windows 10, Pocket and console versions at a (possibly much) later date, Minecraft 1.12 overhauls the colour scheme on a number of blocks, gives you options for recolouring many common crafted items, adds two new types of blocks, and officially introduces parrots, probably without the cookie breeding system. In the trailer above, you can see some of the colourful creations the Minecraft community build using a snapshot of this update.
That’s not all, though. According to Mojang, Minecraft 1.12 features a new “advancements” system that will “help guiding your way through the adventure of Minecraft, and can be utilized by creators to make interesting custom adventure maps and mini games”. Maybe it’s just what you’re looking for if you’ve always wanted to get it together and reach endgame but get distracted and confused on the way. There’s also a new recipe book and “knowledge book”, so it’s clearly a good time to be a Minecrafter who loves books.
Here are the full patch notes for Minecraft 1.12: World of Color.
Added Glazed Terracotta blocks
Renamed Hardened Clay to Terracotta
Added Concrete Powder blocks
Added Concrete blocks
Updated base color palette
Added advancements
Added recipe book
Added Knowledge Book item
Added Parrots
Added functionality to save toolbars in creative mode
Added text-to-speech narrator
Added new sounds for the Note blocks
Added commands relating to recipes and advancements
By Alanah PearceAt this point, Minecraft is such a well-known game that reviewing its content in 2017 seems redundant. (For that, you can check out our reviews of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions and of Minecraft: Pocket Edition.) But with its recent release on the Switch the question that needs answering is how Nintendo’s portable console handles building these fantastic blocky worlds, and the answer is: pretty well.
The Switch Edition of Minecraft takes the appealing portability of Minecraft Pocket Edition and adds the precise, comfortable controls of a console. The convenience of playing Minecraft on the go and easily jumping into online multiplayer with friends on their own Switch devices would make it hard to go back to other versions of if it weren’t missing an essential feature: voice chat. That makes playing with friends who aren’t in the room with you much less fun, since there’s no way to coordinate your efforts with the up to seven other players in a game. You can get that human interaction locally by playing two-player split-screen mode, but this works much better when the Switch is docked, because the screen is a little too small to play in handheld or kickstand mode with multiple people. It’s possible, you just might not be able to see very well.
Like the current PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions (1.5), the Switch’s Minecraft lacks some other features that are on the PC’s 1.9 version, like the reworked combat system. And, unfortunately, Minecraft doesn’t use the Switch’s touch screen for faster inventory management – or anything else – so it’s not quite the best of both the console and Pocket Edition worlds. It does include a bunch of exclusive Super Mario-themed skins, though.
Lastly, I didn’t experience any noticeable slowdowns either in docked or portable modes, though it’s worth noting that Minecraft runs in 720p even while docked. Not that the resolution of these intentionally blocky graphics matters much, of course.
The Verdict
The Nintendo Switch version provides an authentic Minecraft experience that is hugely benefitted by the ability to play it anywhere with physical controls. The one drawback is the lack of voice chat, which makes online multiplayer less fun than on other platforms, so it’s best enjoyed in the same room as your friends.
