Which is the best version of Minecraft? That’s not an easy question to answer. For the majority of players the answer is whichever version you’re used to. But what about new players or players looking to jump from a different platform? That’s where things get a little more complicated. Two games, similar features, an ocean of difference.

Is the original Java Edition the definitive version? Can Windows 10 Edition’s updated tech slay an unbridled behemoth birthed five years prior? With the help of cutting edge science (read: research and opinion), let’s compare and contrast to see which version is right for you.

Mods

Both versions of Minecraft support mods. That said, as the Java Edition has been around since 2010, versus the Windows 10 release in 2015, there are a great deal more mods available for the first incarnation. And if I can put my subjective hat on for a second, the quality of the mods for Java are of a higher standard to that of Windows 10. The Windows 10 Edition was, after all, originally designed for mobile, so the modding scene will forever be playing catch up.

Winner: Java Edition

Cost

Java Edition costs a set price of £17.95 in the UK, while Windows 10 Edition sets you back £22.49 on the Windows Store if you’re not familiar with how Google works (both cost about $27 in the US). There is a slight catch, though. Java Edition can be played fully, complete with mods, textures, and everything else you associate with Minecraft, without paying a penny. While you can download variants of all of the above for free in Windows 10, that version also includes optional in-game purchases.

These range from map packs, to textures, skins, as well as new game modes. Most will surely turn their nose up at the idea of paying for add-ons in Minecraft, but for parents, as Windows 10’s third-party content has been vetted by Microsoft, it’s a no-risk way of getting more out of the game without needing to worry about bad things happening.

Winner: Java Edition (Unless you’re a non-PC savvy parent)

Controls
Both versions support mouse and keyboard, but only one supports controllers. Despite releasing in 2010, Mojang hasn’t implemented controller support for Java Edition. This won’t be an issue for most PC-centric players, but should you wish to make the jump from the dark recesses of console gaming to PC, you’ll need to install an additional program, like JoyToKey, to get a controller up and running, whereas on Windows 10 Edition, you plug a controller in and it’ll work. Even if you won’t ever use the controller feature, more features beats fewer features in this case.

Winner: Windows 10 Edition

Crossplay

One of the key selling points Microsoft wouldn’t shut up about was that Minecraft is ‘Better Together’, which is simply not true if you’ve ever played with your kids and watched helplessly as they TNT a structure you’ve spent hours building. So I’m told…

On the Windows 10 version, anyone can team up with players from other devices, including Xbox, Android, iOS, and from June, the Nintendo Switch. When playing with others you’ll need to sign up for a free Xbox LIVE account, but that’s all pretty painless.

As this feature isn’t an option for Java Edition, there’s a pretty clear winner.

Winner: Windows 10

Servers

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This one’s a nice and easy. Both versions have servers.

If you’re new to the world of servers they are, in a nutshell, gargantuan worlds created and hosted online with the intention of supporting masses of players. Think adventure worlds, PvP, puzzle maps, that sort of thing. The only issue here is we’re working with two different versions of the same game, so Java Edition can’t connect to Windows 10 servers and Windows 10 can’t connect to Java Edition servers.

When it comes to picking a version, it all comes down to which has more servers you like the sound of. As Java Edition has been around since the dawn of time, it makes sense that’ll have more variety. Plus The Walking Dead server is ace.

Parental controls
Java Edition doesn’t have much in the way of parental controls. You can essentially boil it down to: turn chat off, only join servers the parent has checked out first, and general stuff like set real-world screen time limits and enforce it. On the flipside, Windows 10 Edition needs an Xbox LIVE account to play online, which means it comes with all the benefits associated, including the ability to customise privacy settings, alter who your kid can interact with, report dickbag players easily, and so on (you can change your child’s settings via the Xbox site here).

Winner: Windows 10

Updates
The Java Edition of Minecraft used to be the go-to version when it comes to flashy new content, but that’s since changed as Mojang aims to release updates across both versions simultaneously. On Java you can access the latest and greatest update via the launcher’s snapshot feature, whereas on Windows 10 there’s an ‘Experimental Gameplay’ option that works in a similar vein. If you want to try out the latest new additions, you can’t go wrong with either version.

Winner: Draw

Graphics

This all comes down to how powerful your PC is. On low-end machines, Java Edition is a muddy nightmare. Render distance is reduced, loading up massive worlds takes longer, and it’s generally more prone to crashes. If you don’t have a rig decent enough to run Minecraft (some people don’t, okay?), the Windows 10 Edition has been optimised to run on just about anything.

But should you wish to really push Minecraft to the limit with realistic textures, exquisite lighting, or actual water physics, then you’ll need to go Java to get the most out of it. That is, until the Super Duper Graphics Pack reaches Windows 10, which boasts a massive graphical overhaul. After that, Windows 10 Edition may just be able to close to gap.

The developers at Hi-Rez Studios have been quite busy with their Paladins multiplayer romp, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have room for another effort, especially one in the Battle Royale arena.

It’s announced that Realm Royale is available in Steam Early Access. It’s free to play with microtransactions, but it never hurts to give it a try and see what it’s like.

Hi-Rez is actually in the middle of a 120-hour livestream to celebrate the game’s launch, which you can watch here.

Here are the features for the game, straight from the Steam listing:

Choose your class. Forge a legend.

Explore a fantasy world in Realm Royale, the new Battle Royale inspired by the hit game Paladins. Are you an Assassin, a Warrior or a Mage? Choose your class, then loot fantastic weapons and magical abilities to create your own Champion. Stay ahead of the deadly fog by mounting up and moving out. Will you be the last Champion standing?

Wield Awesome Abilities

Choose from one of five classes before every match, each with its own game-changing abilities. Become a Warrior, chug a shielding potion, and leap into battle. Soar through the skies as a Mage, slinging fireballs. Take steady aim as a bow-wielding Hunter. Deploy turrets and shields as an Engineer. Or blink onto a rooftop and snipe your enemies as an Assassin.

Forge Legendary Weapons

Go traditional with shotguns and snipers, or embrace the fantasy with ice staffs, swords, and crossbows. If you want to win, you’ll need to craft Legendary Weapons at Forges scattered across the Realm. But be careful: While you’re crafting, your enemies may attack.

Mount Up. Explore the Realm.

Journey through the lush jungle of Jaguar’s Claws and the scorched sands of Goblin Gulch. Visit frigid Everfrost and iridescent Fungal Forest. The best part: you don’t have to walk around this massive Realm. Just summon your mount to outrun the fog and ride into your next glorious battle!

The Ultimate Team Royale

Call your friends: It’s time to squad up. Realm Royale is the first Battle Royale designed to be played in four-person Squads. Help your team by dropping a Healing Totem, or plant a Sensor Drone to reveal incoming enemies. Each class has strengths and weaknesses, but by working together the crown royale could be yours.

The pre-release of Update Aquatic is now available for the Java Edition of Minecraft with 1.13-PRE1 being released today.

Java Edition players have been waiting for the latest Minecraft update for some time now, and now that it’s here, it’s bringing quite a few noticeable changes with it. First and foremost, Java Edition players will notice that the update introduces a new title screen that’s modeled after Update Aquatic. Featuring the same options that you’re used to seeing, the new title screen that’s seen below has a blue ocean background that shows some of what’s waiting for players in Update Aquatic.

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter

Andrew
@ibxtoycat
I love the new 1.13 title screen!

1:01 AM – Jun 5, 2018
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52 people are talking about this
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There’s also new music that’s included in the update, music that can be heard when you’re underwater. Minecraft players on Reddit found out that you can play one of the three new music piece by entering a command that’s seen here.

Amid all these changes, one of the issues that players did take with the pre-release is the new bark textures. These new textures let players build some interesting floors or other creations, but they change the existing wood blocks in ways that many players aren’t thrilled with.

“Mojang, the new bark block textures are a massive mistake,” Redditor Muriako commented. “They could be good for really niche building situations, but they are also kind of ruining the main reason people wanted those bark blocks in the first place.

The full notes for everything that’s included in the 1.13 pre-release can be found below, and if you’re unsure of how to download the pre-release or just need a refresher, you can check out the instructions on Minecraft’s site.

New Update Aquatic title screen
Three brand new pieces of music by C418
You can now tab-complete in command blocks again
Fixed bugs!
FIXED BUGS IN 1.13-PRE1

MC-122134 – Tab-completion in command blocks no longer works
MC-122940 – After executing the /reload command, clicking on recipe book recipes does not work
MC-124123 – Crash upon loading world: Non [a-z0-9/._-] character in path of location: minecraft:Zombie
MC-124972 – Game crashes during the loading world, when creating a superflat world with oceanmonument tag
MC-127142 – Failed to create block entity DUMMY (path of location: minecraft:DUMMY)
MC-129625 – Sea grass changes to air pockets when upgrading from 18w16a to 18w20a+
MC-130463 – Sponges do not absorb bubble columns
MC-130521 – Leaves placed by hand disappear if not touching log or bark after a reload

Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch is about to get a lot bigger with a new update that brings the universal Minecraft Bedrock Engine to Nintendo’s portable console on June 21st, enabling cross-play between the Switch and the PC, Xbox One, and mobile versions of the game.

The cross-platform update is actually pretty late in coming to the Switch — it was announced back at E3 last year, and hit the other platforms last September. The Switch release was then promised for later in the winter, which, based on the June release date, it obviously didn’t quite hit. The updated Minecraft will also support Nintendo’s new online service for the Switch when it launches later this year.

Along with the new update, a physical version of Minecraft for the Switch is getting released for $29.99, should you prefer to own hard copies of your games instead of digital downloads

Nintendo’s most-loved mash-up franchise, Super Smash Bros., is finally coming to Switch soon, and ahead of the formal reveal of the game’s content, players are getting increasingly hungry for more information.

It’s just as well then that so many leaks are popping up around the internet, suggesting what we might be seeing in the title.

The newest spate of rumours suggests that Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch might be seeing some sort of Minecraft content.

This is information is circulating thanks to DasVergeben (a known source of information in the industry with a track record when it comes to leaks). The user revealed on the GameFAQs forum that Minecraft “may have a presence” in the upcoming fighting game.

We’ve seen Nintendo include links to characters before via trophies and similar rewards, so the inclusion of Minecraft could be fairly innocuous.

Though it could also come in the form of something more substantial, too: we could see a blocky, Minecraft-inspired stage or something similar, too.

It’s doubtful then that we’ll perhaps see iconic Minecraft main character Steve as a playable fighter.

As ever with E3-period rumours, take this with a grain of salt… you never really know what’s cracking off untuil it’s announced.

Nintendo Switch 2018: Rumoured and confirmed games coming to the console

Nintendo Switch had a great first year, full of exclusives and third party games. Here’s a few more rumoured games supposedly coming to the console in 2018 and beyond. PLUS, some games we know are coming in the months ahead.
1 / 22

The only thing we know for sure about the Nintendo Switch version of Super Smash Bros 4 so far is that it’ll be adding the Inklings – the playable characters from Splatoon.

But what we don’t yet know is how these characters will handle in the game itself – will they be tricky to play, will they be easy for a beginner to pick up, will they be God-tier? It remains unclear.

Luckily, Red Bull eSports asked some Super Smash Bros. pro players to weigh in with what they thought the newest additions will bring to the game.

Smash 4 Rosalina player Samuel ‘Dabuz’ Buzby states: “They’d have a good amount of mobility moves, things like super jump, dodge rolls, ink, and squid form – stuff from the game that would make them a mobile zoner.”

Diddy Kong player Jestise ‘MVD’ Negron adds: “I can see [them having] some sort of a bomb move, maybe a land mine or a grenade. I imagine them being able to combine that with a special ability to shoot and swim in ink.”

The duo goes on to explain that perhaps the Inklings will be primarily projectile-based, or that perhaps they’ll be able to incorporate multiple weapons in their movesets, giving them better versatility.

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Switch – Overview
Release date: 2018
Format: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Brawler
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo

Super Smash Bros Nintendo Switch – What is it?
Super Smash Bros is Nintendo’s flagship series. It combines characters from all of the publisher’s biggest games and throws them into one world, pitted against each other in order to reign supreme.

You have the likes of Mario and Luigi battling it out with Link from The Legend of Zelda series, you have Pokemon defending themselves from Kirby, Donkey Kong trying desperately to blow Animal Crossing’s villagers off the edge of the world.

Even the Wii Fit instructor turns up to school Nintendo’s most famous mascots. It’s bizarre.

Gameplay involves up to four characters using special moves to get one over on their opponents, making the most of dynamic 2.5D levels to get the upper hand on their enemies.

This game will be the first Smash Bros. title on the Nintendo Switch.

You can read everything we know about the game so far here.

Now with Mushroom Kingdom magic

Despite the fact it won’t be seeing any new content from the Better Together update, Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition is still trucking along with new content and updates. It’s most recent update, version 1.5 brings with it new skins (for purchase), new texture packs (for purchase), and Super Mario Mash-Up content (for free).

One of the big selling points of Minecraft on Switch and Wii U is the inclusion of Super Mario skins and textures. While this 3DS content isn’t as extensive as it is on either of those two consoles, it’s still some much needed Nintendo charm that was missing at the game’s launch. It joins support for two players over local play, a feature added in version 1.4. The Super Mario Mash-Up isn’t just added textures to the regular map. It’s its own mode, accessed by starting up a new map with the Minecraft Super Mario Edition option.

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter

Minecraft
✔
@Minecraft
We’ve patched Minecraft on New 3DS! In-game store, bug fixes, DLC support, and the Super Mario Mash Up Pack. Wahoo!

10:00 AM – Jun 6, 2018
1,247
229 people are talking about this
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I haven’t played the New Nintendo 3DS version of Minecraft since last year, but clearly, this version has made some strides. The draw distance still isn’t anything to write home about with plenty of pop-in, but the experience is smoother with fewer framerate issues, crisper graphics, and of course all this new Mario content.

At launch, I didn’t think Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition was worth the asking price. Without question, I’d wager it is now.

Minecraft [Twitter]

The developers at Hi-Rez Studios have been quite busy with their Paladins multiplayer romp, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have room for another effort, especially one in the Battle Royale arena.

It’s announced that Realm Royale is available in Steam Early Access. It’s free to play with microtransactions, but it never hurts to give it a try and see what it’s like.

Hi-Rez is actually in the middle of a 120-hour livestream to celebrate the game’s launch, which you can watch here.

Here are the features for the game, straight from the Steam listing:

Choose your class. Forge a legend.

Explore a fantasy world in Realm Royale, the new Battle Royale inspired by the hit game Paladins. Are you an Assassin, a Warrior or a Mage? Choose your class, then loot fantastic weapons and magical abilities to create your own Champion. Stay ahead of the deadly fog by mounting up and moving out. Will you be the last Champion standing?

Wield Awesome Abilities

Choose from one of five classes before every match, each with its own game-changing abilities. Become a Warrior, chug a shielding potion, and leap into battle. Soar through the skies as a Mage, slinging fireballs. Take steady aim as a bow-wielding Hunter. Deploy turrets and shields as an Engineer. Or blink onto a rooftop and snipe your enemies as an Assassin.

Forge Legendary Weapons

Go traditional with shotguns and snipers, or embrace the fantasy with ice staffs, swords, and crossbows. If you want to win, you’ll need to craft Legendary Weapons at Forges scattered across the Realm. But be careful: While you’re crafting, your enemies may attack.

Mount Up. Explore the Realm.

Journey through the lush jungle of Jaguar’s Claws and the scorched sands of Goblin Gulch. Visit frigid Everfrost and iridescent Fungal Forest. The best part: you don’t have to walk around this massive Realm. Just summon your mount to outrun the fog and ride into your next glorious battle!

The Ultimate Team Royale

Call your friends: It’s time to squad up. Realm Royale is the first Battle Royale designed to be played in four-person Squads. Help your team by dropping a Healing Totem, or plant a Sensor Drone to reveal incoming enemies. Each class has strengths and weaknesses, but by working together the crown royale could be yours.

You can check out the game here!

Minecraft players who have ideas for some innovative cosplay creations can win themselves prizes that include a free trip to Minecon Earth by submitting the idea in a costume contest.

If you tuned in for last year’s Minecon Earth event, you’ll already have an idea of what this contest is all about. Like any other cosplay contest, all you have to do is come up with your best costume idea, but it has to be centered around Minecraft. The game’s site has a page set up for Minecon Earth’s details and gives an overview of the contest.

“Do you have an idea for an amazing cosplay costume, and the passion to create it? We would love to see it!” the Minecon Earth site says. “Start prepping your masterpiece and submit it before August 3rd for a chance to win awesome prizes! The best contributions will get a free trip to MINECON to participate at the live streamed award ceremony!”

The video above comes from last year’s Minecon Earth event and shows some of the best cosplay competitors that took that stage for the 2017 contest. You don’t have to be at Minecon to participate in the first part of this contest though with the Minecon Earth Costume Contest taking place online as players submit their best creations and hope for a shot at being flown out to Minecon Earth in Boston.

“As a crafty Minecraft-er, we know that building is one thing you do best, and we want to see your creative costume-building skills IRL! Enter now to upload photo(s) of your MINECON costume and earn a chance to win a trip to MINECON Earth in Boston, Massachusetts. We can’t wait to see it!”

To submit your Minecraft cosplay to the contest for consideration, all you have to do is head to this page and fill out some personal info. After registering on the Minecon Earth Costume Contest site, you’ll have to submit images of your cosplay creation so that the judges can compare your ideas to other costumes. You’ve got until August 3 to submit an idea which should leave plenty of time to gather enough cardboard and other resources that you need for the creation, but after that date, the contest will be closed to more applicants.

Minecon Earth 2018 takes place on September 29.

Minecraft Costume Contest Offers Free Trip to Minecon Earth

Echogear is a display-mounting company that’s attempting to increase its presence in the gaming market. PC gaming hobbyists tend to put a significant amount of money into getting the most from their rigs, and that has led to a spike in the number of gaming keyboards, USB microphones, webcams, and other peripheral products. That has also led to innovation in these spaces, and I think that Echogear could spark something similar for PC monitor mounts.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks with the Echogear Triple Monitor Desk Mount, which is shipping now for $150. It features a sturdy, clamp-style design that can support up to three displays between 10 inches and 24 inches in size. Once I was able to track down three monitors for testing, I was surprised at how easy the Echogear mount was to set up. The contraption makes it simple to line up each monitor for that wrap-around sensation.

And of course, the mount has saved some of my desk space, which might make it worth $150 alone.

What you’ll like
Easy to assemble and to secure

As a three-monitor mount, the Echogear is necessarily large and heavy when it arrives. That’s because of the aluminum parts that make up the vertical stand and the mounting spine. Getting these pieces into place is a simple process. You just need to put the clamp on the back of your desk, insert and secure the stand, and then slide the spine into place.

Echogear ships the mount with everything you need except for a standard screwdriver, and I was shocked when I finished building 10 minutes after I started. I was also happy with heavy-duty look and feel of the final product. The mount never wobbles thanks to the high-quality clamp, and between that and the aluminum, I never worried that the Echogear device drop my monitors.

Painless to adjust with great cable management.

You’ll need monitors with VESA-compliant mounting brackets on the back. If you have that, getting them installed onto the Echogear is a breeze. Once they are all hooked up, you can start the fun process of setting the height, and adjusting the angle and positioning to best fit your setup.

And this is where the Echogear shines. On the unit where the monitors meet the mount, you will find two large dials. One locks and/or loosens the cone-like device that enables you to shift the angle and positioning of the monitor. Tighten this dial 100 percent, and you will lock the monitor’s angle in place. Loosen it a little bit, and you can shift it slowly, turn it on its side for a vertical orientation, and then adjust it back later when you’re ready to hop into your flight simulator. The Echogear does everything to make things simple without losing that sense of wobble-free security.

The second dial, which is just behind the front dial, enables you to slide the monitor on the spine. What you’ll like want to do here is loosen each dial just a touch, and then try to get everything arranged side-by-side at the correct angle. This mount makes that process easy, and you can tinker with it throughout your day without having to break out any tools or feel like it’s too much work to get back to your default position.

What you won’t like
You won’t have a lot of options about where it fits

The only issue I see is that you probably have to work backward from the Echogear mount when setting up your desk. This is a large mount, and it’s even larger when it has all of the monitors in place, and it’s going to fit where it fits. If you had your previous displays set in a corner, well, the Triple Monitor Desk Mount probably won’t fit in that spot.

For me, I put the mount in the one spot on my desk where it made the most sense. That just meant I had to rearrange everything else. This isn’t exactly a problem with the mount itself, but it’s important to remember that you are making more space on your desk by taking up more space in the air above your work area. That means you must think a bit more three-dimensionally when it comes to how you put together your office.

Conclusion
If you are running two or more monitors on a desk, a mount like this can help you reclaim a lot of your desk space and prevent clutter. What the Echogear does in particular is keep the mounting process from introducing new headaches. It’s so easy in both the set up and in everyday use that it’s easy to recommend.

The triple-monitor desk mount is available now for $150. Echogear provided a sample unit for the purpose of this review.

Minecraft fans downloaded fewer pieces of content from the game’s marketplace last month, but the top-10 lists for most downloaded and top grossing are both still excellent reminders of the variety and fun that players can find in that store. The Minecraft Marketplace had 285,816 downloads in April, which is down from 321,317 in March and 372,509 in February.

Welcome! You’ve once again found yourself reading GamesBeat’s monthly analysis of the Minecraft Marketplace, which is the block-building phenomenon’s platform for extra content from the Minecraft team as well as external developers. If this is your first time here, you can see the results from past months right here. We do have some new names on the charts, but once again, developers like PixelHeads are dominating.

But we can also see that teams that specialize in roleplay content like InPvP are also thriving with the No. 2 and No. 3 spot on the most-downloaded top 10. Maybe we’ll see developers chasing that trend, or maybe we’ll see some new fad break through in May.

Let’s do the charts.

Here are the top-10 most downloaded pieces of content from the Minecraft Marketplace in April 2018:

 

9. Chroma Hills HD by Syclone Studios

Here’s the top 10 in list form:

1. City Life
2. BrightStart Daycare
3. Prison Escape
4. Dinosaur Island
5. K-Pop: Teenage Rebellion
6. Wildlife: Savanna
7. Oropia
8. Summer Mini Games Festival
9. Chroma Hills HD
10. Steampunk Castle

And here’s the top-grossing list for April 2018:

 

6. Prison Escape by InPvP

1. City Life
2. Dinosaur Island
3. Wildlife: Savanna
4. BrightStart Daycare
5. Chroma Hills HD
6. Prison Escape
7. Relics of the Privateers
8. Lapis Lagoon
9. K-Pop: Teenage Rebellion
10. PureBDcraft

The Marketplace is already growing, and we can see that new content always causes download numbers to pop from month to month. But as the Marketplace hits new platforms as Bedrock launches on devices (like Nintendo Switch on June 21), content creators will have a chance to hit entirely new audiences. That’s a big opportunity for a group of Marketplace devs that are already making a living doing what they are doing.

April 2018’s top 10 Minecraft Marketplace creations: back to the city

When you put things together in the world of Mojang’s Minecraft, you usually let your imagination run wild. In fact, we ran a story earlier today where someone managed to go all out to recreate Fortnite’s Tilted Towers right down to the last block.

But we just found someone on Reddit who decided to go the extra mile when it came to reflecting something from his life within the game. He’s gone and built his work place from scratch using a number of Minecraft-oriented tools. And it’s none other than…Home Depot?

Yep, based on the screenshots that you can see in this article, the user, named r/BaconShooby, went all out to create not only the exterior of Home Depot, but inside as well. There aren’t too many tools to speak of inside, but the structuring is about the same. And in one of the shots, you can even see the word “Appliances” on the wall in capital letters.

It’s great work, although some comments have people questioning why BaconShooby would go all out to recreate Home Depot instead of…something else?

“My first reaction was…your work? Wwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyy?” one user asked, before someone noted, “Build what you know.”

Another user named AlanWayside noted, “I feel like this would make an awesome adventure map. A zombie survival map.” And he’s got a point there.

Ladainia4147 added, “No fair, my local Home Depot doesn’t have horses! Really cool though, must’ve taken forever.”

There are several other comments, most of them showing praise. But we think Helassaid’s really takes the cake: “And, as is tradition, not a single employee in sight.”

We do think BaconShooby did a great job with recreating Home Depot in the game, though we’re still not sure as to why. But hey, who are we to judge creativity? Maybe this’ll prompt someone to make a WalMart one of these days. Or for that matter, a fleet of 7-11’s that service every horse that comes in. (They like Slurpees, yeah?)

We’ll let you know what other creations users come up with when it comes to the wacky world of Minecraft.

Minecraft is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC and older consoles.

Dreaming of the deep blue sea? Quench all your marine needs with the first phase of Minecraft’s latest Aquatic expansion, now available on Xbox One, PC, and more.

Now when you dive under the watery blocks of your Minecraft world, it won’t just be a blue abyss with scattered temples here and there. Now you’ll see dolphins, new types of fish, corals, kelp and sea grasses, buried treasure, and more. The seas even coordinate with the nine different biomes now too. For the full list of features in this first release, head on over to the announcement post.

Every player on Xbox One, PC, mobile, Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and mixed reality platforms has access to this new expansion right now, totally free of charge. If you’re playing the Java version on PC, you’ll get the update soon. Xbox One players will need to download the latest version from the Xbox Store.

Mojang and Microsoft have not yet announced when the expansion will come to PS4 or Switch, or when the second phase will launch. But in other Minecraft news, Switch is getting cross-platform achievements for the title on Xbox One June 21.

After the recent press embargo was lifted, fans finally got to see more than ever before of the illusive Kingdom Hearts 3. It’s finally beginning to sink in that we’re getting this game after years and years of a run around and players can’t wait to jump back into the role of Sora and battle against the Darkness! With such high praise from those that got their hands on it, it’s time for you to be next! That’s why Square Enix is offering playable demos of Kingdom Hearts 3 at this year’s E3!

The reactions to the initial Twitter post were both exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. Here are a few of my personal favourites to really capture what the next installment means to us gamers:

🕹️ cσσkíє 🎮
@ArcanaLegacy
Replying to @SquareEnixUSA @KINGDOMHEARTS
The rest of us not going to E3 to play the demo:

5:30 AM – May 26, 2018
24
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David Cornejo
@DanteThePrivy
Replying to @SquareEnixUSA @KINGDOMHEARTS
Worldwide Demo after E3 hopefully?

5:10 AM – May 26, 2018
13
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Casimircarew
@casimircar
Replying to @SquareEnixUSA @KINGDOMHEARTS
YOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

4:52 AM – May 26, 2018
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Ryxan5
@Ryxan86
Replying to @SquareEnixUSA @KINGDOMHEARTS
7:14 AM – May 26, 2018
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The most common reaction by far though was the request (OK, we were begging) that a public demo be released before the projected launch date. After all, not everyone will be able to attend E3 but the desire to get those gaming hands on this title is real.

Just as it were with previous titles, the third game will follow Sora and his journey of friendship and overcoming the darkness. Once again faced against unspeakable dangers, fan favourites will make their debut once more alongside the protagonist, such as Donald Duck and Goofy, as they embark on a journey once more in the name of King Mickey from Disney Castle.

The Darkness will play a huge role once more as they continue on their mission to take over the entire universe. In an effort to stop The Darkness, Sora and crew must travel to different worlds, iconic places from beloved Disney-Pixar movies, in order to stop this growing threat in its tracks.

Here’s what we know from Square Enix:
Adventure in Disney and Pixar Worlds
Embark on an adventure that spans the Disney universe: Travel across Disney-Pixar worlds to protect them from
the Heartless invasion, and befriend and join heroes from Toy Story, Big Hero 6, Tangled, Wreck-it Ralph, Hercules and more.
Unlock the Power of the Keyblades
The powerful Keyblade can now transform into additional forms with new attacks, moves and animations. Players
can equip multiple Keyblades, and combo their attacks between different themed Keyblades.
Experience the Magic
Cast visually stunning, powerful magic spells to battle the Heartless. Call upon Disney-Pixar friends and partner
with them for support. Turn the tide of combat by summoning theme park inspired attractions using the all-new
“Attractions.”
Prepare for Battle
Interact directly with the Disney-Pixar world. Players will fight off swarms of Heartless as they scale massive cliffs,
dive deep underwater or even as they fall freely through the air.
Relive Classic Disney Shorts Through Minigames
Take a break from saving the world with minigames inspired by classic Disney short films.
The release date isn’t set yet, though during a recent press release the game’s director confirmed that we will be getting an official confirmation ahead of E3. For now, Kingdom Hearts 3 is set to release this year for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. No word yet as to a potential PC/Nintendo Switch release.

In most circles, Minecraft usually serves as some form of entertainment, allowing players to create whatever they seem fit just because they feel like it. But in some scenarios, it actually serves a purpose — like, in this situation, helping students preserve their hometown in a unique manner.

Per this report from Bournemouthecho, a group of 15 students in New Milton are actually using the Mojang-produced game in an attempt to recreate their town’s post World War II history by putting together streets and buildings as they’re represented in the real world.

And with that, others can jump in and help. The students are inviting young people to take part in what’s known as a Block 2 Block project, put together by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Hampshire Cultural Trust and Forest Arts Centre. The workshop is set to take place in the city’s Memorial Hall on May 30 and 31.

The project is expected to be completed in July, with the students interviewing members of the city, including the school’s chair of governors and the mayor. They also paid a visit to a nearby pair of museums to learn more about the history of the town.
The head teacher for the class, Nigel Pressnell, noted, “This is an amazing opportunity for our students and is a very exciting project for them to be part of. Not only are they learning so much about their hometown but they are also finding out more about computer techniques. We can’t wait to see New Milton’s history brought back to life.”

Microsoft has gotten involved as well. The company was so impressed with the work done by the students that they’ve been invited to share their plans with the company’s London headquarters.

And what’s more, they’re documenting their work. The students are actually adapting certain filming techniques when it comes to recreating the town, so that they can tell stories about its creation while having some video to serve as their back-up.

This is a rather ambitious project that no doubt has a lot of work that needs to be put into it, but the kids certainly look to be up to the task. We wish them the best of luck!

Minecraft is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC, as well as mobile and various older platforms.

As you’ll probably know if you played much Minecraft, a lot of the game is based on exploring the massive world. Of course, if you’re able to get to far away sections of the map quickly you’re going to be able to see different sections of the map. To do so, you’re going to want to know how you teleport to different places.

First of all, make sure the world you’re in is in Creative Mode. Then, work out where you want to go to using the coordinates in game and open the console and press ‘/’ and typing in ‘teleport, your name, and then the coordinates’. Coordinates are in X, Y, Z, with sea level being Y:63. Once you’ve done so and pressed enter, your character will teleport to that location.

On mobile, you do the same thing but you need to enable cheats before hand and type the command into the chat box. On console, you need to enable host privileges and select ‘teleport player’ from the Host menu.

That’s all you need to know about how to teleport in Minecraft. For more tips and tricks on the game, be sure to search for Twinfinite.

Death Stranding’s setting may have been revealed after a connection was made between a real-world location and one of Hideo Kojima’s frequent teasers.

Just a few days ago, Kojima shared an image from his upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive that showed moss covering some rocks on the ground. He mentioned the Decima engine that the game will be running on, so many took it as a preview of the game’s graphics ahead of the E3 content that’s also being teased. While it’s entirely possible that that was one of the purposes of the tweet, it also seems that Kojima might’ve been hinting that the game would take place in Iceland.

Not long after Kojima shared the tweet, another Twitter user responded with a side-by-side comparison of two images that looked quite similar. Comparing Kojima’s image on the bottom to the one at the top, Rafael Andrade pointed out that the moss-covered field resembles lava fields in Iceland.

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter

Rafael Andrade
@YamatoDT
Mosses on top of lava fields in Iceland and the new Decima/Death Stranding image are very similar. 🤔 @HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN @Kojima_Hideo #DeathStranding #Decima #E32018

7:54 AM – May 23, 2018
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The two images together definitely encouraged speculation, but the Iceland theory was fueled even further the same day by Kojima himself. The game creator retweeted Andrade’s comparison without a comment attached, and many have taken this as a silent confirmation that the user may be onto something.

Once the Iceland comparison had been made, another user chimed in with an additional comparison that looked at the in-game and real-world locations. Sure, a crater can just be a crater anywhere, but the second Iceland comparison does lend more credibility to the possible reveal of the game’s setting.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

BlueHarvey
@BlueHarvey1
Replying to @YamatoDT and 2 others
Also Iceland

9:46 PM – May 23, 2018
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This doesn’t mean that Kojima’s confirmed the setting yet, thought it’s an interesting juxtaposition made even more intriguing by the fact that he noticed it. With how mysterious and confusing the game has looked so far, it’s not hard to believe that those waiting on Death Stranding will take their news anywhere they can get it.

It won’t be long before that desire for more info is satisfied though with more content coming at E3. Kojima has teased more than once that the game will be shown off during this year’s E3 and confirmed that a new trailer will be unveiled.

With Kingdom Hearts III news on the horizon (that release date, Square Enix – we’re waiting!), we’ve all got a little more Goofy on the brain than we’d like to admit. Though we don’t have our hands on the newest title just yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t explore some of our favourite worlds within Minecraft!

This awesome creation comes from user “Water Block” over at PlanetMinecraft and the project is impressive. With familiar locations such as the Olympus Coliseum, Halloween Town, Wonderland, and tons more – this is the perfect way to get your Kingdom Hearts fix in before E3’s big announcement.

You can see all of the different nooks and crannies this creator implemented in the Minecraft Kingdom Hearts Adventure in the video above, it’s even fun trying to spot the more subtle nods tucked away in there.

This user is also responsible for even more creations, including The Battle of Scarif, Kingdom Hearts II Adventure, and more! You can follow them over on the Minecraft creation site right here, where you can also find monthly updates on the playable area’s progress and what’s continiously being added! With over 36,000 downloads, you definitely wouldn’t be the only one excited to delve into this magical, albeit blockier, world.

In other Minecraft news, the “Better Togethe” update is coming to Nintendo Switch next month!

Making the cross-play play jump makes it even easier to do just that so that platform of choice doesn’t have to mean missing out. Currently the “Better Together” update applies to the mobile, VR, PC, and Xbox One versions of the game, with the Switch coming later.

In addition to the update going live next month on the 21st, the physical version of the popular building title is also set to release the day before on June 20th. You can learn more about popular questions asked concerning this update and what that means for current platforms right here though the game’s official website.

1
COMMENTS
Excited to squad up with friends and family? Here’s what you can experience together with this expansive update:

“Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs.”

Minecraft Marketplace
For the first time, skins, textures, and worlds designed by the community are available in the store. Buy once and enjoy across Xbox, Windows 10 and mobile devices!* (and soon, the Switch)
Endless exploration
Create and explore your very own world where the only limit is what you can imagine.
Build almost anything
Crafting has never been faster, easier or more fun!
Co-op play
Play with up to four players in split screen for free, or invite hundreds of friends to a massive gameplay server or your own private Realm!

Minecraft has reached over 100 million registered users in China less than 12 months after it launched.

The free-to-play version of Mojang’s genre-defining builder was brought to China on PC in August 2017, quickly followed an iOS release in September, and finally an Android version in October; there is no console version available in the region.

Daniel Ahmad
@ZhugeEX
Minecraft now has over 100 million registered users in China across the free to play versions of the game on PC & Mobile.

12:40 AM – May 23, 2018
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Published by tech giant NetEase, in collaboration with Microsoft, the free-to-play downloads are in addition to the 144 million sales figure announced earlier this year, putting Minecraft on around 250 million downloads worldwide.

Developer Mojang recently announced however that it won’t be releasing anymore significant updates for the last-gen console versions of Minecraft.

Sega recently launched a new type of Total War game, Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia, as the latest in a long-running series of strategy titles for the PC.

I gave it a whirl and checked out how it offers a new take on real-time combat with a meta-layer of strategy and diplomacy. Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia dwells on a particular historical period, with the battle for the British Isles during the Viking invasions. It starts after Alfred the Great wins a victory over the Nordic invaders at the Battle of Edington in 878 A.D. It is available on the Windows PC.

I played the Viking Sea Kings on the normal level. It was easy for me to grasp, but I’ve been playing the franchise since it started in 2000 with Total War: Shogun. The strategy series now has 15 entries that have combined sold over 20 million units. Developer The Creative Assembly, the studio behind Total War, also made Halo Wars 2 for Microsoft. The fantasy-themed Total War: Warhammer II debuted in September, but Britannia takes the series back to history.

I wish I had time to play it more. But you can check out a sample of it in the video. By the way, I’ll be interviewing Rob Bartholomew, studio brand director at Sega’s Creative Assembly, next Wednesday in London at the Casual Connect Europe event in London. We’ll be talking about catering to both the hardcore and the mainstream, and pivoting into new business models such as free-to-play.

Above: Thousands of soldiers can fight in real-time combat in Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia.

Image Credit: Sega
Unlike the Total War games that can span huge eras, Total War Saga games will explore key flashpoints at distinct places and times in history. Time progresses at about one season per turn, and a game might take about 200 turns to finish. That’s a lot of time.

The strategic map is built on Total War: Attila, which is about the fall of the Roman Empire. But while Attila covered much of Europe, the Britannia strategic map is much more concentrated. The whole geographic area is under a much tighter microscope. You move your armies around the strategic map, and when you meet another army in battle, the action zooms into a 3D landscape where the enemies clash.

When I first zoomed into a battle, I noticed that I could see the individual shops in a bazaar in the middle of a small settlement. I zoomed out and could see the few square miles of battlefield where the armies could maneuver. That represented an astounding amount of detail.

The game depicts a defining moment in British history, when Alfred the Great defeated rival Viking factions. While he beat the Vikings, he subsequently made a deal with them. He converted the Viking leader Guthrum to Christianity, and then he used the Vikings as allies to become the dominant ruler in England. For the first time in 80 years of Viking raids, the territories enjoyed a measure of peace. That, in short, is your own task in the game, to become Britain’s ruler.

As the game begins, you face a series of choices that can branch the story in different historical directions. You can achieve victory by aggressively expanding through war, by increasing your fame through construction, achieving technological innovations or influence, or by completing a series of objectives for your particular faction’s history.

Other factions include the English, the Gaels, the Welsh, or the Great Vikings. The last time, I played King Flann of the Mide clan, one of the Gael factions.

Above: Rule Britannia. That’s the goal of Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia.

Image Credit: Sega
The tech tree is divided into eight military and six civic branches. You have to research things like Missile Specialists to get better ranged units. When you do it, those units are available for you to recruit in the pool.

Each province on the map consists of a provincial capital and a series of minor settlements. Capitals have walls and garrisons for defence, have six building slots, and tend to house structures relating to finance, trade, infrastructure, production and the military. Capitals also house larger religious centers, and famous cathedrals can be built in the appropriate towns, granting fame for your leader. Your leader gains traits such as “passionate” or attributes such as zeal, inspiring better performance from followers or armies.

As your leaders gain experience, you can customize how your faction develops. You can add more Champions as your followers to improve the leader’s combat abilities, or you can add Quartermasters to improve your logistics. So your leader doesn’t really change. But the followers behind your leader determine the unique characteristics of what the leader is capable of doing. You can tune the followers for combat or for running a province with bureaucratic efficiency.

I played the Dyflin clan, known as the Giant Slayers, led by my king Bardr, and squared off in battle against the Laigin clan. We were pretty evenly matched, but my soldiers had the better training.

In the battle I included in the video, I had a pretty large army, with plenty of ax soldiers, some spear units, a just a couple of bow units. It was a bit difficult to keep track of things because the entire battlefield was covered with thick woods. I had to zoom in periodically to see what was happening, bu the broke up into a bunch of mini battles as units retreated or charged in different directions. I tried to divide and

Like I said, I wish I had more time to check it out. If I get time to revisit my pile of shame, I’ll pick this one up.

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Minecraft fans didn’t downloaded fewer pieces of content from the game’s Marketplace last month, but the top 10 lists for most downloaded and top grossing are both still excellent reminders of the variety and fun that players can find in that tore. The Minecraft Marketplace had 285,816 downloads in April, which is down from 321,317 in March and 372,509 in February.

Welcome! You’ve once again found yourself reading GamesBeat’s monthly analysis of the Minecraft Marketplace, which is the block-building phenomenon’s platform for extra content from the Minecraft team as well as external developers. If this is your first time here, you can see the results from past months right here. We do have some new names on the charts, but once again developers like PixelHeads are dominating.

But we can also see that teams that specialize in roleplay content like InPvP are also thriving with the No. 2 and No. 3 spot on the most-downloaded top 10. Maybe we’ll see developers chasing that trend, or maybe we’ll see some new fad breakthrough in May.

Let’s do the charts.

Here are the top 10 most downloaded pieces of content from the Minecraft Marketplace in April 2018:

Wildlife: Savanna 6. Wildlife: Savanna by PixelHeads
Here’s the top 10 in list form:

City Life
BrightStart Daycare
Prison Escape
Dinosaur Island
K-Pop: Teenage Rebellion
Wildlife: Savanna
Oropia
Summer Mini Games Festival
Chroma Hills HD
Steampunk Castle
And here’s the top-grossing list for April 2018:

5. Chroma Hills HD 5. Chroma Hills HD by Syclone Studios
City Life
Dinosaur Isalnd
Wildlife: Savanna
BrightStart Daycare
Chroma Hills HD
Prison Escape
Relics of the Privateers
Lapis Lagoon
K-Pop: Teenage Rebelion
PureBDcraft
The Marketplace is already growing, and we can see that new content always causes download numbers to pop from month-to-month. But as the Marketplace hits new platforms as Bedrock launches on devices (like Nintendo Switch on June 21), content creators will have a chance to hit entirely new audiences. That’s a big opportunity for a group of Marketplace devs that are already making a living doing what they are doing.