Notes

Microsoft will Unite the Majority of 'Minecraft' Platforms This Summer

Minecraft is about to get its final version. The Better Together update will be released in August and will unify Minecraft across all platforms that it supports, including iOS, Android, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. This unification is due to the Bedrock Engine, which currently powers all mobile, Windows 10, Amazon Fire and VR versions of the game. Now, it won't matter which platform your friends play on to play Minecraft -- every version will be the same, they'll share updates and DLC and all players will be able to create new worlds together.



The majority of them, actually. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox 360 versions of Minecraft aren't part of the initial "Better Together" update.



"Beginning with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch we'll be expanding the code base to ensure that all -the majority of our community is united," marketing lead Emily Orrson says.



The Better Together update adds Bedrock to Minecraft on the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch which allows players to play with nearly every version of the game. The consoles that are participating will now be able to download Realms (the multiplayer mode of the game) and the new Community Marketplace. Any existing worlds can be transferred directly to Bedrock as will all DLC players have purchased. The update adds infinite worlds to Xbox One or Switch, which is a significant improvement over the current grid of 3 miles by 3 miles.



Executive producer Jesse Merriam says that "they've been asking for relief there for some time and now they'll be capable of walking straight up within these worlds, and continue to generate them infinitely."



But players who play on PS4 which is arguably the most popular console available, won't be moved to Bedrock immediately.



Merriam declared that "our goal is to unite all Minecraft players." "Today, we can confirm Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. However we can confirm that all of our current-gen partner are available and we're keen to connect all Minecraft players. It's just about what we can confirm today."



The PS4 and Xbox 360 versions of Minecraft will keep their specific names for each platform, while the Java version will formally be named Minecraft: Java Edition, which is what the majority of players refer to it as. Now, there's the main Minecraft game, and three separate editions (PS4, Xbox 360 and Java) that aren't guaranteed to receive the same updates or cross-platform functionality as the main version. It's a good step towards unity, but not yet a complete leap.



Orrson says that "we're very closely partnered with Apple, Google and PlayStation, Nintendo, Amazon -quite a lot, but it just isn't a lot to ensure that we're always available at every store and every other one." "Right moment, we're trying to get everyone connected however it's a challenge to work through every scenario we come across.



Microsoft purchased Minecraft in 2014 for $2.5 Billion. It is only natural that the Xbox One version of Minecraft will be getting some love in this Better Together update. Of course, Sony builds the PS4.



"It's not for the lack of motivation or effort on our part," said senior global communications manager Aubrey Norris. "We are currently in discussions with our partners right now. We are interested in PlayStation and we would like to invite Sony to bring PlayStation players to Bedrock. However these are private conversations.



Microsoft and developer Mojang aren't finished with Minecraft. Better Together is part a larger push for Minecraft to be a "creative platform." Developers want more than a game. They want it to be the basis for community-driven innovation, connection and creativity.



The Community Marketplace which was launched in Pocket and Windows 10 editions in June was a major part of this transition. It lets players look for, purchase, and sell their in-game creations.



Servers are also getting some attention in Better Together. They allow players to play around in totally unique worlds created by dedicated fans. The Servers tab will be located next to the "Worlds", "Friends" and "Friendstabs upon starting up. This will introduce a whole new group of players to fan-favorite worlds like Lifeboat, which was created by a 14-year-old and his father. Lifeboat boasts 6,000,000 players per month. I'm e The first servers that will be available on Bedrock are Lifeboat, CubeCraft, Mineplex and InPvP.



One final update makes Minecraft even more self-contained. an integrated recipe book for crafting.



"We would like to bring the strengths of the existing crafting systems together," Merriam says. "The Java edition is known for its ability to discover and experiment by going to the crafting grid to try out different things and find the right recipe.



The book's recipe book will allow players to switch recipes directly on the crafting grid, eliminating the need to set down the game and search for the Wiki page for the recipe. Anyone who is interested in trying new recipes can ignore the book.



"Anyone who has had the pleasure of interacting with a fervent Minecraft fan will know there's an immense amount of pride that an individual feels when they know the recipe for building a boat," Merriam says.



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