Microsoft Just Made All Your Minecraft Dreams Come True

Microsoft Just Made All Your Minecraft Dreams Come True

While the Xbox One X reveal understandably dominated the headlines from Microsoft’s E3 press conference, the software giant made another huge announcement: Minecraft is going cross-platform.

“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!” Microsoft’s Tom Stone explains. “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.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Cross-platform compatibility is the holy grail for Minecraft fans. Today, there are multiple versions of the game across various platforms—PC, consoles, mobile, VR, and so on—and they are not compatible with each other. This means that you, as an individual, cannot create a world on the PC and then continue working on it from a mobile device, or vice versa. And that groups of people across different platforms cannot play together either.

“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),” Smith continues. “This means when you buy Minecraft, you’re buying a game that can you can play with friends across devices.”

Furthermore, anyone playing Minecraft on Windows 10, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and VR devices will be able to play together for the first time. The Better Together Update will be offered to gamers for free this summer, though the schedule varies by platform.

Additionally, Microsoft announced that a coming update for Xbox One and Windows 10 will bring 4K graphics and HDR capabilities to Minecraft on Xbox One X, Windows 10, iOS, mobile, and VR. And a separate DLC (downloadable content) package, the Super Duper Graphics Pack, will add (paid) 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,” Microsoft says.

 

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 25 comments

  • BigM72

    12 June, 2017 - 8:27 am

    <p>So all platforms except Playstation, sounds good MS.</p>

    • Patrick3D

      12 June, 2017 - 10:21 am

      <blockquote><a href="#124787"><em>In reply to BigM72:</em></a></blockquote><p>Sony refused to allow cross-platform support in Minecraft, Microsoft would love for them to be included.</p>

      • Nonmoi

        12 June, 2017 - 10:38 am

        <blockquote><a href="#124844"><em>In reply to Patrick3D:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p><em>And you know Sony with spine it, so it looks like Microsoft is the bad guy here, as always.</em></p><p><br></p><p>The basic Sony electronic entertainment's strategy is saying one thing and do the other, and console gamers seems to eat it right up. This proves that if you have more (good) exclusives, you can do/say anything, and gamers will love you and be your unpaid shills while pay you hand over fists.</p><p> </p><p>Maybe Microsoft should learn from this and put more emphasis on true exclusives (only on Xbox and Windows Store, with no plan to be on PlayStation), especially first party titles that will be released in the same year as E3 announcement, now that we got mid-gen update hardware behind us. </p><p>If when E3 2019 comes, and Microsoft can be like Bethesda of last night "everything we shown today will come in this year", then Microsoft and Xbox will truly have a chance to win the console war. </p>

  • Jeroen Haegebaert

    12 June, 2017 - 8:47 am

    <p>So did I interpret correctly that the Java edition won't be part of the cross-platform goodness?</p>

    • Angusmatheson

      12 June, 2017 - 11:06 am

      <blockquote><a href="#124792"><em>In reply to Jeroen Haegebaert:</em></a></blockquote><p>So that leaves out non-windows 10 PCs, Mac, as well as Linux. I wonder if they are going to abandon development in these? The javs PC was the original and used to get the new feature first with the non-javs mobile trailing. Also sad for Java – this was suppose to be the universal language. I think Minecraft did a lot to increase its mindshare.</p>

      • skane2600

        12 June, 2017 - 11:15 am

        <blockquote><a href="#124862"><em>In reply to Angusmatheson:</em></a></blockquote><p>Java was never going to be the universal language, but then again, no other language will ever be either.</p>

  • hometoy

    12 June, 2017 - 9:04 am

    <p>Unfortunately Microsoft likes leaving Linux out of their "cross-platform" and "across devices" statements. I hope they don't bungle this and do their same B$ crap. </p><p><br></p><p>If it is cross-platform, than it includes Linux. If it does not then they should get fined for false advertising.</p><p><br></p><p>Now, if they do include Linux and are really cross-platform (like it is now) then that would be fantastic! My Windows 10 laptop cannot play the desktop version of Minecraft (though when it was running Linux it had no problem, when it was running Windows 7 it had no problem too) so I have been using the Windows 10 version but that is only a PE version.</p><p><br></p><p>Hopeful about this announcement, but still cautious. </p>

    • Daekar

      12 June, 2017 - 9:42 am

      <blockquote><a href="#124793"><em>In reply to hometoy:</em></a></blockquote><p>Linux just isn't on anyone's gaming radar. Yes, it's important for scientific and IT purposes, but the number of people that run Linux at home AND don't have a mainstream platform is miniscule.</p>

    • MikeGalos

      12 June, 2017 - 10:35 am

      <blockquote><a href="#124793"><em>In reply to hometoy:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yes. Leaving out Linux means it isn't "cross-platform" in much the same way as saying it isn't "cross-platform" because CP/M-80 and BeOS aren't supported. </p><p>In fact, how dare they even say it's cross platform‽ I see no mention of OS/2 Warp or support for the Apple/Bandai Pippin!</p>

      • Angusmatheson

        12 June, 2017 - 10:59 am

        <blockquote><a href="#124851"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p>Linux is a modern OS that is used today. It isn't fair to compare it to historical OSes. Linux' problem is 1) it has amazingly low market share overall and the subset that plays games on it is probably even smaller. And 2) it and its desktop user base have been historically anti-windows. Not a position that is likely to get any goodwill now that Microsoft owns Minecraft.</p>

        • skane2600

          12 June, 2017 - 11:12 am

          <blockquote><a href="#124859"><em>In reply to Angusmatheson:</em></a></blockquote><p>While what you say is true, I believe Mike's point is that a definition of "cross platform" that requires all platforms to be included isn't very useful because no application would qualify. On the other hand, the term "Write Once Run Anywhere" is different because it explicitly says "Anywhere".</p>

      • Locust Infested Orchard Inc.

        13 June, 2017 - 7:39 am

        <blockquote><a href="#124851"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p>Cross-platform ? My posterior is it. My Alienware 17 Gaming laptop is running OpenIndiana (OS forked from the discontinued OpenSolaris) and I'd want to play Minecraft on it.</p><p>Also, I'm sure Microsoft could port Minecraft to MS-DOS, if simply to reminisce the nostalgia of DOS games of the 1980s.</p>

    • SvenJ

      12 June, 2017 - 12:07 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#124793"><em>In reply to hometoy:</em></a> Anybody that supports mobile and leaves out Windows Phone should be sued for false advertising as well. Right.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Waethorn

    12 June, 2017 - 9:33 am

    <p>Adding dynamic lighting completely destroys the existing lighting behaviour, so expect your lighting setups to have to be redone after this update.</p>

  • Daekar

    12 June, 2017 - 9:41 am

    <p>Hmmm… you know, I've sat out on this game, but I really love my Switch and I'm almost done with Breath of the Wild. This might be what I play with until Skyrim comes out this fall. Glad to see them collaborating and spreading across so many platforms! This bodes well for the future.</p>

  • vernonlvincent

    Premium Member
    12 June, 2017 - 10:25 am

    <p>Did Microsoft say when they expect to have this cross-platform functionality rolled out?</p>

  • sj3vans

    12 June, 2017 - 11:55 am

    <p>How does server hosting fit into this? A friend hosts a server where his family and ours have been building for a long time. Setting up a server was easy and wonderful! Will worlds be able to be imported into the new non-java framework? </p>

    • JacobTheDev

      Premium Member
      12 June, 2017 - 2:06 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#124906"><em>In reply to sj3vans:</em></a></blockquote><p>It sounds like this doesn't affect the Java platform at all; that system is still entirely separate.</p>

    • CaedenV

      12 June, 2017 - 7:03 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#124906"><em>In reply to sj3vans:</em></a></blockquote><p>The old school PC version will stay the same. Get a server and client with compatible versions and it should work as normal.</p><p>This affects the store version of Minecraft, which will now work with consoles and VR… though I somehow suspect that it is only for hosted worlds rather than lan hosted worlds… but I could be wrong on that bit.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Like One Windows, there is now One Minecraft… which means there is still more than one version lol</p>

      • sj3vans

        13 June, 2017 - 8:32 am

        <blockquote><a href="#125033"><em>In reply to CaedenV:</em></a></blockquote><p>I might be OK with hosted worlds versus LAN hosted worlds so long as we can import the world we've been working on. But regardless of that, how will this work for PC and Xbox interoperability? In order to play together, I sign into my Xbox, they sign into a Windows 10 app version, and we both log into…what? A realm? </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • Narg

    12 June, 2017 - 12:02 pm

    <p>I still enjoy tinkering with Minecraft too much. i.e. adding in packs and tweaks and such. So I'll miss out on these cross platform versions.</p>

  • JacobTheDev

    Premium Member
    12 June, 2017 - 2:06 pm

    <p>I'm a bit concerned about what this means for the Java edition long term; I know they said they'd continue to support it, but it sounds like it's going to be put off as more of an "extra" thing, making the other version the "main" game.</p><p><br></p><p>That wouldn't be too much of an issue if they had an official modding API that worked on the console/mobile versions of the game, but I don't see that happening.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    13 June, 2017 - 6:42 am

    <p>I've just never, ever understood the appeal of Minecraft. I'm sure it floats a lot of peoples boats, but each to their own. Unsurprisingly, as MS own Minecraft, making it cross-platform will open up a much bigger revenue stream for them. I suspect it was always part of their 'big plan' though. Interesting that Sony have told them to shove it though!</p>

  • phuloonikola

    02 March, 2018 - 4:12 pm

    <p>I can set up my new idea from this post. It gives in depth information. Thanks for this valuable information for all,..</p><p><a href="https://appsforpc.net&quot; target="_blank">Apps For PC</a></p>

  • ian008

    16 March, 2018 - 9:09 pm

    <p>IS it going with JAVA update ?, Mircosoft have minecraft now what they get to make it crossplatform. Is it only for revenue <a href="http://vpnforpcwindows.com/supervpn-for-pc-windows-10-and-mac/&quot; target="_blank">SuperVPN for PC</a></p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC