Microsoft has announced that it intends to unify all versions of Minecraft under its "Better Together" update, and that the Nintendo Switch will be one of the first platforms to benefit.
Due for release in August, the update will unite the game across (nearly) every platform, thanks to the Bedrock Engine, which currently powers all mobile, Windows 10, Amazon Fire and VR versions of the game.
The idea is that it won't matter which version you're playing - the core game will be exactly the same across all platforms, so DLC and updates will be shared and players will be able to interact and create worlds together, irrespective of which machine they own.
Once the update lands, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One owners will be able to link with (nearly) every other version of the game. You'll get access to Realms - Minecraft's multiplayer mode - as well as the freshly-launched Community Marketplace. Existing worlds and DLC will work fine, and the update also brings with it support for infinite worlds.
Not all consoles will get the Better Together update right away. The PS4 version will have to wait a little longer, while the Java version will be officially renamed Minecraft: Java Edition. It doesn't look like the Wii U version of Minecraft will be updated, with Destructoid reporting that a Microsoft representative has stated that legacy systems - which also includes the PS3 and Xbox 360 - won't receive the Better Together update.
Here's what marketing lead Emily Orrson had to say:
Beginning with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, we'll be expanding that code base so that... the vast majority of our community is united. We're partnered very closely with Apple, Google, PlayStation, Nintendo, Amazon, our VR partners -- a lot of that, it just is a lot to make sure we're always working in everyone's store and everything else. Right now we are doing our best to get everybody connected, but it is work to work through all of the scenarios we encounter.
So, Minecraft on Switch is going to get even better - and before the PlayStation 4 version, too. What do you make of this news?
[source engadget.com]
Comments 92
I'm guessing this still doesn't affect map size right? (not that it would bother me, since I prefer the limited size, less chance of me getting lost, lol)
How would you access someone's unlimited world on switch?
"We'd love to have PlayStation 4 players using the Bedrock Engine," they said, but they aren't mentioning any plans to do that right now. Now all the Sony fans know how it feels to have a Sony-centric developer tell Nintendo fans that they're interested in developing for Nintendo consoles but not actually do it.
That's good news, shame the Wii U is left out but I understand why.
If they don't support PS4 soon I just might have to cave in and get Minecraft on Switch. This was one of the most exciting announcements for me from Microsoft today.
Pretty cool! Does online require paying for a Realms server, or how does it work?
So what they're saying is that players on XB1 will be able to interact with players on PS4 and Switch?
Dang, glad to see Nintendo switch being taken more seriously
You can play it first; Nintendo Switch
I guess they aren't supporting the PS4 but Switch first is because Sony is a direct competitor in the fact their console is so close to the Xbox line, whereas Microsoft doesn't see Switch is the same light.
Hope it'll land on PS4 eventually since that's where I'm used to building my worlds. Pro Controller and Joy-Cons just w) felt too weird (AKA not 100% like a PS4) on Switch and the limited world size of 3x3 maps instead 5x5 just made me rather go back to PS4.
But hey, I've got time. Not that I'd particularly like waiting or anything but it's nothing that I'd need to breathe.
@Dakt Windows 10 is part of the Xbox ecosystem.
Anyways, I was surprised as anybody to see a Switch pop up. Nice announcement for Minecraft fans, at least.
Always nice to see competition play nice
@FragRed It is up to Sony to allow cross play. Microsoft wanted this for Rocket League, but Sony was a no.
@Dakt They figured that only so many people will bother to use Microsoft's... not so good online store.
If I read that correctly, the world sizes will increase on Switch. That makes it seem worth upgrading to the Switch edition now, tbh.
Cool news for Minecraft players.
This and Realms coming to Switch has me really excited. I think I'll be setting up a Realms server come August.
Eh... not interested at all with Minecraft.
But, I bought Portal Knights ps4 (Switch later) for better looking.
@Joeynator3000 quote straight from the article :
"and the update also brings with it support for infinite worlds."
So what the article says basically is that from August onwards, ALL versions of the game that will be part of this update, including Switch, will get infinite worlds.
@Kafei2006 Kinda figured that meant something else, lol.
Did they say anything about the graphics update? I mean, obviously the Switch can't do the 4K part, but the other stuff?
@Kafei2006 Yep. Infinite Worlds for Switch.
Since this is MCPE, expect a resolution increase for docked, and a render distance increase for handheld mode!
@Joeynator3000 You're likely referring to what they called the Super Duper Graphics pack? I'm still wondering about that myself as well lol. That would be freaking awesome indeed, even if it's only at 1080p docked, that'd still be loads better.
@memoryman3 I'm hoping so about that too actually. Well they already said before that the only reason it wasn't more than 720p docked was due to a quirk in programming when going from one mode to the other (handheld/Docked) so hopefully if that's solved by then, we'll see such improvements. Fingers crossed at any rate.
This was definitely surprising. Kind of makes me wonder if we'll ever be at a time where multi-platform games will ALL be able to connect with each other. ..probably not, but we'll see I guess.
In your uh..face...Sony? Weird. But cool.
@Dakt A fair portion wasn't even console exclusive; it was console launch exclusive. Most of those games are coming to PS4.
That's pretty cool, no PS4 support kinda sucks but oh well.
@DavyP your messages are cruel beyond anything I've read on here. @SLIGEACH_EIRE is a person and as such is entitled to his opinions. His comments do not support the response that you have provided and I am horrified that you would put this message in our community and mortified that someone has actually liked your post.
Night and day from the Wii U era...
@DavyP Maybe if you had some kind of response that didn't prove your point that there are bullies on this site (by being one yourself) people would listen. You certainly sound like a troll without a filter, so you won't last here very long.
Wait... I missed the most important part.
"...and the update also brings with it support for infinite worlds"
This is amazing! I'm double dipping for sure now! I guess the Switch could handle it after all - eh, @ACK?
Microsoft should call the PS4 version Minecraft: Lonely and Isolated edition. Bravo Microsoft, hopefully other games shared between Xbox and the Switch follow through in the future (Fifa, NBA 2K, etc)
Unrelated, but Reggie reconfirmed what we already knew, Nintendo would have a few game announcements during its Tree house presentation.
MS show was actually really good. I loled seeing the Switch w red/blue joycon shown (rendered in minecraft) at an xbox hardware unveiling someone's cleaning toilets for a month in the editing dept for sure.
@Joeynator3000 super duper gfx is Xbox One X exclusive (not even 1 S gets it.......) for now anyway.
@gortsi Considering PS4 has a bigger userbase than Xbox and both of Nintendo's home consoles combined, i'd say they're far from lonely in terms of people to play with. I'm not a member of the PS defense force, but come on, terrible troll comment.
I might now reconsider and get Minecraft. Only because I like this idea.
@DavyP There's no place for that. His comment wasn't even remotely negative. Ignore him and move on please.
@RedMageLanakyn so the PS4 userbase is bigger than PC, IOS, Android, Xbox, and Switch combined? Are you serious?
@gortsi Ahhh nope. If you read my comment, I said xbox and Nintendo. Comparing the same things you did in your original comment. Reading is fundamental. Like if you read the article, it says PS4 will have to wait a little longer, not that it's not happening at all.
@TreesenHauser I wonder what the odds before the press conference were of Microsoft announcing Nintendo news, or showing a Switch.
@DavyP Dude, enough with the profanity...also if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all.
@Joeynator3000 Thank you!
Reading the original article on which you commented is fundamental too. Every device our there (except legacy platforms too) bar the PS4 will have a unified player Base for the biggest game in the world. And XBOX is a platform on PC as well if we're talking semantics. But yeah, good guy Sony for protecting it's players yet again, like they did with refusing EA access, backwards compatibility, etc. etc.
@Joeynator3000 This guy has been a member here for 3 years and yet their only comments have all been made in this story. All abusive, beyond that, vile and have nothing whatsoever to do with the story. If I didn't know any better I'd say someone resurrected an old dormant alternate account.
Not much else I can do, so....yeah. :c
@gortsi You need to take your time, you forgot to reply to me! Again, it says PS4 is getting the update later, not that it's not happening at all. Also, PS4 has BC with PS1 and PS2 games. Gonna block you in 5 minutes, should be enough time for you to comprehend what i just wrote, and go back to read the article again. You're clearly a troll, not worth responding to anymore.
I would actually prefer his comment at #16 be deleted. There's no place for that here and shouldn't be left alone for all to view.
Block me all you want, ain't got time for corporate apologists anyway. This is from minecraft's official website :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. So no, your beloved PS4 isn't gonna be playing with others online. And it has backwards compatibility? Hahahahahaha that's comedy gold, bye bye 👋 troll
@Kalmaro @Spoony_Tech @Ignatius @InternetBowser Thank you.
@DavyP @sligeach_eire gives his opinion like everybody else. Granted he can be negative (it's perfectly acceptable to express disappointment with nintendo, yet still love the brand), but he's never personal. Grow up.
The irony of you saying kids read news here when you just referenced an x rated experience sligeach may or may not have had with a nun.
Trolls belong under bridges with limited internet access....go home.
@Cosats It's one thing to attack his comment but another entirely to go after him as a person like DavyP did. That was uncalled for!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE No prob. I don't think some people realize that if we attack you for your views then no one can share their views.
@Cosats There is absolutely no situation where name calling and bullying is tolerated here. It is part of our rules. Sligs does none of those things so he is fine.
@TreesenHauser I bet it was...
Yea... Microsoft... releasing an update for PS4 a little bit later...
@DEZn00ts Not the biggest fan of that tone, but I'm being serious. Being able to play any multiplatform console game with other players on other platforms is pretty neato. Of course there were other decent announcements too, but that one got me by surprise.
@Dakt Yes, but soon you'll be able to play your dusty Xbox Original games.....IN ULTRA 4K SUPER CHARGED WHATEVER MODE! XD
But seriously, am curious to what that will imply. Will they got as far as putting the online back into those games (Not for the OG console obviously, but when you play an OG XBox game on an XBONE X), will this go further then 360's OG Xbox compatibility and even offer games to buy digitally (Which also the 360 barely had), will the retail discs start to jump up in value after this announcement?
Oh the questions... XD
All part of Microsoft's classic "Embrace, Extend, Exterminate" strategy.
Embrace: Microsoft buys Minecraft.
Extend: Microsoft releases their own special version of Minecraft, initially exclusive to Windows 10.
Exterminate: Replaces nearly all releases of Minecraft with their special version, relegating the original PC Java version to a second-class citizen. Eventually, Microsoft stops updating the Java version, locking Linux and Mac out forever.
Apparently Sony refused cross platform play for Minecraft.
You're making Nintendo of all companies look forward thinking when it comes to online stuff.
Sony has been the most resistant to console crossplay. Which is a surprise since resistant is Nintendo's mantra and Sony has never had an issue with pc cross play
It'd be a blunder on Sony's part to get in on this, despite MInecraft's popularity. If you start allowing cross-platform play with one game where does it stop? Before you know it, one less reason for somebody to get a PlayStation instead of or in addition to an Xbox.
Still waiting for Terraira or Starbound to come to the Switch. Would much rather play those over Minecraft.
This is... pretty awesome!
@Gamer83 Not allowing cross platform play and buy on the PS4 version makes it an inferior version. Minecraft is now essentially a unified platform across all of the current versions except the PS4 version. People with the PS4 version being isolated from their friends with one of the other versions is NOT a good thing.
There's zero reason for them not to be in on this.
Shall I get the Switch version? I want to get it, but that price is a bit steep. Never played Mincraft before but the Mario and Adventure Time worlds have me intrigued.
@Spoony_Tech Second that. While it seems at first a bit cryptic, the underlying message is not something to let it pass. I reported it right away.
This sounds amazing, but also has me kind of scoffing. "It wont' matter which console you're on, unless if it's the PS4 which will have to wait, or the Wii U or Vita, pfft, get real."
@Spoony_Tech Did you mean comment #15?
I report comments but they're nearly always left there. His comments have been left, only the bad language has been removed or changed. But his bigoted view and referring to someone being sexually abused by religious orders is acceptable?
So does this mean we may see Hypixel servers on console?
@RedMageLanakyn it's reported that Sony has rejected the idea of supporting cross-play on PS4, so it's probably going to be a very long wait, if ever
If this is true, then Sony has turned the PS4 Minecraft to a trash.. no cross-platform, no dedicate server, no realm and no shared mod packs
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1389656
@InternetBowser Are you going to try Minecraft on the NS? I think I might pull the trigger and get it. I wish the graphics were better.
Crowd steps back and cheers - gcunit has arrived!
Please all try to remember the 'report & ignore' principle.
It's nice that users have shown support to a fellow user, but it potentially creates more issues for the mods to clear up. Just report the comment and ignore it, and the user that made the comment if you wish.
I wonder whether it's Microsoft to blame for this feature not being on PS4, or Sony? Guess we'll never know, but it's great that Nintendo is allowing the cross platform update.
@DavyP - please take this as an official warning - we don't accept abuse, harassment, bullying, profanity, or inappropriate sexual references here.
There's an ignore function that allows you to ignore other users if you don't want to see their comments.
@crimsontadpoles its 100% sony. They're the reason many other games, like rocket league and tekken 7, does not have unified/ (or in tekken's case) NO crossplay in place whatsoever.
PS4/PC? alright.
PS4/Xbox? NEVER.
PS4/Xbox/PC? GET DAT CRUD OUTTA HERE.
seeing the pattern?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE glad this was taken care of. On my screen it was comment 16. If you were ignoring someone it would be 15 for you.
@Spoony_Tech Oh ya, that must have been it.
@AlphaElite I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the real purpose of all this. I told my brother this would happen when Windows 10 Beta came out and was free when you bought the real game or was only $10.
Though I don't think them eventually abandoning the Java version has anything to do with them wanting to take it away from Linux or Mac. Heck they'll probably make a Mac edition to match the rest of them.
It's always been a long play toward future monitization of mods and add-ons which are free and uncontrollable in the Java version. It was obvious where it was going when they released combat mode on consoles, which is basically Hunger Games without the stolen name and levels that cost money and aren't made by modders.
I don't play Minecraft but this interests me in an academic manner. My son loves it though and it will be sad to see his favorite game transform from a game with a great community that is constantly tinkering with it to create new experiences to what Microsoft has always hoped it could be. A self contained marketplace available on as many devices as possible. In other words a long term corporate revenue stream.
Much like how I've watch the internet sell out, and people before me watched Punk Rock go mainstream, I guess we all get to experience this disillusionment at some point in our lives. I feel for the Minecraft generation. Who knows maybe Microsoft will keep the Java version alive but it's clear its no longer the main version of the game.
This is Microsoft #$%$%@ with Sony nothing else. lol!
Great to see the game receive such a substantial update! I only have it on mobile and play it once in a while, but not enough to justify purchasing it again on consoles. Still, it's great to see I could potentially bring my phone over to a friend's console and we could play together.
@Gamer83 It'd be amazing if we were allowed to play online with users of other systems for third party games (think FIFA, NBA2K, etc.), and while I understand why Sony wouldn't like it, from a consumer perspective it would be fantastic and solve a lot of problems with dwindling populations in online games. Walled online in first party games? Perfectly acceptable. But for third parties, I hope Microsoft and Nintendo create a precedent and this is going to be the way forward (there's a second game that will include it after Minecraft, so we'll see).
@Godsent I'm just going off what was said in this article, which doesn't explicitly rule it out. If Sony does in fact choose to remain out of the loop, then it is a bad decision on their part.
Wonder if the PS4 version is held off to possibly make it PSVR compatible? #hopefulthoughts.
Hands down, @Exy put it best.
My friend agreed with me that Sony - on many things, backwards compatibility being the tip of the iceberg - flat-out stopped caring about their userbase just because of it being big enough to cover any complaint under the ever-popular slogan...
@AlexSora89 According to Destructoid, a representative at Microsoft told them that Sony outright refused to join this initiative. This is for the players. Our players, not yours.
@Exy
Let's just say that #ForThePlayers can be changed to another thing that can't be posted here.
@InternetBowser I might get it due to the four player co-op and the Mario and Adventure Time worlds. I feel like I would create for a bit and then get bored. I like actual games more though. If anything I would get it to play on the servers and to play co-op with the family.
@Aerona Sorry for the trouble, I admit I was wrong. Kudos on the long memory. And double thanks for reminding me of my error after all this time... I'm actually required to report all false statements I make on the internet to my dungeon master so as to receive my deserved lashings in proper ruthless fashion. Thank goodness for this BDSM lifestyle keeping me online-honest!
Seriously though, I am surprised, but I suppose to join unlimited worlds we will probably have to access save files on a server. That was always a possibility, but I was quite dubious on the Switch version even including dedicated servers... So, this is a great sign all around. Especially for other games including crossplay and servers.
I still expect a limit on local worlds though because I believe there will always be a limit to save file usage and access. Constantly reading and rewriting to the flash memory could be a disaster.
However they implement, I hope it works out.
@ACK That's right, it turns out I'm actually posting here to WIN pointless arguments. ;P Whoo!
@Aerona Whadda ya know? Turns out I'm posting here because I'm a perpetual loser. Uh... Glad to be of service!
So is the Wii U to Switch world transferring still happening?
#WeWantCrossPlay ps4 https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/minecraft-playstation-editon-we-want-cross-play?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=pet_share_button
I was about to get Minecraft Wiiu... Never mind then. :/
Tap here to load 92 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...