Lego may be working on a “Minecraft” competitor called “Lego Worlds,” according to an advertisement discovered by a member of Lego fan site Eurobricks.

The advertisement in question was found on the back of a Lego instruction booklet for Lego set 60097, “City Square,” and features some artwork accompanied by the tagline “Explore. Discover. Create.”

There’s also a link to a website — Lego.com/Worlds — but that link brings up Lego’s 404 page, so it appears the advertisement might have run before Lego had time to set the website live.

The artwork for Lego Worlds certainly looks like it could be from a “Minecraft”-style video game, and the tagline does sound similar the tagline for “Minecraft,” which is “Build. Play. Explore.”

Eurbricks/mikaelsol

Creating a “Minecraft” competitor would also make a lot of sense for Lego: “Minecraft” is often described as a sort of virtual Lego sandbox where you can build whatever you want and then explore your creation or the creations of others. The popular video game has more than 100 million registered users and has sold more than 60 million copies across PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, Android, and iOS.

Lego and Minecraft have partnered in the past, with Lego creating physical box sets with “Minecraft” branding, but it looks like Lego may be ready to create a sandbox-style video game of its own.

After its smash success following its launch in 2009, “Minecraft” has become one of the best-selling video games of all time. In September 2014, Microsoft acquired Mojang, the studio behind “Minecraft,” for $2.5 billion.

It looks like Lego is creating a ‘Minecraft’ competitor called ‘Lego Worlds’

We’ve spent quite literally years now wondering why Apple doesn’t provide some kind of MFi controller bundle that’d actually make people interested in buying one, or some kind of “system seller” title to give people a real reason to grab an MFi controller. Well, it’d seem through the magic of Minecraft, Apple has finally done just that. Right now you can get the SteelSeries Nimbus MFi Controller and Minecraft: Apple TV Edition for $40 directly from Apple.

It’s a great bundle, as the Nimbus is the best MFi controller, and Minecraft is probably the best game for the Apple TV. (Or, at least, inevitably the most popular.) We’ve reviewed the Nimbus, but basically it’s just a nice feeling controller that works with iOS devices and charges over Lightning. What’s not to like about that?

Amazon is selling the Nimbus for $44, and Minecraft: Apple TV Edition will normally run you $20, so this bundle is an oddly good deal coming from Apple.

Snag a SteelSeries Nimbus MFi Controller and ‘Minecraft: Apple TV Edition’for $40 from Apple.

Nintendo

Using the Switch feels blessedly modern.

Unlike the often sludgy experience on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, powering up and using the Switch is quick and easy. At any moment in a game, you can push the console’s home button and immediately exit to the dashboard. This concept also exists on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but it’s far quicker and more seamless on the Switch.

Frankly speaking, it doesn’t feel like a technological downgrade from the smartphone in my pocket. Even the user interface is clean and efficient — no digging through submenus to turn off Wi-Fi or see how much storage I’m using. It’s this kind of “quality of life” stuff that makes using the Switch intuitive and accessible to pretty much any user.

2. Sleep Mode turns the Switch into a game console that’s quickly accessible.

Nintendo

A major reason people are inclined to play games on their phones is ease of use. A phone is already in your pocket and takes just a second to wake up, which lets you get in and out of apps and games quickly. The Switch takes this concept to heart with Sleep Mode, which enables the console to operate like, say, a laptop or a tablet.

Rather than turning the console all the way off, you can enter Sleep Mode: a low-power mode that enables the console to be quickly accessed later, comparable to reopening a laptop screen. No restarting the game — you’re back exactly where you left off.

Though there are comparable functions on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the Switch pulls it off much more cleanly — a nod to the portability of the console.

3. Jumping into games, in general, is surprisingly fast.

Nintendo

I’ve been taking a ton of screenshots on the Switch, and getting them off the Switch requires removing the microSD card I’ve inserted. And every time I remove the microSD card, I have to power the Switch all the way down. Bummer!

Thankfully, restarting the Switch — even a “cold boot,” as it’s known — is remarkably quick. I just tested: It takes roughly 10 seconds from all the way off to the main menu. I’d bet any amount of money that it’s faster than the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

This quickness is due partially to the design of the hardware itself and partially to the medium used for games: cartridges. In both instances, Nintendo smartly prioritized the consumer experience — and it makes a difference in daily use.

4. Downloads are similarly fast and seamless, as they should be in 2017.

The Nintendo Switch works with all modern Wi-Fi standards: 802.11 a/c/g/n/ac.Nintendo

Much of what I’ve praised about the Switch’s speed so far has to do with how quickly you can go from zero to in-game. Another delightful aspect is how it handles downloads.

As seen in the picture above, multiple downloads can roll at the same time. And if you need to update a game, the Switch can do so while it’s running. This stuff may sound pretty standard to you — it is 2017, after all — but it’s far from standard on a game console. Being able to casually update “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” while playing the game makes using the Switch a delight. It’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder why it wasn’t already the standard.

5. The Switch easily, quickly fit into my life.

Ben Gilbert / Business Insider

The gimmick of the Switch is simple: You can play it at home on a TV, or you can play it out in the world, wherever you want. When you’re home, you slap the tabletlike console into the Switch dock. Just like that, the game is on the TV. When you’re ready to leave, you pick it up and continue playing.

That gimmick, unbelievably, works. It’s fast and seamless.

Here’s an example from my very exciting life:

On a Sunday evening, I played a few hours of “Splatoon 2” before dinner. I used the Switch Pro controller to play the game from my couch on my TV. Around 7 p.m., I paused the game and put the console into Sleep Mode. I ate dinner with my wife while watching season two of “The Great British Baking Show” and fell asleep a few hours later.

On Monday morning, I woke up, showered, and got ready for work. When it was time to leave my apartment, I grabbed my MacBook and Nintendo Switch and threw them in my bag. While waiting for the F train, I took the Switch out of my bag and played a few levels of the game’s revamped single-player campaign.

The train arrived, and I tapped the power button on the top of the Switch, putting it into Sleep Mode again as I found a seat in the car. The train left the station, and I started playing “Splatoon 2” once more. A few paint-covered levels later, I was at the 14th Street stop and, thus, near Business Insider’s office in Manhattan’s Flatiron District.

I put the Switch to sleep once more and put it back in my bag. Seamless!

6. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is one of the best games I’ve played in years.

Nintendo

If you’re one of the 13 million Wii U owners out there, go ahead and skip right over this. You can play “Breath of the Wild” on your Wii U.

For the rest of us, “Breath of the Wild” is reason enough to buy a Switch. It’s an incredibly impressive game, at once subverting expectations of what a “Zelda” game is supposed to be and questioning the expectations of the entire video-game medium.

To call it a delight is to undersell how good “Breath of the Wild” is — it’s a game that demands conversation with other players. Did you see this? Have you been here yet? What’s this about?“Breath of the Wild” is the purest distillation of the “Zelda” series, enabling you to explore to your heart’s content. And being able to play it nonstop, whether I’m waiting for the subway or lounging on my couch at home, is wonderful.

I’m hard-pressed to suggest anyone drop nearly $400 — between the $299 Switch and the $60 game — to play a single game, but this is one of those rare treats that everyone should play as soon as possible.

7. “Super Mario Odyssey” looks completely bananas.

Nintendo

Just as “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” was an evolution of the long-running, celebrated “Legend of Zelda” franchise, “Super Mario Odyssey” appears poised to challenge and evolve the “Super Mario” formula.

“Super Mario Odyssey” is an open-world, nonlinear “Super Mario” game — along the lines of “Super Mario 64” and “Super Mario Sunshine” — but if you’re thinking “Grand Theft Auto,” that’s not entirely accurate. Instead of one huge world, “Super Mario Odyssey” is segmented into regions. New Donk City, above, is one of them: It’s a massive open environment you can explore to your heart’s content. There’s no timer; your only limitation is survival.

I played “Super Mario Odyssey” in June, and it was a blast. The game arrives on October 27 — just in time for the holidays.

8. Nintendo has a mess of other great-looking games in the pipeline, from a new Yoshi series entry to a full-on new Pokémon game.

Nintendo

The Switch has enjoyed nearly monthly major releases of first-party games, starting with “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” in March and continuing with “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” in April. That march will continue through the end of the year, with “Arms,” “Splatoon 2,” and “Super Mario Odyssey” all on their way.

And other good stuff is on the horizon: New games featuring Yoshi and Kirby in the works for 2018, and a new Pokémon game for the Switch — Nintendo goes so far as to call a “core” Pokémon game — is expected to hit store shelves sometime after that. Fans have been asking for Nintendo to make just such a Pokémon game for one of its home consoles basically since Pokémon launched.

It looks like Nintendo is learning from its failure with the Wii U, supplying a steady beat of big games that can be played only on the Nintendo Switch.

9. Being an in-game photographer is easier than ever.

The little square with an indented circle is the screenshot button. It’s basically a camera shutter button.Ben Gilbert/Business Insider

Taking glorious screenshots is easier than ever with the Switch, thanks to the console’s built-in screenshot button. The button works instantly, capturing whatever you’re looking at on the screen, whether you’re using the Switch as a home console or a handheld.

I’m partial to it because the nature of my job is constantly taking and uploading photos for articles. It’s nice to easily be able to capture images of games and the operating system and then take them off using the microSD card. But it’s just as easy to share those screenshots on social media directly from the Switch, which is great for people who might not be in the business of writing about video games.

More importantly, the speed at which the screenshot function works empowers tons of in-game photography. I feel obligated to capture tons of screenshots simply because I can so easily.

10. Aside from just taking screenshots, the Switch enables you to turn an image into something silly and shareable.

Ben Gilbert/Business Insider

Basic image-editing software on the Switch allows you to crop screenshots, as well as overlay text (like I’ve done above).

It’s silly and basic, but it’s incredibly accessible. Think Snapchat-level accessibility. Take a shot, draw something silly on it, and share away. It’s a little touch, but a meaningful one — a smart extension of existing functionality on the Switch.

11. And finally — crucially — the Switch is affordable, at $299.

Business Insider’s fearless leader Alyson Shontell braved New Jersey retailers to find a Nintendo Switch soon after launch. For the console and a copy of “Breath of the Wild,” she paid $395.42, including tax.Alyson Shontell / Business Insider

The Nintendo Switch, brand-new, costs just a hair more than the years-old Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Even if you buy it with a game — and you definitely should buy it with a copy of “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” let’s not kid ourselves — you’re likely paying less than $400, including tax.

That’s a lot of money, no doubt, but it’s a surprisingly reasonable price for a new video-game console in 2017. Consider this: The original Super Nintendo cost $199 at launch in 1991. That would be about $350 today.

The 11 best reasons to buy a Nintendo Switch

It turns out that “Ultra Street Fighter II,” a souped-up version of the 1991 classic for the new Nintendo Switch console, is a certifiable smash hit.

So far, game developer Capcom says “Ultra Street Fighter II” has sold 450,000 copies, reports IGN— despite lukewarm reviews, and the ongoing shortage of the Switch console itself. Now, Capcom says it’s planning to release a flurry of new Switch games to meet this apparent demand.

From my perspective as a Nintendo Switch owner, the reason for the runaway success of this game is simple: Every video game ever made is better, or would be better, on the Nintendo Switch. All of them. Full stop.

Let me explain.

What Nintendo does for me

I own a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox One, and a whole heap of games to play on them. Still, I don’t get a lot of time to play games on the TV, and when I do, it’s usually for a matter of minutes, not hours. Lately, I’ve played many more games on my iPhone or Nintendo 3DS than my fancy-pants TV consoles.

It means that critically acclaimed games like “The Witcher 3” and even the older “Skyrim” have all passed me by. They’re probably both great, but I just haven’t been able to commit the 40-plus hours in front of my TV that those games would demand from me for full enjoyment.

Back to Nintendo. In case you haven’t heard, the Nintendo Switch has a simple, killer gimmick: It’s a TV console, like an Xbox or PlayStation, but when you’re on the go, you can pick it up right off its dock and keep on playing. It even lets you split one controller into two, for impromptu two-player action. The Nintendo Switch can be plugged into a TV, or played on-the-go. Either way, it’s great.Ben Gilbert/Business Insider

This has been a huge boon for me, personally. The Switch is a TV console, and a thing I can take with me. All of a sudden, I don’t have to choose between playing a console game or something portable. Console games fit into my life, once again. And I suspect that I’m not alone in feeling this way.

So, yeah, of course “Ultra Street Fighter II” sold like crazy, despite being a mediocre version of a decades-old classic. And when “Skyrim,” which first released in 2011, comes out for the Switch later this year, it’ll probably sell like crazy, too. The Switch itself makes any game more accessible, and more playable, by virtue of sheer flexibility. (Plus, this early in a console’s life cycle, people are thirsty for any half-decent game, which also helps.)

Ultimately, I would urge every game developer out there to consider a Nintendo Switch version of any games they’re working on, or even that they’ve already made. Superhero fighting game “Injustice 2,” for example, would be killer on the Switch.

And, look, I get that the Nintendo Switch isn’t as powerful under the hood as the Xbox One or PlayStation 4, graphically. Speaking personally, though, I would rather play a version of a great game at a lower resolution, or with slightly diminished special effects, than I would not play it at all.

Every video game would be better on Nintendo’s newest console

How can you tell that I’m old?

The answer: I can’t stand playing most 3D games on a touchscreen for very long. I love playing “Minecraft,” Microsoft’s smash-hit block-building game, on my iPhone with my nephews, but the control feels weird and unnatural to my withered 30-year-old hands. I could play it on PC, naturally, but then I lose the portability.

This is why I was so eager to try “Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition,” the $30 version of the game for the new Nintendo Switch console. I thought, perhaps, this version would strike the perfect compromise:

Because the Switch is a TV games console, it uses a traditional joystick setup, the kind I’m very accustomed to. And because you can detach the Switch from the TV, I can take it on the go.

Well, the game met my expectations, and actually exceeded them. And in so doing, it shows off what’s so great about both “Minecraft,” and about the Nintendo Switch itself.

Mining and crafting

The actual experience of playing “Minecraft” is exactly the same here as it is on other versions.

In Survival Mode, you begin alone and unarmed, and are challenged to craft tools and weapons in a blocky, charmingly pixelated world. In Creative Mode, you’re freed from the shackles of responsibility, and can zip around the world using the game’s amazingly intuitive interface to build massive structures limited by your imagination.

The Switch can either be plugged into a TV to act as a normal console, or else used as portable system, as pictured here. 4J Studios

This version’s sole twist is a Nintendo-exclusive “Mario Mash-Up Pack,” which optionally lets you play as various Super Mario characters, while also giving a Mario-style makeover to the game’s items, buildings, and enemies. If you happened to play the Wii U version of “Minecraft,” it’s the exact same here as it was there.

It’s a fun addition, but not game-changing (so to speak). If you’ve ever played “Minecraft” before, and you should, you know what you’re getting. One thing I would note is that the game’s graphics get just a little worse when the console is in its portable mode, with the distance you can see noticeably diminished. That’s a quibble, though.

Playing with power

The real beauty of this version of “Minecraft” comes in the unique stuff that the Switch brings to the table.

Again, I can’t get used to touchscreen controls. So having a portable version that supports the Switch’s trademark Joy-Con controllers, thumbsticks and all, was a welcome blessing. I found myself playing the game more, and for longer sessions, than I had with other versions of “Minecraft.”

My absolute favorite moment with the game, however, came when I showed it to my nephews. Like the Xbox and PlayStation versions of the game, “Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition” supports a split-screen multiplayer with up to four players, so long as the console is plugged into the TV.

The game has a pre-built Super Mario world for you to explore. Microsoft/Nintendo

When the Switch isn’t plugged into the TV, though, you still keep the power to have two local players. It meant that my nephews could play with each other sitting at the coffee table, while a movie played on the TV. They love “Minecraft;” they love playing “Minecraft” with each other, and they were totally into this idea.

The caveat is that “Minecraft: Switch Edition” doesn’t support the Switch’s nifty method for turning one of its Joy-Con controllers into two, meaning you’ll need a full two controllers to take advantage. That part is a bummer.

Still, to me, it proves two things. First, Nintendo’s boasts of the Switch as a social console are well-deserved. Whether it’s attached to the TV, or in your backpack on a trip, the Switch really does let you have fun solo or with friends.

Second, “Minecraft” is really an extraordinary game. It’s incredibly flexible, and is equally as fun on phones, consoles, and PCs. It’s no wonder that the game has had such staying power when it’s so easy to get started everywhere the game plays. And when Switch players of “Minecraft” get the ability to join their Xbox brethren later this year, you can expect the fun to get cranked up to 11.

‘Minecraft’ for the Nintendo Switch proves what’s so great about both the game and the console

Recently, Microsoft and its third party partners announced quite a few Japanese games coming to Xbox One, partly as a result of a recent trip by Xbox Division Head Phil Spencer to Japan, where he met local publishers and developers.

Xbox One Fans Can Expect More Japanese Games According to Aaron Greenberg

Xbox Wants Diversity in its Games Lineup; it’s Good for Gears of War and Halo Developers to Be Quiet

First released in 2015, Rocket League took the gaming community by storm on PlayStation 4 and Windows PC, and it wasn’t too long until it made its way to Xbox One. Once again, the game is making the jump to a new console. With the release of Rocket League on the Nintendo Switch, developer Psyonix is bringing exclusive Nintendo-themed battle cars.

When Rocket League releases on Nintendo Switch this holiday season, these three Nintendo-themed cars will be available as free special unlocks. Technically speaking, the Mario NSR and Luigi NSR are the same vehicle. Whether or not a player is Mario or Luigi is dependent on the team color they select before a match. Orange players display the Mario skin while Blue players show up as Luigi. For the Metroid-themed Battle Car, Samus’ Gunship, the team color variations are modeled after different Varia Suits from the series.

Along with the different body designs, both cars feature specialized boosts. The Mario and Luigi NSR feature a “Super Star” trail while Samus’ Gunship uses a “Wave Beam.” Other Nintendo items include Mario and Luigi hats.

Rocket League on Nintendo Switch was officially announced during Nintendo’s Treehouse presentation at E3 2017. Anticipation for the reveal came much sooner though as Psyonix began teasing the possibility of a Switch port

Right out of the gate, the Switch version includes all previous game modes and features found in other versions of the game. This includes later additions such as Hockey, Dropshot, and additional rotating modes. It also supports cross-network play, but the systems have yet to be announced.

Other unique features come from the design of the Nintendo Switch. The biggest draw is the ability to play Rocket League on the go. Users can get the same console experience, without being tethered to their living room. Additionally, local wireless multiplayer allows Switch owners to circle around each other to play without using dedicated Wi-Fi.

Rocket League rolls out onto Nintendo Switch consoles during the 2017 holiday season. This means that players will have plenty of time to battle their friends during the holiday break. Expect a solid release date in the coming months.

‘Rocket League’ on Switch comes with exclusive Nintendo battle cars

The Xbox One S offers a sleek, compact, and 4K Blu-ray-capable alternative to the original Xbox One, which has now been discontinued, and with multiple bundles sporting a variety of storage capacities and packed-in games, the Xbox One S is great option for anyone looking to pick up an Xbox system for the first time. At just $280 for the standard 500GB version with a game, it’s also one of the most affordable consoles on the market today.

Should you go all out and purchase the 2TB version of the console, or stick with your tried-and-true Xbox One? With the native 4K-capable, ultra-powerful Xbox One X console launching at the end of 2017, the answer to that question really depends on your eagerness to adopt the latest-and-greatest tech. Below, we take a look at how the newest console from Microsoft competes with its predecessor, the original Xbox One, in terms of specs. After all, a side-by-side juxtaposition could be enough to sway you one way or another

	Xbox One	Xbox One S
Base price	$250 (500GB), with games	$280 (500GB), with games
Drive	Up to 1TB	Up to 2TB
Resolution	Up to 1080p	Up to 4K for video
Dimensions	13.1 x 10.8 x 3.1 inches	11.6 x 8.9 x 2.5 inches
HDR support	No	Yes
Blu-ray equipped	Yes, up to 1080p	Yes, up to 4K
Cortana equipped	Yes	Yes
Operating system	Windows 10-based Xbox One OS	Windows 10-based Xbox One OS
Compatible with Kinect	Yes	Yes (with an adapter)
Bluetooth controller	No	Yes
Built-in power brick	No	Yes
USB 3.0 ports	3	3
Dedicated Kinect port	Yes	No
Available from	Amazon	Amazon
DT review	4 out of 5 stars	3.5 out of 5 stars

Blu-Ray, HDR, and new streaming features

The Xbox One S supports 4K video playback from streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, and several others. The console also features a built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. At less than $300, the Xbox One S is a relative steal when compared to the price tag of some of dedicated UHD players currently on the market, which makes it a solid purchase for individuals who currently own a 4K TV. The last-gen Xbox One accepts Blu-ray discs, sure, but it can’t handle UHD Blu-ray.

The Xbox One S also supports HDR, or High Dynamic Range, which greatly broadens the range of displayed colors and contrast. Deeper colors and richer contrast means more vibrant and realistic imagery. All of this creates more stunning, lifelike graphics. The HDR upgrade makes for a vivid in-game experience, but you must have an HDR-capable TV. Even then, only a small selection of games, such as Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3 support the feature.

Winner: Xbox One S

Aesthetics and design

The Xbox One S is an aesthetic marvel when compared to the aging look of the Xbox One. Opposed to the uninspiring, cinder-block design of the Xbox One, the Xbox One S features a matte-white block on a raised black base. The Xbox One S is also capable of being positioned upright, though the upright stand comes exclusively with the 2TB model, or as a standalone accessory for $20. Its predecessor, on the other hand, can only be positioned horizontally. The Xbox One S is smaller than the Xbox One, yet still manages to house the power brick that was once an outside component of the Xbox One.

As anyone who has ever owned an Xbox One knows, the touch-sensitive power button was oftentimes problematic. Similarly, the controller sync button was inconveniently located. The Xbox One S addresses many of these design flaws. The front of the Xbox One S features a physical power button, controller sync button, a disc eject button, and a single USB 3.0 port. The backside of the Xbox One S has two HDMI ports (one in, one out), two more USB 3.0 ports, S/PDIF, and Ethernet. Both models offer an IR blaster, as well.

Winner: Xbox One S

Bye, bye Kinect. Hello, Cortana

The Xbox One S dropped the dedicated port for the Kinect. Only a handful of games utilized Kinect to begin with, making the move fairly irrelevant from a gaming standpoint. However, it is still possible to use the motion-sensing device with the Xbox One S via an adapter. Moreover, Microsoft is currently giving them away for free through its support site. However, since Kinect users will have to use one of the USB ports for the adapter, they will now be down to only two USB ports, and the additional adapter requires its own power supply, unlike the original Xbox One.

The Kinect port has been also replaced with an integrated infrared blaster on the Xbox One S, allowing users to configure their Xbox One S to control devices such as their TV and A/V receiver. After several postponements, the Xbox One S finally features Microsoft’s digital assistant, Cortana.

The assistant — first introduced on desktop machines with Windows 10 — is aimed at carrying out an array of standard tasks, and thus allows you to look up the weather, search the internet, open apps, and perform a host of other actions. At the moment, Cortana is wildly insufficient for more than the most basic functions, though the feature will likely get better as time goes on. As with any platform, trial and error is key to a harmonious relationship. Both the Xbox One and Xbox One S can use Cortana and Kinect.

Winner: Xbox One

Controller

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The folks at Microsoft continue to further distance themselves from the Kinect, and as such, the latest Xbox controller comes with a jack that allows you to communicate with your digital assistant via a headset. From a tactile, gaming perspective, the controller still very much feels like the controller we’ve all grown accustomed to, albeit with a new textured grip and an assortment of covers. The controller also comes equipped with Bluetooth, which extends its range and makes wireless gaming with Xbox Anywhere titles far easier.

Winner: Xbox One S

Compatibility

The Xbox One S supports all the games you loved on Xbox One, and vice versa. It’s also possible for the Xbox One S to upscale older games to 4K (not that it doesn’t render at that resolution — it only upscales). Regardless, unless Xbox One owners are really chomping at the bit for increased support and video quality, there’s no dire need to upgrade at the moment.

Winner: Tie

Conclusion

To upgrade or not to upgrade? The Xbox One S is without a doubt one of the best Ultra HD Blu-Ray players on the market for the price. Coupled with the general gaming upgrades, the Xbox One S is a great option for individuals looking for a worthy Ultra HD Blu-ray player, as well as individuals purchasing their first Xbox. Though our initial review for the original Xbox One actually gave it a higher score than the Xbox One S due to the platform’s potential, the Xbox One S is the superior machine.

For current Xbox owners, there’s little incentive to make the leap with the much more promising release of the Xbox One X — with 4K gaming — coming this November. If you’re looking for an upgrade right now, though, the Xbox One S is hard to beat for anyone content to play games at 1080p resolution.

Winner: Xbox One S

Updated on 8-28-2017 by Gabe Gurwin: Updated to reflect the discontinuation of the original Xbox One and final name of Xbox One X.

The Xbox One S is here, so is it time to ditch your original Xbox One?

PlayStation VR may be the least expensive way to enter the world of virtual reality, but it still isn’t cheap. Previously, the headset sold for $400 in addition to the mandatory PlayStation Camera for an additional $60, but that changes this week with the newest PlayStation VR bundle.

Starting on September 1, the PlayStation VR’s standard bundle will come with a PlayStation Camera for $400, effectively giving customers a $60 discount. Sony says that this will be the “core” PlayStation VR bundle moving forward, so if you already own the camera but haven’t picked up the headset yet, you might want to act quickly.

In addition to the $400 option, those looking to also pick up a game with PlayStation VR can check out the $450 PlayStation VR Worlds bundle — previously called the “launch bundle” at most retailers. The package contains everything from the standard bundle and adds two PlayStation Move controllers and the PlayStation VR Worlds game. Coming with several different mini-games, including The London Heist, Danger Ball, and the enthralling Ocean Descent, it’s a great way to get introduced to VR technology, though not all of the games are created equal. VR Luge is a pretty mediocre racing game, and Scavengers Odyssey is all but guaranteed to make you queasy.

PlayStation VR has been on the market for almost a year, and its library of games has grown steadily. While short, Farpoint is the first shooter for the system to feel like more than a technical demonstration, and Superhot VR offers a nice twist on the unique first-person shooter. We’re particularly excited for Megaton Rainfall, which releases on September 26. The superhero game tasks you with defending Earth against alien invaders, all while you avoid destroying the skyscrapers that litter the planet’s cities. It’s also playable on a standard PlayStation 4 system, though its first-person perspective seems built for VR.

If you already have a PlayStation VR headset, you’ll be seeing some improvements in the near future. The next PlayStation 4 software update adds new surround-sound options in “Cinematic Mode,” as well as additional broadcasting options so you can stay connected with your viewers without removing the headset.

PlayStation VR gets a price cut, now comes with PlayStation Camera

One of the biggest reasons to upgrade to a new console generation is power. Better graphics, better processing capabilities — all of it leads to bigger and better-looking games. With its upcoming new version of the Xbox One, now known officially as the Xbox One X, Microsoft wants to convince you that adding more technical firepower should not be reserved for whole new generations of consoles.

While the One X is a still an Xbox One, it is heftier, faster and more powerful under the hood and now with the original Xbox One no longer available to purchase, Microsoft is pushing Xbox fans young and old towards its new system.

The One X is the younger sibling of both the original One and One S, with years worth of extra development and planning behind it. It should, in theory, offer substantial performance and feature improvements over its predecessor. But is it worth buying over its more affordable One S sibling?

A lot of One X pre-order buyers certainly think so, but while we won’t be able to judge Xbox One X fully and fairly until we get out hands on the hardware itself and take it for a spin, we now have enough details to start having the conversation of whether you should upgrade from an Xbox One or Xbox One S to the Xbox One X.

Specs

Hardware design

Since the Xbox One X is part of the Xbox One family, the biggest differences between it and the current Xbox One models are mostly internal. Microsoft has made distinct architectural changes to its design, instead of simply throwing more modern hardware at the problem of the Xbox One’s occasional power disparity with the PS4.

Xbox One X’s graphics chip packs 40 compute units into a slightly slimmer footprint than the Xbox One S, where there are only 12. Those cores are also optimized for DirectX 12 and will be clocked at 1,172MHz – much higher than the Xbox One and Xbox One S. The CPU offers a roughly 30 percent increase in clock speed, so it should be a lot more powerful in its own right. All in all, Xbox One X’s graphical performance is said to be around the six teraflop mark, which would mean it has a little less raw power than an Nvidia GTX 1070 desktop graphics card, or a little more than an AMD RX 480. That means the Xbox One X has more than 4.5 times the graphical performance of the original Xbox One.

In terms of physical design, the Xbox One S cut down the size of the original Xbox One to a more svelte package, but Microsoft vastly overstated the size difference. Still, the white shell and perforated edges gave the Xbox One S a premium look that we appreciated over the bulky black Xbox One. The Xbox One X, in our brief experience, rolls back that premium feel a bit, reverting to the black box look that has defined the console line thus far. Microsoft is right that it’s the smallest Xbox yet, but it’s not dramatically smaller than the Xbox One S.

The Xbox One X will come with a full 12GB of GDDR5 memory as well, which will give developers a lot more leeway and really help the system handle 4K content. In comparison, the original Xbox One only has eight gigabytes. Although we do not have detailed specifications for it, the 1TB internal hard drive should be as much as 50 percent faster too, which should lead to faster boot times and a reduction in loading screens over previous generations of the console.

Winner: Xbox One X

Resolution and framerate

ForzaTech demo running at 4K at 60FPS

All of that power is designed to drive what is considered by many to be the next big benchmark for mainstream gaming: 4K resolution. At four times the detail level of now-standard 1080P, 4K offers crisper detail and more true-to-life visuals. Considering the original Xbox One struggled at times to deliver 1080P at anything over 30 frames per second, a big part of the Xbox One X’s design is to enable ultra-HD resolution gaming at higher frame rates.

Although we don’t know for sure how capable the Xbox One X is just yet, Microsoft showed off a number of games at E3 2017 that would support full 60 FPS playback at 4K. One of the big standouts was Forza Motorsport 7, but it’s far from the only one. You can find a constantly updated list of those games here.

Once we spent some time with the Xbox One X at E3, we were very enthused by its performance when hooked up to a 4K TV with HDR support. The visuals were sharp, and the HDR brought intense light and murky shadows to life in a way no other console can replicate. That said, a lot of the appeal faded when hooked up to a 1080p TV without the contrast and brightness needed for HDR. That is what most people are still using for their gaming, and the Xbox One X is more likely to draw in users with a high-end setup, or who are willing to buy one. Users with older TVs may only see a framerate bump.

All of that will, of course, depend on the ability for developers to optimize for the hardware, but with Microsoft using a more typical unified RAM system, the Xbox One X is more PC-like than ever, which should make porting games easier too.

Winner: Xbox One X

Home theater support

While the Xbox One X will be able to take advantage of 4K streaming on Netflix or YouTube, until ultra high-speed internet becomes more commonplace, a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player will be a necessity for those who want to take full advantage of their 4K TV. While that means buying a player, if you can have that bundled with a console upgrade that also lets you take advantage of 4K gaming, all the better.

There is no question here, the Xbox One cannot compete when it comes to 4K media support. The Xbox One S can, however, so it remains a viable option for anyone only looking to upgrade for that functionality.

Like the Xbox One and Xbox One S, Xbox One X will support Microsoft’s own in-house developed, HRTF, as well as bitrate passthrough for audio and features Dolby Atmos support for those of us lucky to have such a setup. Since both the 4K Blu-Ray player and high-end audio solutions are available in both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, it seems that either console will be an excellent addition to your home theater setup.

Winner: Xbox One X / Xbox One S

HDR

Although it’s less marketable without a number, High Dynamic Range (HDR) is the other major display technology that hardware manufacturers are using as a reason for consumers to upgrade and the Xbox One X comes with full support. This allows the system to work with displays that support HDR to display a wider range of bright and dark lights, usually with the help of OLED or local dimming. Explosions look like real fire, and shadows have greater detail, in a way that is hard to explain without seeing it.

That is something that the Xbox One simply cannot do, so it falls behind there. The Xbox One S supports HDR 10 only, but with compatible games and displays, it offers a noticeable visual improvement. While Xbox One X should deliver a comparable experience and likely a better one, until we hear more, it is hard to say if it will be that much better at HDR support than the One S.

Winner: Xbox One X / Xbox One S

Game support and Backwards Compatibility

Much like the PlayStation 4 Pro, it will be up to developers to take advantage of the Xbox One X’s extra power with better framerates and native 4K support. Microsoft has been steadily announcing titles that support 4K and/or HDR, and we are keeping updated on those titles in another post.

In addition, Microsoft announced at E3 that original Xbox games would be coming to the Xbox One line, starting with the classic and oft-requested Crimson Skies. 

As far as game support goes, there will be parity among all versions of the Xbox One. That includes access to the backwards-compatible Xbox 360 library available on the Xbox One and Xbox One S. It is not clear if the added performance of Xbox One X will really make much of a difference for Xbox 360 games, but it is good to see that people buying the new system won’t have to keep an original Xbox One lying around just to play their older games.

Winner: Xbox One X

Price and Availability

As expected, the Xbox One X will retail for $500 at launch. At the same time as Microsoft made that announcement, the price of the Xbox One S was also slashed to $250, putting a good amount of distance between the two products. Which one is the right choice will depend on your budget and whether you are already sporting a 4K HDR TV, or are willing to buy one. We found that you do not get nearly as much out of the Xbox One X without a higher-end set.

There may not be a clear winner in the price discussion, but there is a clear loser. With stock for the original One X disappearing and Microsoft not shifting any more itself, it is impossible to recommend at this point. While viable for second-hand buyers looking to join this console generation for the first time, if you’re buying new, your options are restricted to the One S and One X.

Winner: Xbox One S

Conclusion

If nothing else, the introduction of the Xbox One X, the Xbox One S’s subsequent price drop and the original Xbox One’s lack of availability, it becomes clear that this three horse race is now down to two. The standard Xbox One is no longer a competitive console, which is good news for Microsoft, which it seems is planning to continue rotating through Xbox One consoles, rather than resetting the platform completely.

Unfortunately, the Xbox One X still has limited appeal. Only those with 4K HDR TVs are going to see a big benefit from the $500 cost associated with the higher-powered console. For most, the Xbox One S is still the best option, and it is now available at a better price.

Update 08/28/2017 – Added news that original Xbox One production has ended.

Xbox One S vs. Xbox One X — is the upgrade worth it?

Microsoft Xbox executive Phil Spencer has said in the past that the company does not expect its upcoming Xbox One X to be a massive seller — that is what the less expensive Xbox One S is for — but early pre-order numbers are looking impressive for the 4K-capable console.

The Xbox One X “Project Scorpio Edition” was made available for pre-order just after the Microsoft Gamescom presentation on Sunday and it is becoming increasingly hard to find. The special edition, which sells for the same $500 price as the standard Xbox One X, comes bundled with a vertical stand and limited edition controller. It also includes a unique gradient on the console itself as well as a free trial to the Xbox Game Pass service.

“Within just a few days, we saw record-setting sell-out times and are currently sold out in many countries around the world,” Xbox Corporate Vice President of Marketing Mike Nichols said in a statement. “You, our biggest fans, have pre-ordered more Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition consoles in the first five days than any Xbox ever.”

Pre-order numbers have been steadily increasing over the last few generations. The Xbox One outpaced the Xbox 360 when Microsoft opened up pre-orders in 2013, though the console has consistently sold fewer units than the PlayStation 4. Third-party developers have largely sided with Sony’s system this generation, with only a handful of Microsoft-exclusive games releasing in 2017. So far this year, console-exclusives for PlayStation 4 include Nioh, Nier: Automata, Horizon Zero Dawn, Matterfall, Nex Machina, and Persona 5, with Knack II and Gran Turismo Sport scheduled to arrive within the next few months.

One Microsoft-exclusive game was supposed to be Crackdown 3, an open-world action-adventure that makes full use of the Xbox One X’s increased processing power. However, it has been delayed into 2018, leaving Forza Motorsport 7 and Cuphead as the two big-name exclusives for Xbox One and Windows 10 this holiday season. A number of other games will receive enhancements for the X, however, including Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Assassin’s Creed Origins. Older Xbox One titles like Halo 5: Guardians and Rise of the Tomb Raider will also receive updates, allowing the Xbox One X to play them in 4K resolution for the first time.

The Xbox One X launches on November 7.

Xbox One X sets pre-order record for the Xbox console family

Injustice 2, sequel to Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm’s DC Comics-themed fighter, Injustice: Gods Among Us, is, after much hype, now out in the wild and it’s one of the best fighting games we’ve played in some time. In addition to bringing back all the superhero brawling and villainous scheming we’ve come to expect, Injustice 2 has a fantastic single player campaign and features a new loot-driven customization system.

But just because the game is playable now doesn’t mean there isn’t more to get excited about. While we might have had hours of fists-on time with the superhero brawler, there is still plenty of content coming our way in the future and we’re here to tell you all about it.

Story

Injustice 2 takes place shortly after the events of Injustice: Gods Among Us, and sees the villain formerly known as “dictator” Superman shackled and powerless following his defeat by Batman. Though this evil incarnation of Clark Kent is no longer causing terror, the world is far from peaceful. Villains like Harley Quinn are still wreaking havoc, and Batman seems all but helpless to stop them from killing innocent civilians, while heroes like Supergirl and Wonder Woman are too busy duking it out with each other to fight off the world’s super-criminals.

But like any good “hero versus hero” story, a new threat has emerged that threatens to destroy both sides, and could require a temporary alliance between even the most bitter of enemies. Enter Superman villain Brainiac, who has arrived on Earth to “finish his accumulation of Krypton” after acquiring through conquest what remained elsewhere in the universe. Even with everyone working to stop him, he still believes he can win.

Characters

Mixing together a roster of returning characters as well as several newcomers, Injustice 2 includes a diverse cast that should satisfy fans of both DC and fighting games. In addition to their “standard” forms, fighters can also use alternate configurations, changing the Flash to Reverse-Flash, for example, or Supergirl to Power Girl.

Familiar faces

Newcomers

‘Injustice 2’: News, rumors, and everything we know

Microsoft Talking to Sony About Cross-Play in Minecraft; Wants to Unite Gamers

Xbox Games Marketing General Manager Aaron Greenberg chats with DualShockers about the upcoming Xbox One X, cross-play, Age of Empire, and a lot more.

The Big Xbox Interview — Aaron Greenberg Talks Xbox One X, First Party, Japanese Games and Much More

Microsoft’s Xbox One (and previous generations) has seen a variety of skins. However, most are released or announced in partnership with a new game. This helps drive awareness (aka news articles, such as this) and usually provides diehard fans with some extra goodies, usually in the form of greater storage (1TB for this model).

And now there is an Xbox One S for the die hard Minecraft fans. And while I’m no Minecraft player – far from in fact – I actually find the console visually appealing thanks to its simplistic yet notable approach. In other words it’s easy to recognize that this console celebrates Minecraft and you really don’t need to be a fan to figure that out.

The front or top of the console is composed of a set of blocks that are made up of wood, grass and everything in between.

The circuitry found in Minecraft can be found on this console.

The back plays on the “Redstone circuit.” Redstone is Minecraft’s electricity system. Odds of this portion of the console being on display are slim, but what should be important is that you know it’s there.

The Minecraft Creeper controller sells for $74.99

It also ships with a controller that is the same vein, only it’s an ode to the Creeper. And if you didn’t know, the Creeper is an enemy in Minecraft. Take a close look at the controller and you’ll see face at its center. The Creeper apparently creeps, ignites its dynamite and explodes. And hence the TNT art that is found on the back of the controller. Pretty neat in fact. It will sell for $74.99 and notably separately, but one ships with this console.

The Minecraft Pig controller sells for $74.99 and doesn’t ship with the console.

And if you’re feeling rich, there is also another controller that reps the always adorable pigs in the game. On the front of the controller is the pig’s face. The back you ask? Its tail, but of course. This controller, like the aforementioned green one, will also sell for $74.99.

Unfortunately, there is no matching Xbox One headset.

That all said, you can preorder the Minecraft Xbox One S today, with arrival 10/3/2017, for $399.99

Minecraft Xbox One S Console Ships for $399

Microsoft has stopped selling the original version of the Xbox One online, suggesting the manufacturer may be preparing to phase out production of the four-year-old version of the console. If you take a look at the Microsoft Store, you’ll be able to find refurbished Xbox One consoles, but no new models. In the U.K., the console is listed as “out of stock.” Microsoft discontinued production of the Xbox One just a few months prior, according to Kotaku U.K., so this move has been a long time coming.

The apparent decision to pull the original model comes almost a year after Microsoft introduced the Xbox One S, a slimmer version of the console with slightly more processing power and a built-in 4K Blu-Ray Player. The Xbox One S launched at the console’s baseline $300 price point, effectively replacing the original hardware as the “standard” model. It also comes ahead of the launch of the Xbox One X, Microsoft’s answer to the PlayStation 4 Pro, which adds “true 4K” visuals and improved framerates for a select number of compatible games. While it has some very impressive specs — Microsoft likes to refer to it as “the world’s most powerful console” — the Xbox One X is considerably smaller than the very large first-gen Xbox One hardware, which might explain why Microsoft may be looking to put its original design to bed.

If you are looking to get yourself an Xbox One S, there are some nice bundle deals available, including the Forza Horizon 3 bundle, Halo Wars 2 bundle, Gears of War 4 bundle, and Battlefield 1 Special Edition bundle. You can also pre-order the new Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition bundle for just $399, which includes a custom-skinned console and controller.

The Xbox One X is already off to a great start. Almost a week after after retailers started taking pre-orders, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One X Project Scorpio Edition, a limited pre-release version of the console, was already the most pre-ordered Xbox yet. The Xbox One X hits stores November 7. If you’re looking to order one in advance, check out our guide to snagging an Xbox One X pre-order.

Microsoft isn’t selling the original Xbox One anymore

Video game consoles are changing. Since their introduction, home consoles have been released in discrete generations, each different from the last. Unlike previous consoles, however, the One X is more of an incremental improvement, in the vein of smartphones, that offers more powerful capabilities but the same basic compatibility with all things Xbox One.

We sat down with Mike Ybarra, Microsoft’s Vice President of the Xbox and Windows platform at Gamescom several days after the company’s big press conference to talk about the Xbox One X, incremental console updates, and the newly-announced partnership with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds developer Bluehole.

Mr. Ybarra’s responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Digital Trends: The line between consoles and PCs has grown blurrier in recent years, both in terms of what’s under the hood and in player expectations and experience. As Microsoft you’re obviously playing a big role in that. How is that merger informing your design philosophy of the Xbox going forward?

Ybarra: I think there’s a couple of things about this — one is the philosophy that Phil [Spencer, Xbox head] instilled and everyone’s rallying behind is to not think about customer segments by what platforms they play on. We think about just gamers being gamers, and how to unite them and bring more people into this hobby that we all love and get to work in.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

So, we’re trying to blur that line a lot, and it’s a journey for some people, but for others it’s like, “absolutely, we’re there–let’s keep going.” And so I like that–I like the fact that Microsoft has made Windows for the last 35 years. Our group not only makes the console, we make all the Windows gaming features, so from our standpoint this is all just kind of Xbox, the global gaming brand for Microsoft.

Developers love the idea of a multiplayer pool that’s one big one vs. three or four or five small ones that sometimes get into a situation where there’s not enough people to play in some areas and whatnot. Just from a strict dev standpoint, Xbox One X is by far the easiest dev platform that we’ve created, because we largely took Windows tools and said “let’s apply them here.” Game developers love that because it means they can save time. So, you combine all those things.

I like the strategy of bringing gamers together and making it easier for developers, letting them make as much money as possible on our platform.

Your partnership with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds developer Bluehole was one of the most exciting announcements from Microsoft’s Gamescom presentation. Can you elaborate on that partnership and how it works?

The Bluehole/Microsoft relationship right now is an incredible positive. They’re obviously the biggest game, period, out there right now–eight million copies in four months, a lot of good momentum for them.

Now that we’re publishing the Xbox version of it, there’s people on my team and marketing resources that have opened up for Bluehole. We have a number of engineers helping them optimize for Xbox–both the Xbox One version, and the Xbox X version, in terms of the enhancements that they’ll bring to the title.

I think that it’s the standard partnership that we do with developers on specific titles when we really want to work together to bring something amazing across, and that’s a great title from a Windows and Xbox standpoint […]. I love it–I think they’re an awesome developer. We’ve known Brandon for a long time from the mods that he’s been doing, so it’s working out super well for us.

With the PS4 Pro earlier this year and the Xbox One X coming up, consoles have entered a new phase of incremental (rather than discrete) upgrades. Can you talk about this shift, and what it means for gamers, and who these upgrades are for?

Let me tackle your latter question, then I’ll roll into the thought process that we go through when we think about creating a console.

For us, in terms of who it’s for, I really like the product offering that we have now. We have high-end PCs where people spend anywhere from two to fifteen thousand dollars on these devices, and that’s sort of like the .001% who want the absolute highest-end of everything that’s out there. They put in a $700 video card, let alone a $500 or $249 console, so we’re investing in the Windows category there.

Then we have the Xbox One S at $249–incredible value there, lots of choice in terms of the games you can get. We have Xbox Game Pass for $9.99 a month: over a hundred games, with new games coming in, which adds great choice value for the consumers.

Then at $499 we have the Xbox One X, which from a price/performance standpoint there’s nothing that even comes close to what that box is going to deliver, or the experience that you’re going to get. That is targeted at the core gamer that wants to play the best versions of the games, hands-down, usually someone with a 4K TV, although 1080p TVs get advantages as well.

I always tell people that we don’t wake up one day and say “let’s make a new console!” because that would be crazy. We look at industry trends. We started building this box, believe it or not, back in 2012. We were asking “when is 4K going to hit?” because that’s going to be a moment when people are buying TVs and they’re going to expect 4K content and want to push that forward.

So we look at audio, we look at pixels, we looked at cloud technology, everything, and sort of say “when is the next time we need new capabilities in physical hardware?” Then we listen to the fans, who will say “we want more pixels” or “we want X, Y and Z.” With this box we knew that 4K was going to be coming very strong.

We could have created the box a year earlier–it would have been far less than the capabilities of what we have now. We chose to wait because we saw, frankly, in holiday season across the globe 4K TV sales starting to ramp. Last year it was the number one holiday gift in the US, so we feel like we’ve hit that point well.

It’s looking at those industry trends, looking at what consumers want, where developers are limited in their creations and bringing them to life on the TV–all of those are variables that factor into when we do another console. We did this one faster than normal–usually it’s five to eight years, I would say–and in doing that we had to promise customers something: compatibility.

If we’re going to come out in three or four years with a console, all of games have to work, including the 360 back-compatibility, and the original back- compatibility on this box, and all the hardware has to work pretty seamlessly.

I don’t think we’re in a world anymore where a console comes out and you lose your library, you lose your hardware, and you lose your investment anymore. People expect that going forward, and I think that’s a trend from phones and other things as they upgrade.

The Xbox One X launch is imminent, but with the recent delay of Crackdown 3, it seems like your holiday is a little light on games to really champion the new hardware. What’s your plan for convincing players to upgrade?

When I think about our holiday line-up, I think we have one of the best holidays ever. If you want to play racing, you’re on Xbox: Forza Horizon 3, Forza Motorsport 7‘s going to be phenomenal.

PUBG‘s going to be huge. The PC side understands that right now, but console players are saying “we hear about this PUBG thing all the time, but what’s it mean for us, and let’s get into that game. So having Forza Motorsport 7, having PUBG, having things like Cuphead, which is a brand new, stylized game that reminds me a lot of Ori [and the Blind Forest] in terms of just the fun that that game brings when I play it, and Super Lucky’s Tale from a broader audience perspective.

I love that we have hardcore PUBG all the way to Super Lucky’s Tale, in terms of what we offer people. Minecraft comes out with new content almost every single month, so I feel great about this holiday.

When I look beyond that, Crackdown, State of Decay, a few more things coming down. The Rare team continues to kick butt with Sea of Thieves, so I feel really good about where we are in terms of the content portfolio.

Any final thoughts?

It’s funny, at E3 last year and here at Gamescom I’m always reminded, it’s very rare that a console launches, and what a special time this is. I have to take a step back and say “Wow, this probably happens three to five times in a career if you’re lucky.” So it’s just fun to be part of the launch on November 7th ramping up. I’m happy with what developers are now starting to show–It’s going to be a heck of a holiday.

For Microsoft’s Mike Ybarra, Xbox is about letting gamers be gamers

At E3 2017, developer Mojang shared plans to bring the various different Minecraft communities across consoles, PC, and mobile devices under one umbrella in the form of the “Better Together” update. That patch is currently being tested by Xbox One players who opted into a beta and the preview confirmed the introduction of a long-requested feature.

The current version of the beta allows Minecraft fans to test Xbox Live multiplayer and other functionality in the new “Bedrock Edition” of the game. On top of that, there is a nifty option hidden away in a menu screen that can be used to select a keyboard and mouse as the primary input device rather than the standard Xbox One controller, according to OnMSFT.

This is pretty big news. Minecraft started out on the PC and as such many players are most comfortable building their creations and navigating the game world with the freedom of control afforded by a mouse. There have been numerous requests from fans for this functionality to be implemented in the console version of the game and it seems that those wishes have finally been granted.

It remains to be seen whether the PlayStation 4 version of Minecraft will also receive official support for keyboard and mouse control schemes somewhere down the line. Sony declined to take part in the Better Together update, so the system is currently positioned separately to the central strand of the game’s development moving forward.

The fact that Minecraft is adding keyboard and mouse support on the Xbox One might suggest that this control scheme will become a more prominent component of the console’s identity. Microsoft has made no secret of its intention to bring Windows 10 and the Xbox One closer together and since so many of its big releases are cross-play and already have keyboard and mouse control schemes established, it should not be too difficult to set up.

The Better Together update for Minecraft will see the Xbox One, Windows 10, Nintendo Switch, and mobile versions of the game drop their platform specific-branding and enable players using different hardware to create alongside one another. There is currently no official release date for the final version of the patch.

‘Minecraft’ for Xbox One finally gets mouse and keyboard support

It’s another day, another patch for the Xbox One and the Xbox 360 versions of Mojang’s much loved Minecraft. Whether you’re enjoying the game yourself, your kids maybe enjoying the game, or you’re just using the different variations to bump up the Gamerscore or possibly use the big ratios to help survive this year’s Leap Frog or/and GTASC events, you can always count on Mojang to keep the game as glitch and issue free as possible.

The latest patch comes with a decent list of fixes, changes, additions, and improvements. Check out the list which will be Content Update 49 for the Xbox One and Title Update 57 for the Xbox 360:

The bold text in the last line of the patch is not a part of the patch for the Xbox 360 but the rest of the list is the same, as well as these two additional lines below:

The latest patch for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 versions of Minecraft are already live.

The Latest Batch of Updates Detailed for Console Editions of Minecraft