Minecraft has been available on tons of different devices in the past. Now, Microsoft is finally bringing all those platforms together with the “Better Together” update, which is rolling out today for Xbox One, mobile devices, and Windows 10 PCs. The Nintendo Switch is still set to get the Better Together update, too, although that’s been delayed until later in the winter.
The update essentially takes the different versions of Minecraft that have been available on PC, Xbox, iOS, and Android, and consolidates them into one master version, with the same features, functionality, and content no matter where you play. That means that the console versions of Minecraft on Xbox One (and eventually, the Nintendo Switch) will now run the same version of Minecraft as PCs, mobile, and VR, built on what Microsoft calls the Bedrock Engine.
But the biggest advantage to creating a single version of Minecraft across all these platforms is that cross-play will be possible between Minecraft games. This means that you’ll be able to play Minecraft on your PC with a friend playing on an Xbox, while your buddy joins in from their Android phone. Microsoft is calling this the first time a game has offered cross-play across all these platforms, and with the addition of the Nintendo Switch to the mix, Minecraft could be one of the first true platform-agnostic titles, which is an incredible thing.
You may notice that the PlayStation 4 is glaringly absent from that list. That’s because Sony has — once again — decided to sit out on cross-platform play, an unfortunately familiar refrain from the company this console generation. Similar issues have come up with Rocket League, and most recently Fortnight, which accidentally enabled Xbox One and PlayStation 4 cross-play before pulling the feature. Sony has offered numerous explanations for avoiding cross-play in the past, including citing concerns of protecting children online, but given that the console still has a considerable competitive lead when it comes to users and sales, it’s unlikely that it will be budging on that issue anytime soon.
In an interview with Engadget, Microsoft Studios CVP Matt Booty commented, “We just flat-out couldn’t get those two completely in sync,” in regard to getting Minecraft cross-play with the PlayStation 4. Although, he noted that Microsoft is continuing to talk with Sony on the issue.
Also missing are the Mac and Linux versions of Minecraft, which will continue to exist alongside the original PC version as the renamed Java Edition for now. It’s supposed to continue to receive updates and get them along a similar time frame as the Bedrock Engine version.
That said, the unified Bedrock Engine version will be the canonical Minecraft title moving forward, with the original PC title and older console-specific versions getting appended “Edition” names like Minecraft: Wii U Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition to tell them apart from the core Minecraft title.
Creators using Mojang’s Minecraft Marketplace have made more than $1 million since the service launched in June, the company has announced.
The program, which allows Minecraft community members to make money from their user-generated in-game content, runs alongside the Minecraft Store, and has seen users create everything from their own adventures, worlds, texture packs and characters skins over the last few months.
Microsoft, who now owns Mojang, also released a statement saying it is continuing to expand the Minecraft Marketplace team. Since the service launched in June, the number of partners has risen from nine to 12, with plans to keep adding more as the months go on.
Highlights from the Minecraft Marketplace so far include Dinosaur Island, which lets players confront wild raptors, tame triceratops and raid ruins while they explore the island’s mysterious ruins, and Infinity Dungeon EX, a randomly generated dungeon adventure. July also saw the release of the colour-coded Cyber Space Team Pack and a pet-themed skin pack, as well as a variety of mini-games and extra kingdoms.
Microsoft recently announced a limited edition Minecraft Xbox One S bundle, which is due to hit shelves on September 12th. The console, which features a unique voxel-based design, also comes with a special Creeper-themed controller.
There were plenty of people who thought the purchase of developer Mojang by mega-publisher Microsoft was signaling the end of Minecraft’s appeal of universality. Speculation within the gaming community was rife with claims that Microsoft may entirely stop developing for anything outside of the Microsoft family of systems — or worse.
With all of those fears trumped up at the time, it seems like a day-and-night difference with how Microsoft is truly handling the property — principally with the Better Together Update, coming free to Windows 10, mobile, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Announced at Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference, the news took the gaming community and Minecraft fanbase by storm; as the name implies, gamers would have the option to cross-platform play with friends (as long as they weren’t on the PlayStation family of systems).
While the Better Together Update with the original plan to launch before the end of the summer — it seems that estimation has been pushed back. According to the Minecraft Better Together Update FAQ, the update is planning on coming to Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile and Windows 10 around Fall 2017.
There is no indication why the update has been delayed, but perhaps it has to do with possibly incorporating the PlayStation 4 version into the initial roll out. There is no indication that progress has moved forward, however the FAQ had this to say about their talks with Sony:
we are still in discussions with Sony about PlayStation and have nothing to confirm. We would love to work with Sony to bring players on PlayStation 4 into this ecosystem as well.
Either way, everyone who owns the Windows 10, mobile, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch version of the game can expect to receive the update for free. However, those purchasing Minecraft after the release will have to purchase the new Better Together Edition — the original Minecraft: Console Edition will be removed from the respective marketplaces.
Minecraft is popular—really popular. So it’s no surprise that Pfizer is looking to capitalize on that success.
The pharma giant has launched Hemocraft, a take on the ultrasuccessful video game that’s just for hemophilia patients. Developed in partnership with the Entrepreneurial Game Studio at Drexel University and representatives from the hemophilia community, the game is meant to help younger patients—between the ages of eight and 16—learn “the importance of integrating treatment into their routine,” Pfizer said.
How does Hemocraft do that? As part of their quest, game players interact with the so-called “village doctor”—a fictional healthcare professional—to learn how to adhere to their treatment plans and understand how their therapies work. They put that knowledge to use throughout the game, as they’re challenged to monitor factor levels and self-infuse to control bleeding.
If Hemocraft turns out to be a hit even a fraction of the size of Minecraft, Pfizer will be in good shape. The building game has sold more than 1 million copies around the world and ranks high among the most popular games ever created.
But Pfizer isn’t stopping there. It’s also rolled out a new piece of wearable tech: a wristband dubbed HemMobile Striiv. The wearable—the first made for hemophilia patients, Pfizer says—tracks activity levels and heart rate, and the company is offering it free of charge to all U.S. hemophilia patients, no matter what therapy they’re on. To use it, though, patients will likely want to download the HemMobile app—used to log bleeds and infusions, monitor factor supply and set appointment reminders–that Pfizer already offers.
“These new digital innovations can be integrated into everyday routines to help empower people with hemophilia to learn about and track different aspects relevant to their disease so that they can have informed conversations with their health care providers,” Kevin Williams, chief medical officer of Pfizer’s rare-disease unit, said in a statement.
Pfizer, which markets recombinant factor IX treatment BeneFix, is currently battling a host of companies in the hemophilia field, including Bioverativ, Novo Nordisk, Shire and Bayer. And things are only set to get more intense once gene therapies hit the scene.
At that point, though, the New York drugmaker is hoping to be in the thick of things; in late 2014, it struck a gene therapy collaboration with Spark Therapeutics over hemophilia B candidate SPK-FIX.
Outside of painted cardboard boxes and foam, toys are the best way to play with Minecraft in the real world. Jinx’s second series of Minecraft Craftables vinyl toys feature nine collectible kits that combine together into three iconic Minecraft locales.
The first wave of Craftables, currently sold out at Jinx but possibly available elsewhere, were singular builds. The nine kits in the series each featured a character, creature or combination of the two. Opening one of the blind boxes revealed a set of small vinyl bits that combined into a larger vinyl bit, and the constructing was done.
Series two does things a little differently. Each of the nine kits available still function as a solo piece, but this time around the pieces combine into a larger scene. For example, here is the Ender Dragon, freshly removed from its box.
Once assembled we’ve got a nifty little figure of the dragon perched on a tower, blowing a lovely translucent gout of purple pixel flame.
Here’s another kit. This one is Alex and Steve, outfitted in diamond armor. It’s kind of a weird pose, with the two facing one another. Are they quarreling among themselves?
And what of the mysterious Enderman, which refuses to be photographed without blur no matter how I tried?
He’s so spooky.
Once the three sets are combined, it all makes sense. Alex is defending against the dragon’s flames, while Steve prepares to loose an arrow in the Enderman’s direction, like that will help. These two heroes are so dead.
Meanwhile, in the Nether, Steve stands poised to battle . . . something.
Or maybe he’s running away from the zombie pigman, whose base connects to Steve’s set, adding a stream of molten lava to the mix?
Or maybe, just maybe, the two of them are teaming up to fight against the creepy Ghast, floating above a bed of translucent orange?
My favorite of the three combined sets begins with a pig peeking out of a window. Had I received no other sets but the pig peeking out of the window, I would have been perfectly happy.
I would have also accepted the horse with its head stretched over a fence, chewing on some grass. You can’t go wrong with a blocky horse.
Especially a blocky horse with a duck attached to its tail.
I probably wouldn’t have been as happy had I just received the village priest. With his high forehead and what looks like Burt from Sesame Street’s nose, the dude creeps me out.
Put them all together, however, and suddenly he’s not so bad. We now see that the pig feels the same way I do, and the cow couldn’t care less. He’s got a mouthful of grass and a tail duck.
All in all, Minecraft Craftables series two is pretty sweet, definitely a big improvement over the original. The only problem is the delivery method. Since these come in blind boxes, fans will either have to pray they get the right nine or purchase a full case of 27, selling off the extra two sets. Considering how well these all come together, that shouldn’t be too hard a task.
Minecraft Craftables series two goes on sale on September 15 at Jinx.
With the Nintendo Direct airing last night, we got our first glimpse at some new upcoming Nintendo Switch and 3DS games.
As well as brand new games, there’s also more information on games we already knew about.
This comes hot on the heels of Gamescom , where we were already full on video game trailers and news.
There’s a lot of exciting stuff to get through, so no more fluff – here’s what you should get hyped for:
Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo’s mascot has a mainline game coming to the Switch in October – but we already knew that.
What we didn’t know, however, is that Princess Peach’s tiara is the sister of Mario’s hat buddy Cappy, or that the game will feature an impressive snapshot mode with tons of filters.
We also got our first look at a few new kingdoms, including the Seaside Kingdom, Snow Kingdom, and an unnamed tropical forest.
Nintendo Switch + Super Mario Odyssey bundle
Nintendo revealed a brand new Nintendo Switch bundle, to be released alongside Super Mario Odyssey on October 27.
Included in the box is the standard Nintendo Switch console, dock and Grip, with two new red Joy-Con controllers and a copy of the game.
If you already have a Switch console, the new Joy-Con can be bought separately, as can a stylish Mario Odyssey carry case.
DOOM + Wolfenstein II
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the announcement that DOOM, the acclaimed Bethesda first-person shooter, is coming to the Nintendo Switch.
Releasing on the console later this year, it’ll be amazing to be able to play one of the greatest FPS’ ever made on the go.
As a nice bonus, its retail release will use the far prettier box art than its previous releases.
On top of that, the upcoming Wolfenstein II game will also be coming to the Nintendo Switch next year.
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Pokémon
We were treated to a fair bit of Pokémon news during the event.
Firstly, we were given some more information on the upcoming Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games, learning that the cover star Pokémon were in fact versions of Necrozma.
After taking over Solgaelo, Necrozma turns into his Dusk Mane form, and it becomes its Dawn Wings form by taking over Lunala.
We also received our first glimpse at two new Ultra Beasts, as well as some new moves for Lycanroc.
For those who don’t already own a Nintendo 3DS or 2DS, a new Pokémon-themed system was unveiled. Called the Poké Ball Edition, the New Nintendo 2DS XL design launches on November 17.
Lastly, Pokémon Gold and Silver is coming to the 3DS Virtual Console on September 22, with a limited number of boxed versions also hitting store shelves.
Kirby
Having been teased earlier this year, the multiplayer Kirby game for 3DS sees various versions of the lovable puffball battling in multiple modes, including Battle Arena and a racing mode.
The UK will actually receive the game several months early, as it launches here in November.
On top of that, the upcoming Kirby game for the Switch now has a name – Kirby: Star Allies, and it releases next spring.
Minecraft
Minecraft has released on almost every platform under the sun, but it never did come to the 3DS.
Better late than never, as Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition is available on the 3DS eShop today.
Mario Party: The Top 100
Despite it being quite late in its lifespan, the Nintendo 3DS is still getting plenty of new games.
One of those is the newly-announced Mario Party: The Top 100, which includes the top 100 mini-games from across the Mario Party series.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
We had an closer look at Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the massive RPG coming soon to the Nintendo Switch.
In fact, the game now has a release date, surprisingly releasing this year on December 1.
Snipperclips is a cute, underrated co-op puzzle game for the Nintendo Switch, and now it’s receiving an update and a retail release.
Appropriately called Snipperclips Plus, it releases this November.
Project Octopath Traveler
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Square-Enix’s upcoming Switch-exclusive RPG received a brand new trailer, with a demo now live on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Fire Emblem Warriors
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A brand new trailer for Fire Emblem Warriors confirmed Lyn as a playable character.
The game launches on the Nintendo Switch on October 20, alongside some new amiibo figurines .
Arcade Archives
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The Arcade Archives series is bringing 6 Nintendo arcade classics to the Nintendo Switch.
The arcade classic Mario Bros. releases on September 27, with Punch-Out!!, Ice Climbers, CluClu Land, Pinball and Balloon Fight launching at a later date.
Indie titles
A few Nintendo Switch indie games got a passing mention, such as Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, PAN-PAN and Crypt of the Necrodancer.
