Minecon happened over the weekend, and Minecraft fans had the opportunity to see the direction Microsoft is taking the game. The big news is that there is another version of the game being released, this time for Windows 10. Unlike the current java based Minecraft on the PC, this one is being built from the ground up for Microsoft’s new operating system.
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta will not be a full release at first, despite debuting on 29 July – the same day that Windows 10 will be launched. Mojang says that the Beta in the name is due to the fact that the game will not be finished from the start. This is not unusual for the company, who pioneered the idea of early-access games with the original Minecraft.
It appears that this new Minecraft will benefit from the crossplatform capabilities of Windows 10, and will allow for multiplayer games with Minecraft on the Xbox; as well as planned compatibility with Minecraft Pocket Edition. It is unknown how Mojang and Microsoft intend to pull this off, considering that Minecraft worlds across PC, Xbox, and mobile are all different sizes; not to mention the differences in features across the three platforms.
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However, the Xbox blog post indicates that Minecraft: Windows 10 Beta will support multiple input methods, ranging from a traditional keyboard and mouse, Xbox controller, and even touch controls. It looks suspiciously like Microsoft has turned Minecraft into a universal Windows app.
It should be noted that anyone who owns the PC version of Minecraft will be able to download the new Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta for free when it appears on the Windows store. Other users will be able to buy it for $10 (about RM38), at least while it remains in the Beta phase. Mojang has traditionally sold the Beta version of Minecraft for a lower price, and slowly increased it as the game nears completion. In other words, this is a good time to look into Minecraft if you don’t already have it.
[Source: Xbox]
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