Minecraft film delayed as director and writer are replaced
Taken down a notch.
Video game films are notorious for being pretty bad, but in the case of the upcoming Minecraft film by Warner Brothers, the problems are beginning even before the film hits cinemas.
Minecraft's second phase of the Update Aquatic is here
The world's your oyster.
If you haven't played Minecraft for some time, you may soon fancy dipping a toe in again, as the latest phase of the Update Aquatic is bringing a raft of new features to the game.
Phase two is now available for players on Windows 10, VR, mobile devices, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch. The new release expands on phase one of the update, which itself brought a bunch of new additions; including nine ocean biomes, coral reefs, shipwrecks and some (very enticing) treasure chests.
So, what's new in phase two?
Minecraft's Better Together version finally launches today for Nintendo Switch, and a new trailer has dropped to play up its cross-platform capabilities.
Xbox One and Nintendo Switch owners can now play Minecraft as if they were on the same platform but notably - as the trailer hammers home - it is just Nintendo and Xbox on board. Not Sony.
Minecraft's Better Together Update (which is in fact an entirely new game, although free to existing owners) is also compatible with Minecraft on Windows 10, iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
Minecraft's ocean-expanding Update Aquatic is out now on Xbox One and PC
Switch, PS4, and older platforms coming later.
Minecraft's long-awaited Update Aquatic has finally surfaced, and is now available on Xbox One, Windows 10, Gear VR and Oculus, mixed reality devices, and mobile.
Update Aquatic, as its name suggests, is designed to add more life to Minecraft's oceans. It's a major update too - so big, in fact, that developer Mojang has elected to release it in two parts. The first is out now, while phase two is "coming soon".
Once the new patch is installed, Minecraft players on supported platforms will be able to enjoy a wide selection of new fish and other water-dwelling creatures, including salmon, cod, pufferfish, tropical fish, and dolphins - the latter of which will follow boats across the ocean.
Update Aquatic, the next big content drop for Minecraft, will be the last to arrive on older console platforms.
After this, Microsoft will no longer update the game's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, or those on PlayStation Vita or Wii U.
The update will not arrive at all for those still playing the specific Xbox One and Nintendo Switch edition of the game - you'll have to switch over to the Bedrock version of Minecraft for these platforms instead. (The Switch version of the Bedrock edition still lacks a release date.)
Mojang sets date for this year's MineCon Earth
Livestream event happening in September.
Mojang has announced that this year's MineCon Earth will take place on September 29th.
Dolphins that find treasure! Minecraft's big ocean overhaul
But Switch multiplayer cross-play and Super Duper Graphics delayed.
The Minecon Earth show happened yesterday and a handful of Minecraft announcements were made. The biggest was the reveal of Update Aquatic, an entire overhaul to oceans coming spring 2018, and it has dolphins - dolphins that can lead you to treasure, which is Flippering marvellous.
Fans can decide Minecraft's newest mob during the MineCon Earth livestream this weekend
Plus nifty free cosplay skins for all platforms.
As part of MineCon Earth 2017 this weekend, Minecraft fans will have the opportunity to vote for one of four brand-new mobs, with the most popular creature making it into the game.
Surprise! Minecraft is coming to New 3DS today
But not the old 3DS.
A 3DS edition of Minecraft was just announced, and then revealed to be launching later today on the eShop.
MineCon ditches real world expo in favour of a livestream
Mojang will host "Official Minecraft Community Events" instead.
Minecraft convention MineCon won't be held in a publicly attended physical location this year. Instead, it will be beamed into our hearts and minds via the magic of livestreaming.
Microsoft recently released a big new update for Minecraft that marked the beginning of cross-platform play, and alongside the update updated its safety features for playing the game online.
Minecraft's cross-network update now playable in beta
PC, Android and Xbox One players unite.
Minecraft's game-changing cross-network update is now available to beta test if you are on a Windows 10 PC or Android PC.
Xbox One beta access will follow "in the coming days", Microsoft stated in a blog update.
Each version will let you play with people on other platforms, such is the nature of Minecraft's Better Together Update, which will launch properly this autumn. (There's no beta for Nintendo Switch players, though Switch will also be getting cross-network play).
Minecraft's console editions get one more big update before cross-network play
PS4 will "continue getting updates" after other platforms combine.
Minecraft's various console versions just got a big new update, adding in new animals, structures, blocks, villagers, items and Achievements/Trophies.
Going by the latest post on Minecraft's official blog, it sounds like the game's last major update on consoles before the game-changing Better Together Update lands later this summer. That's the update which will unify Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile, VR and Windows 10 editions of the game into a single entity where everyone can play together. It's also the update which PlayStation has opted out of.
As expected, however, "platforms which won't support the Better Together Update will continue getting updates even after it lands," Minecraft's Marsh Davies reassured.
Sony defends decision to block PS4 cross-play with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
"We've got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base."
Sony has defended its decision to block cross-play between PS4 and Xbox One after coming under fire from gamers this week.
In what seems like a pretty logical team-up, kid-friendly animation series Adventure Time and perennial sandbox fave Minecraft are teaming up.
Minecraft's various console versions are getting Glide, a new free mini-game.
Minecraft has smashed 120m copies milestone
55m monthly players - and growing.
Minecraft continues to be an astonishing success - the sandbox game king has now sold more than 121m copies across all platforms.
Sounds pretty S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
A new Fallout-themed pack is heading to Minecraft's console versions, bringing fan favourites from the post-apocalyptic universe to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Vita and Wii U editions of the game. I think that's pretty much all of them.
Minecraft wings finally coming to console in December
My heart's aflutter!
Wings are finally coming to Minecraft: Console Editions in December.
World War Z author writing Minecraft novel
Paper plus leather equals book.
Horror author Max Brooks is writing an official Minecraft novel.
Minecraft console editions finally get polar bears, beets and banners
Paid-for Chinese Mythology Pack also announced.
Minecraft's next console update will get bears, beets and... banners.
There's a new Minecraft mode on consoles today
Let's get ready to Tumble.
In the words of PJ and Duncan, let's get ready to tumble, let's get ready to tumble, let's get, let's get ready ready, let's get ready to tumble.
Minecraft movie gets a release date... in 2019
"We all want an awesome Minecraft movie, right?" asks Mojang, rhetorically.
The Minecraft movie officially has a release date... in 2019.
24th May to be exact. That's straight from the horse's mouth of Minecraft developer Mojang.
"Yes, that might seem like a long time away, but it just so happens to be the right amount of time to make it completely awesome," said Mojang COO Vu Bui. "And we all want an awesome Minecraft movie, right?"
Minecraft's new Battle Mode season pass costs £7.99
More than half the price of the base game.
Minecraft's new Battle Mode launches today on all console versions of the game, although the price for more maps is steeper than some had expected.
It is, simply, a phenomenon: Minecraft has now sold more than 100m copies worldwide across PC, console and mobile platforms.
The game is owned in every country and territory on the planet - even Antarctica (it's probably David Attenborough) - and in 2016 more than 53,000 copies have been bought every day.
Creator Mojang released an infographic showcasing some statistics. In Europe, for example, the mobile version of Minecraft is most popular but only by the smallest of margins. The mobile version accounts for 36 per cent of sales whereas the console versions account for 35 per cent. The longer-serving PC version accounts for 29 per cent.
Minecraft will no longer allow companies to promote products in-game
But fans can still pay tribute to their outside interests.
Minecraft developer Mojang is cracking down on the sorts of creations people erect in its procedurally-generated sandbox. The gist is that people can still make whatever they want, unless it's specifically to promote an unrelated product. That's now against the user guidelines.
Minecraft gets new mini-game mode on PlayStation, Wii U, Xbox
And a new method of monetising the game.
Minecraft's console versions are getting a new mode next month, and a new way for Microsoft to monetise the game.
A closer look at Lego's new £170 Minecraft set
Ore blimey.
Lego's top-selling Minecraft range will get a big new addition in June with the arrival of an enormous £169.99 set named The Village.
Huge update inbound for Minecraft console versions
After three years, almost caught up with PC.
Mojang and 4J Studios are set to launch a huge new update to Minecraft's various console versions.
Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3/Vita and PS4 editions of the sandbox creation sim will get a raft of new features, animals, blocks and biomes.
The update was submitted to Microsoft and Sony for certification earlier this week and is due to go live shortly.
It looks like Minecraft is finally coming to Wii U
UPDATE: Listing removed. Will it Nether happen?
UPDATE 17/11/15 10.45am: PEGI has quietly removed its listing for the unannounced Minecraft: Wii U Edition.
Sandbox phenomenon Minecraft will soon add a flying cape, allowing players to soar around their worlds.
Northern Ireland's government recreates its country in Minecraft
Ordnance Survey replicates nearly 14,000 square kilometers.
Northern Ireland's government, in an attempt to simultaneously seem hip and educational, has recreated its region in Minecraft.
Minecraft movie is being directed by Rob McElhenney
Yes, Mac from It's Always Sunny.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-creator and star Rob McElhenney will be directing the Minecraft movie, Mojang has announced.
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta announced, free to existing PC players
Upcoming features include dual-wielding, shields, southpaw support.
Mojang has announced Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, which will launch in beta form alongside Microsoft's new operating system on 29th July.
It will be free to download if you already own Minecraft on PC, or $10 (about £6.40) if you don't.
This edition is separate to the existing PC build and will offer online and local multiplayer with anyone playing on Minecraft: Pocket Edition (that's the version available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone).
Minecraft console version update adds stained glass, trapdoors
LittleBigPlanet Mash-up pack coming to PS4.
All of Minecraft's console version will receive a new update tomorrow.
As detailed on developer Mojang's official blog, this new version version 1.17/TU25/CU14 will add new objects like stained glass, trapdoors, inverted daylight sensors, books and quills.
Other additions include new blocks such as oak, spruce, birch and "jungle wood".
Minecraft adds female player avatars to all console versions
"Jolly old Steve doesn't really represent the diversity of our playerbase."
Minecraft now includes a range of default female avatar options on PlayStation 3, 4, Vita, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
Blocked.
Turkey's Family and Social Policies Ministry is seeking a ban on Minecraft.
MineCon dated for July in London
Tickets go on sale later this month.
MineCon, the Minecraft convention, is set for a 4th-5th July showing at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Conference Centre, Mojang has announced.
Minecraft to receive The Simpsons skins on Xbox
Available in late February for $2.
Minecraft's Xbox One and Xbox 360 editions will be getting The Simpsons-based skins in an all new pack coming in late February.
Minecraft: Xbox Edition gets horses
Gee-gee 4J.
4J Studios, developer of the console version of Minecraft, has issued a new update for the Xbox Edition of the game that adds horses to the game.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition launches on Windows Phone
Plus, more Xbox-exclusive DLC launched.
Mojang and its new owner Microsoft have launched Minecraft: Pocket Edition for Windows Phone devices.
The handheld version costs £4.99 in the UK.
Mojang first announced a Windows Phone version of its smash-hit sandbox game back in October - after Microsoft's $2.5bn purchase of both the game and studio.
Minecraft gets official Dennis the Menace mod
Summon Gnasher, catapult rotten tomatoes, throw stink bombs.
Beano comic star Dennis the Menace now has his own Minecraft mod.
Minecraft gets Xbox-exclusive Star Wars DLC
Luke, you have to Han it to them.
Microsoft has released the first of several new Star Wars skin packs, which will only launch for Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
55 player skins are included in the Star Wars Classic Skin Pack DLC, including Luke, Leia, Han and Chewbacca.
Dozens of lesser known characters also make an appearance, from Greedo to Governer Tarkin via Bib Fortuna and Admiral Ackbar (but no Wedge?!).
Which PS4 games block Share Play?
Call of Duty, Minecraft, Tomb Raider and more.
Share Play is one of the PlayStation 4's most eye-catching features.
Night at the Museum director tapped to helm Minecraft movie
A Creeper hit.
Warner Bros. is in talks with Night at the Museum director and producer Shawn Levy to helm its upcoming Minecraft movie, Deadline has reported.
Minecraft PlayStation Vita release date finally announced
PC version's Horse Update now headed to all consoles.
Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition will finally be available to download from next Wednesday, 15th October, developer 4J Studios has announced.
That date applies to European Vita owners only, however. There's no word yet on when the game will be released in North America.
The Vita edition will be a Cross-Buy game for anyone who has already bought Minecraft on PlayStation 3. (The PS4 version is a separate entity, although you can upgrade to it from PS3/Vita at reduced cost.)
Doctor Who Minecraft pack launches today for Xbox 360
But what about PlayStation?
Don't blink - Minecraft's new Doctor Who-themed pack is now available to download on Xbox 360, priced £1.99.
A new trailer for the DLC confirms that the pack is also coming to Xbox One, although the content is not yet live on the console's store.
Included in the download are skins for Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, current companion Clara, plus previous Tardis team Amy, Rory and Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith.
Minecraft: Xbox One Edition is coming to retail a month after its PS4 brethren
At least in North America.
Minecraft: Xbox One Edition is getting a disc release on 18th November, where it will retail for $19.99 (about £13).
Sony to sell Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition on a disc
Still no release date for Vita version, though.
Sony has announced it will sell Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition in disc form from 3rd October 2014.
What next for Minecraft on PlayStation?
Microsoft and Sony find themselves in a curious position.
Now Xbox maker Microsoft owns the phenomenally successful block-placing sandbox Minecraft, what will happen to the game on PlayStation platforms?
Microsoft buys Mojang and Minecraft for $2.5bn
Vows to support iOS, Android and PlayStation versions.
Microsoft has bought Mojang and Minecraft in a deal worth an incredible $2.5bn, it's announced.
Microsoft to buy Mojang for $2 billion - report
UPDATE: Notch initiated buyout and will leave once complete, source says.
UPDATE 10/9/14 9.55am: Minecraft creator Markkus "Notch" Persson instigated talks with Microsoft to sell developer Mojang, a new source has claimed, and will leave the company for good when the deal is complete.
Destiny's Tower hub recreated in Minecraft
I'd Traveller.
Waiting until midnight for your copy of Destiny to unlock? One intrepid fan is already exploring the game's Tower location - albeit in Minecraft.
Minecraft Xbox One release date confirmed
UPDATE: Available now on PlayStation 4 - and on Xbox One for £115!
UPDATE #2 4/9/14 10.20am: Minecraft's Xbox One edition has popped up on Microsoft's Xbox Games Store a day early, priced £114.95.
The listing, presumably a mistake, allows you to click "purchase" and select a payment option.
We're checking what's going on with Microsoft now, rather than breaking out the Eurogamer credit card to download it ourselves.
Minecraft's Xbox 360 Edition will soon play host to a range of Doctor Who characters.
British Geological Survey recreates Great Britain in Minecraft
All you need is a copy of the game and 6GB of disk space.
A visually-accurate version of Great Britain's geology has been recreated within Minecraft.
Minecraft PS4 technical issues cast doubt over August release date
"We're fixing, but we need to go through the process again."
Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition may miss its August release window after Sony spotted technical issues during a test.
Developer 4J Studios relayed the bad news last night via Twitter, and told fans that another wait was now in store.
"Sony found some issues we have to fix in their final test of #MinecraftPS4 :(," 4J wrote. "We're fixing, but we need to go through the process again."
New full-size Lego Minecraft range revealed
Nether thought we'd see the day.
Lego's new range of officially-licensed Minecraft sets have been spotted online.
This is how Minecraft looks running on PlayStation Vita
You've got to hand it to them.
Sony has released new footage of Minecraft's upcoming Vita Edition, which shrinks the wildly popular sandbox title down for portable play.
Minecraft's console versions have now outsold Minecraft on PC, Mac
Nearly 54m sold. PS4, Vita, Xbox One editions still to launch.
Minecraft's console editions for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have now sold more copies than the game's original PC and Mac version.
Notch defends Minecraft dev Mojang from "worse than EA" claims
After EULA change clarifies position on paid-for mods.
Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson has hit back at fans who branded developer Mojang "literally worse than EA" after the studio's recent update to its Minecraft end-user agreement.
Minecraft Xbox One, PS4, Vita editions due in August
Upgrade from last-gen for cheap, PS3 gets you free Vita version.
Minecraft developer Mojang has revealed extensive details on the game's upcoming PlayStation 4, Vita and Xbox One editions, which will all be available to download this August.
Minecraft PS4 and Xbox One expanded draw-distance shown off
See further than on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Minecraft's PlayStation 4 and Xbox One editions will show off more of your world on screen than their PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts.
Minecraft maker Notch clarifies "Mojang to disband in 10 years" reports
"From the day we don't make a profit, we'll survive another 10 years."
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Minecraft maker Markus "Notch" Persson talked about how he has a 10-year plan for his staff if he doesn't come up with an idea for a successor to the all-conquering Minecraft.
Minecraft PS4 and Xbox One won't have "infinite" PC worlds
"But a lot bigger than PS3/Xbox 360."
The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One editions of Minecraft won't feature the "infinite" world size of the game's PC version.
Minecraft PS3 worlds will transfer to PS4, possibly Vita
UPDATE: Phil Spencer confirms 360 to Xbox One transfers.
UPDATE 25/4/14 08.10am: Xbox boss Phil Spencer has now confirmed that game saves from Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will be transferrable to the upcoming Xbox One version.
Minecraft: PS3 Edition getting disc-based launch next month
UPDATE: PlayStation 4, Vita box art also spotted.
UPDATE 13.15PM: Mojang has now confirmed the physical version of Minecraft: PS3 Edition and teased the game's box art for PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4.
More than 1.5 million copies of the PS3 Edition have been downloaded so far, the EU PlayStation blog reports.
We've known that the game will come to both PS4 and PS Vita for some time, but the existence of box art suggests that both of these platforms will see the game as a physical release, too.
Watch The Simpsons' Minecraft-themed intro
Notch: "I'm not sure how I feel about it."
Last night's North American episode of The Simpsons featured a new opening credits sequence inspired by Minecraft.
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition sales hit 12m
Candy Texture Pack announced.
The Xbox 360 version of Minecraft has now sold an astonishing 12m copies.
Microsoft announced the new milestone today, along with word of another new mod pack for the game - the Candy Texture Pack, due to launch 18th April.
"I remember when we started talking about sales numbers that we would be super happy to sell 1m copies," Mojang's Daniel Kaplan said. "That would have put us on par with BF 1943 and Castle Crashers, which both are awesome games, so that was something to aim for.
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition TU14 arrives today
Update live for PS3 version tomorrow.
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition's long-awaited new update launches today, developer Mojang has confirmed.
Minecraft dev Mojang made £200m last year
Notch earns £77m in licensing fees.
Minecraft maker Mojang raked in over 2 billion Swedish kronor (£197m) in 2013, the company has revealed.
Warner Bros. working on Minecraft movie
Progress unblocked after Lego Movie success.
A film version of Minecraft is in development at Warner Bros., a new report has revealed.
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition update will add trading, anvils, carrots
But still no horses.
The next update for Minecraft's best-selling Xbox 360 version will include some major features from the game's PC build.
Minecraft's console developer 4J Studios posted on Twitter last night confirming the inclusion of NPC trading and anvils in the upcoming Title Update 14, all of which will presumably also filter through to the game's PlayStation 3 port.
It means that you'll soon be able to pester the game's NPC Villagers for items, in return for emeralds - a major block type which will also make its console debut.
Someone is building Spirited Away's entire world in Minecraft
Anime be one of the best creations we've seen.
A talented Minecraft fan is re-creating the entire world of Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away.
Minecraft out on PS3 this week
News on PS4 and Vita versions in the New Year.
Minecraft launches on PlayStation 3 this week, developer Mojang has announced.
Minecraft 360 dev working to allow save transfers to Xbox One
"Can't say it'll be there until it's 100 per cent working."
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition developer 4J Studios is working with Microsoft to allow players to transfer their Xbox 360 save data to the Xbox One edition of the popular block-based building game.
The Minecraft documentary is officially free on YouTube
By the documentarians behind the Broken Age and Mighty No. 9 videos.
Minecraft: The Story of Mojang - the feature length documentary about the paradigm-shifting indie sandbox title - is now viewable, in its entirety, ad-free, on YouTube.
Minecraft PS3 Edition will arrive before next-gen versions
And any further updates to Xbox 360 Edition.
Minecraft console developer 4J Studios has said that it is prioritising work on the game's PlayStation 3 version before launching on any other platform.
Ordnance Survey maps Britain in Minecraft
UPDATE: Watch Ian explore the OS map and mispronounce things.
UPDATE: Eurogamer's Ian Higton has been exploring the Ordnance Survey map for himself - watch his travels below as he takes in Stonehenge, London, Oxford and mispronounces everything around Eurogamer's home city of Brighton.
Minecraft confirmed for PlayStation 4
UPDATE: And PS3, and Vita.
UPDATE: Yesterday's announcement of Minecraft for PlayStation 4 was not the whole story - Sony has now confirmed that all of its current platforms will see the mega-selling sandbox.
PlayStation 3 and Vita versions are also on the way, PlayStation rep Adam Boyes wrote on Twitter. Xbox 360 Edition developer 4J Studios will once again handle the game's console conversions.
Minecraft is currently only available for Android, iPhone, Mac, PC and Xbox 360. An Xbox One version is also on the way.
