After Microsoft bought the Minecraft franchise from Mojang in late 2014, the Redmond-based software giant moved quickly to bring Minecraft to several new platforms, a couple of which came in the form of the Pocket Edition for mobile phones and the Windows 10 Edition Beta. These two versions of Minecraft are now set to receive new features and content in the form of an upcoming update.
Available later this month, the Overworld Update aims to offer significant increases in building tools and player encounters to further add depth and complexity to the creative process and experience of Minecraft. Microsoft detailed the upcoming update, saying that the both the mobile and Windows 10 versions of the Overworld Update will include the following:
- Finally make more advanced mechanical contraptions for your world with additional redstone components. Comparators, repeaters, dispensers, droppers, hoppers, trapped chests and various additional Minecart types will all be available. Invent all the things!
- Tangle with spooky witches and their huts during your adventures. Witch huts found while exploring swamps also now contain an exciting new feature – their cauldrons will be filled with a randomly generated potion that you can snag for your own if you’re feeling sticky-fingered.
- Cauldrons can now be used to dye your armor an array of beautiful colors.
- Display your coolest loot in your home with Item Frames – or mount your maps on the wall to plan your adventures with a world overview.
- Other gameplay elements new to Pocket Edition and Windows 10 Beta are slime blocks, wearable pumpkins, red sandstone as well as improved chicken jockey mobs.
- Even beyond gameplay elements, we’re also now introducing the ability to import and export maps into the Windows 10 Edition Beta, making it easier for you to share your favorite worlds with friends.
Additionally, Microsoft is adding in extra achievements for the Minecraft Windows 10 Edition Beta. Eight new achievements will be available that will boost your Xbox Gamerscore by up to 170. For those interested, a list of those achievements were made available:
- Camouflage – Kill a mob while wearing the same type of mob head.
- Dispense With This – Construct a dispenser.
- Tie Dye Outfit – Dye all 4 unique pieces of leather armor.
- Map Room – Place 9 fully explored, adjacent maps into 9 item frames in a 3 by 3 square.
- Trampoline Bounce – 30 blocks upward off of a slime block.
- Freight Station – Use a Hopper to move an item from a Chest Minecart to a Chest.
- Smelt Everything! – Connect 3 Chests to a single Furnace using 3 Hoppers.
- Taste of Your Own Medicine – Poison a witch with a splash potion.
The Minecraft Pocket Edition is currently available through the Windows Store (Windows 10), Windows Store (mobile), iOS App Store, Google Play and Amazon.
Source: Xbox Wire