Microsoft announced the Minecraft 'Better Together' Update at E3 earlier this year, which would enable cross-platform play with almost every platform that Minecraft is available on.
The update went into beta back in August, and today, Microsoft has officially launched the Better Together Update, with it rolling out to Windows 10, Xbox One, VR, Android, and iOS versions of Minecraft. A Nintendo Switch version is also in the works, with is expected to arrive sometime in the Winter.
Alongside the cross-play capabilities, the update also carries a large number of new features, tweaks, and bugfixes, with the full list available to read on the official announcement page.
According to the newly posted Better Together FAQ, this new multi-platform version of Minecraft has been in development since 2012, built upon what the developer calls the 'Bedrock Engine'. All game editions that are based on the Bedrock Engine will now simply be called Minecraft, assuring players that it is essentially the newest version of the game, and supports cross-play.
Meanwhile, isolated versions of the game will now sport 'Edition' in their names, starting with the original Java-based version on PC now being renamed to Minecraft: Java Edition. Microsoft also reaffirmed that the Java Edition's development will not be affected by these changes and that it will continue to get updates.
The most noticeable platform missing out on this update is the PlayStation 4, due to Sony rejecting Microsoft's offer for cross-platform play in Minecraft. However, the two giants are reportedly in talks with each other regarding the subject, so hopefully, PlayStation 4 players will also be able to join in on the cross-platform festivities at some point in the future.
Source: Minecraft
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