Mojang’s future plans for Minecraft include more frequent updates, the death of the Mob Vote, a PS5 version, and more

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What you need to know

  • Minecraft is one of the most well-known, popular, and best-selling video games of all time, and Mojang Studios wants to keep it that way.
  • In a new community update, Mojang has teased its future plans for Minecraft, including a more frequent content update cycle.
  • Minecraft Live is also becoming a bi-annual event, and will no longer feature the controversial Mob Vote.
  • Finally, Mojang has confirmed a native PS5 version of Minecraft is coming, although you shouldn’t get too excited about that.

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the rise and evolution of gaming from the days of 8-bit graphics to the immersive experiences we have today, I must say that Mojang Studios’ recent announcement regarding Minecraft has stirred a sense of nostalgia within me. The game has come a long way since its humble beginnings, and it’s fascinating to see how the developers are continuing to evolve with the times.

Minecraft, starting from simple roots, has grown into an extraordinary cultural force, and there’s no sign of it slowing down in growth. Mojang Studios recently shared some insights with the community about what we might see in Minecraft’s future development. This sneak peek includes a range of updates across the entire franchise, which are directly influenced by community suggestions.

Frequently, Minecraft enthusiasts complain about Mojang Studios releasing updates too gradually; however, this trend is shifting.

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Over the past few years, Minecraft has been growing into a well-known brand and multi-platform entertainment empire rather than just a video game. The official artwork for Minecraft has recently undergone a redesign to align with its contemporary aspirations, and there’s even an upcoming live-action Minecraft movie featuring Jack Black and Jason Mamoa (though the first trailer suggests it might be somewhat troubled). Additionally, a Netflix original animated series based on Minecraft is currently in development.

Some people argue that the growth of this franchise has caused the original game, which sparked it all, to take a back seat. They’re particularly critical of an update schedule that only allows for one significant update per year, such as the 1.21 ‘Tricky Trials’ update in Minecraft. However, Mojang Studios is now choosing to handle updates differently, promising regular feature updates throughout the year instead. These updates will come in different sizes and levels of ambition, ensuring Minecraft players receive more frequent doses of new content.

Indeed, Mojang has previously tried out this method in Minecraft with the ‘Armored Paws’ update, introducing armadillos, new wolf types, and wolf armor. Now, Minecraft will receive more frequent updates, but these smaller changes will go through rigorous community testing before being rolled out to the public. Additionally, some areas of Mojang are working on long-term projects to ensure Minecraft continues to develop for years to come; however, details about this are currently being kept confidential.

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A significant development on the horizon is the standalone PS5 edition of Minecraft. Previously, we had been aware of this update, but it’s crucial to emphasize its implications. So far, players on PlayStation 5 have been playing the PlayStation 4 version of Minecraft due to backward compatibility, however, Sony’s version doesn’t offer the same level of dynamic gameplay as Xbox’s. This is now set to change.

Having a native PS5 version of Minecraft implies improved stability and performance due to its ability to fully utilize the advanced and potent hardware of the PS5. This essentially aligns with the Xbox version that adapts across Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, which unfortunately means there won’t be any unique features such as ray tracing. I regret to inform you that Minecraft with ray tracing is still not available on consoles.

Regarding all points mentioned earlier, Mojang Studios has again emphasized the value of community input. They’ve pointed out how collaborating with Minecraft players resulted in enhancements to aspects such as the armadillo and wolf armor, which were notably improved from their original designs. Moreover, they’ve revealed that this collaboration even led to the creation of features like the Cherry Grove biome.

Ultimately, Mojang Studios is modifying their community engagement strategies. For instance, Minecraft Live’s format will transform into a bi-annual event, offering more frequent glimpses into the forthcoming developments of Minecraft. This adjustment seems acceptable to me, considering that Minecraft is expected to receive more consistent content updates now.

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I don’t mind the shift away from the Minecraft Live Mob Vote either. For quite some time now, Mojang has invited the community to choose one of three proposed new creatures for Minecraft, which garners a lot of excitement… And unfortunately, much of it is negative. The Mob Vote is well-liked, but the community expresses significant disappointment each year when two new mobs are announced and teased only to never be included in the game.

In the previous year, the Armadillo emerged victorious in the Minecraft Live Mob Poll, which happened to be my preferred pick. This triumph, however, led to the seclusion of the Penguin and Crab within the Minecraft mob storage, never to reappear. I’ve expressed my thoughts on why the Minecraft Live Mob Poll might need to be phased out, a sentiment echoed by many others, and it seems those ideas are now materializing. Here’s hoping that this change means Mojang will introduce new mobs more regularly into Minecraft, potentially revisiting the former Mob Vote losers in the future.

It’s yet unclear what will take the place of the Mob Vote in the upcoming semi-annual Minecraft Live events, but overall, I’m quite optimistic about the updates that Mojang Studios has revealed.

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2024-09-09 19:39