The well-known virtual world of Minecraft is about to arrive on our iPhones and iPads in a new and improved version. Thanks to virtual reality, we will be able to digitally "enter" into landscapes as if we were just another character. Next October, it will begin its journey in different countries.
Mojang announced at his Minecon event, that the next version of his flagship game, Minecraft Earth is now ready to be officially released. It will begin to be downloaded in some countries, yet to be determined, both on iOS and Android, and will progressively be distributed worldwide. Because it uses AR (augmented reality) technology, it will only be playable on devices compatible with this technology and, in addition, they must have iOS 10 or Android 7 as the operating system.
Minecraft Earth uses augmented reality to allow users to create and explore virtual worlds. Many of the features of the current game are also found in this new version:
- Go on an adventure. In Minecraft Earth you can go out into the real world to find blocks, chests, etc. As you walk, you will be able to find adventures, small life-size landscapes where you can collect resources, fight against mobs, etc.
- Collect, explore, survive. This new version introduces many of the Vanilla Minecraft items known to fans of this game, plus some new secrets that can be collected and used.
- Look at your buildings in front of you or around you. You can build your scenarios from an exterior view, as if they were on a table, or in an interior view, life-size.
- Corporate multiplayer. Optimized for a multiplayer game in real time. You only need an iPhone or iPad compatible with ARKit and have the game installed to join the game.
This video from WWDC last June shows the gameplay of Minecraft Earth for iOS, using the ARKit capabilities of the augmented reality of iOS and iPadOS. There is little left to get fully into the worlds of Minecraft.
