18 Things We Just Learnt About Minecraft and Minecraft Earth
After a couple of months in closed beta, Minecraft Earth is now rolling out in Early Access on Android and iOS, which means millions more people can have a taste of building and adventuring in augmented reality. It’s an important step for the game, given its overworld map is crowdsourced (via OpenStreetMap) as is its ability to accurately place digital play spaces in actual locations (via Azure Spatial Anchors).
Early Access is also exciting because it’s the public debut of Adventures – small slices of Minecraft played solo or with friends in real-world locations. I was actually able to play a couple of these ahead of time and you can read my impressions here. During the same event I also got the chance to chat with Minecraft’s creative director Saxs Persson, who really laid out his vision for not just Minecraft Earth, but for Minecraft too. Here are 18 things you may not know, from Saxs himself…
Minecraft’s Nether Update Adds New Biomes, Piglin Beasts and Mobs
Minecraft's next major game update is called the Nether Update and will add "new biomes, mobs, structures, blocks and visual effects to the Nether to enhance its unique and scary atmosphere."
Revealed during MINECON Live, the Nether Update will add the new Target block that acts as a projectile hit-detector and the Soulsand Valley and Netherwart Forest biomes.
Also introduced were the Piglin Beasts and Piglin mobs that bring a brand new civilization to the Minecraft universe. The name Piglin may be a temporary one, however, as fans can now vote on a new name.
In addition to the Nether Update, it was also revealed that Bees, Beehives, and the Honey Block will arrive in both Bedrock and Java versions of Minecraft before the holidays.
Minecraft’s Nether Update Adds New Biomes, Piglin Beasts and Mobs
Minecraft's next major game update is called the Nether Update and will add "new biomes, mobs, structures, blocks and visual effects to the Nether to enhance its unique and scary atmosphere."
Revealed during MINECON Live, the Nether Update will add the new Target block that acts as a projectile hit-detector and the Soulsand Valley and Netherwart Forest biomes.
Also introduced were the Piglin Beasts and Piglin mobs that bring a brand new civilization to the Minecraft universe. The name Piglin may be a temporary one, however, as fans can now vote on a new name.
In addition to the Nether Update, it was also revealed that Bees, Beehives, and the Honey Block will arrive in both Bedrock and Java versions of Minecraft before the holidays.
Minecraft Earth Early Access Launching in October
Minecraft Earth, the free-to-play augmented reality mobile game that is more-or-less Minecraft + Pokemon GO, is set to launch in Early Access this October, with a plan to be worldwide by the end of the year.
Revealed during MINECON Live, Minecraft Earth has been in closed beta in five cities over the summer, and the Early Access version will add such features as mob variants, crafting and smelting, and social multiplayer experiences called Adventures.
Adventures are smaller versions of Minecraft worlds that can be played in real life through AR technology. "For example, your sidewalk becomes a mine and there could be diamonds under your feet, or your local park may have Minecraft trees where skeletons lurk and you can fight them, dig down into the ground and discover an abandoned mine with treasures."
Minecraft Earth Early Access Launching in October
Minecraft Earth, the free-to-play augmented reality mobile game that is more-or-less Minecraft + Pokemon GO, is set to launch in Early Access this October, with a plan to be worldwide by the end of the year.
Revealed during MINECON Live, Minecraft Earth has been in closed beta in five cities over the summer, and the Early Access version will add such features as mob variants, crafting and smelting, and social multiplayer experiences called Adventures.
Adventures are smaller versions of Minecraft worlds that can be played in real life through AR technology. "For example, your sidewalk becomes a mine and there could be diamonds under your feet, or your local park may have Minecraft trees where skeletons lurk and you can fight them, dig down into the ground and discover an abandoned mine with treasures."
You Can Now Play Cuphead on Your Tesla Car
You can now play Cuphead in your Tesla vehicle. To be more specific, you can play Cuphead on Tesla Arcade, which lets you play games on the screen just to the right of a Tesla’s steering wheel.
The inclusion of the cartoony, insanely difficult platformer/shoot-em-up comes as part of Tesla’s 10.0 software update, which includes a bunch of other features like a Google Maps-style search function, Spotify, Karaoke, and the ability to summon your car from afar because it’s a darn robot. You can check out Tesla's trailer for the software update here.
You Can Now Play Cuphead on Your Tesla Car
You can now play Cuphead in your Tesla vehicle. To be more specific, you can play Cuphead on Tesla Arcade, which lets you play games on the screen just to the right of a Tesla’s steering wheel.
The inclusion of the cartoony, insanely difficult platformer/shoot-em-up comes as part of Tesla’s 10.0 software update, which includes a bunch of other features like a Google Maps-style search function, Spotify, Karaoke, and the ability to summon your car from afar because it’s a darn robot. You can check out Tesla's trailer for the software update here.
Minecraft Comes to Tabletops With Brand New Board Game
The celebration of all things Minecraft, MineCon, kicked off today and brought with it the announcement of Minecraft: Builders & Biomes, a new tabletop game based on Minecraft and developed in conjunction with Mojang.
Similar to the video game version, Minecraft: Builders & Biomes has players "explore the Overworld, build structures, and mine resources," with points earned for "structures and the largest connected biomes."
Check out the slideshow below for look at Minecraft: Builders & Biomes:
Mobs are also part of the tabletop Minecraft experience, with Creepers and Enderman (among others) appearing in the board game version. Ravensburger, the company behind Minecraft: Builders and Biomes, said successfully besting a mob earns "players points in addition to granting additional awards."
Minecraft Comes to Tabletops With Brand New Board Game
The celebration of all things Minecraft, MineCon, kicked off today and brought with it the announcement of Minecraft: Builders & Biomes, a new tabletop game based on Minecraft and developed in conjunction with Mojang.
Similar to the video game version, Minecraft: Builders & Biomes has players "explore the Overworld, build structures, and mine resources," with points earned for "structures and the largest connected biomes."
Check out the slideshow below for look at Minecraft: Builders & Biomes:
Mobs are also part of the tabletop Minecraft experience, with Creepers and Enderman (among others) appearing in the board game version. Ravensburger, the company behind Minecraft: Builders and Biomes, said successfully besting a mob earns "players points in addition to granting additional awards."
How Dave Filoni’s Work on The Clone Wars Influenced The Mandalorian
All September long, IGN is highlighting the best TV coming your way in the 2019-2020 season. Today we're featuring The Mandalorian, Disney's first foray into a live-action Star Wars TV series, and one of the inaugural shows of the ambitious Disney+ streaming service launching on November 12. Created by Jon Favreau and set five years after the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, The Mandalorian follows the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. We spoke to director and executive producer Dave Filoni about making his live-action directorial debut on the show, and what he learned from working on fan-favorite animated Star Wars series like The Clone Wars and Rebels that he applied to "Mando." Plus, get a first look inside The Mandalorian's ship, the Razor Crest, with our exclusive new photo, and see it in action in the trailer above.