When we talk about popular games there is one title that you simply cannot ignore. Minecraft. Created by Swedish developers Mojang, and thought up by Notch, Minecraft has become one of the most popular games in human history. Bested only by Tetris in the number of sales.
Originally Minecraft was only available on PC. But as it soared in popularity people started demanding other methods of playing the game. Mojang, riding the major success of the game, definitely had the means to meet this demand and they began seeking ways to port their title onto different platforms.
Multiplayer quickly became the biggest selling point for Minecraft. A number of new game modes were created by the player base, alongside hundreds of thousands of SMP Minecraft servers popping up within the first few years. But the players wanted more. They wanted to be able to play with their friends who weren’t lucky enough to have a PC capable of playing Minecraft.
Today we are going to examine all the different devices capable of running Minecraft. So no matter what your budget you can join in the gaming sensation that is Minecraft.
Playstation
Playstation is one of the most reliable and trusted gaming brands on the planet. Their consoles are arguably the most popular on the market. So it was no surprise that Minecraft soon made its way onto the famous console.
The Playstation version of the game is called the Console Edition. While they are essentially the same game, there are some key differences. The main being they do not run on the same code system which means the two versions of the game receive different updates. This means the Playstation version of Minecraft has a lot less content in it than its PC counterpart.
Once Minecraft was acquired by Microsoft, the updates for PlayStation did start to slow down. And the PlayStation version is the only version not able to play cross-platform. So you can only play with others who have it on Playstation.
Nintendo Switch
Much like the Playstation version, the Nintendo Switch version of Minecraft is its own version. Designed specifically for the switch, it too lacks cross-platform functionality, except with Xbox. Meaning you can only play with other switch players or Xbox players.
That being said, this version is still a fantastic option, particularly for anyone looking for a reliable portable version of the game. It receives semi-regular updates but is still missing a lot of key features available in the java version.
Xbox Editions
Microsoft acquired Mojang, and Minecraft, back in 2014. As such it means the Xbox has the strongest console version of the game. Before the acquisition, there was a normal console version of the game. Much like the Playstation version, it lacked cross-play functionality or most of the updates.
But after the acquisition, Microsoft created something called the Bedrock edition. This was designed to be a new version of Minecraft intended for cross-play functionality. It is sometimes referred to as the Microsoft client, as opposed to the Java client.
Bedrock Edition is only a few updates behind the Java version, and it often gets the latest updates in a timely manner after the java version. It also allows cross-play functionality between Xbox, Switch, PC, and Mobile. So if you’re looking to play cross-platform then you will want to secure a bedrock edition of the game.
Gaming PC
The classic and ultimate way of playing Minecraft. You don’t necessarily need a gaming PC, as Minecraft will run on pretty much any modern computer or laptop, due to its low minimum requirements.
But playing on a proper gaming PC provides a lot of extra opportunities for players. Firstly there is a large and varied modding community. Every day modders work tirelessly to create and publish some of the most incredible mods ever seen. New game modes. Fantastic new biomes. Enemy types and creative blocks. Modding a game can increase the minimum requirements though, which is why it is best to have a proper gaming PC if you want to do some heavy modding.
On PC you can also make use of the Java edition. This is the original version of Minecraft and, as such, is the one with the latest updates. Every new feature is released on Java first before going to the Bedrock edition and, eventually, the console edition.
Mobile Phone Editions
Minecraft emerged onto the market at the same time that mobile gaming started to grow in popularity. As such, Mojang saw the perfect opportunity to create a Minecraft edition for mobile phones. Enter: Minecraft Pocket Edition.
Pocket edition was the version used on phones and tablets. It was a very bare-bones version of the game. Featuring less content than the console versions at the time. But as mobiles became better, so did pocket edition. After Microsoft bought Mojang they actually changed Pocket edition into Bedrock edition and ported it to PC and Xbox.
This means that the pocket edition was the first cross-platform version of Minecraft. A fun little fact. Bedrock edition for phones and tablets is still immensely popular, especially now that it can cross-play. So if you’re not looking to fork out a lot of money on a console or PC, you might just consider getting yourself a good phone.
