Place your creations for all to see.
Mojang and Microsoft have announced Minecraft Earth, an augmented reality mobile game that combines elements of Minecraft and games like Pokemon Go.
Revealed on the official Minecraft website, Minecraft Earth allows players to collect, explore, collaborate and survive while exploring and building new Minecraft creations in the real world. Like in the original Minecraft, which is celebrating it’s tenth anniversary, Minecraft Earth features old and new mobs, and over time players will discover new variants they can use to populate their builds. For example, you can find Minecraft pigs just hanging out in your neighborhood park.
Players can also explore their neighborhood to find blocks, then use any flat surface to build on. Using Build Plates, players can team up with friends to create and place them in the real world to explore at life size and leave for others to see. Players can craft new items, breed mobs, grow crops and more.
However, players will also encounter hostile mobs out in Minecraft Earth that they'll have to fight off. It’s unclear at this time exactly how Microsoft intends to moderate content put out into this AR world.
Minecraft Earth will be available on Android and iOS devices as a free-to-play title. Closed betas for the game will be available for players to participate in this summer, and fans can sign up here and get a free Earth skin. While there will almost definitely be micro transactions tied to Minecraft Earth, its FAQ clearly notes that it will not have loot boxes.
Minecraft’s biggest update, village & pillage, is available now and introduces Pillagers and their Beasts, over 10 new Villagers, a Crossbow and more.
Minecraft Earth is an AR game like Pokemon Go, one of IGN’s best mobile games. If you need a new iPad to play this on, check out the best Apple deals of 2019.
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Colin Stevens is a news writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
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