‘Minecraft’ Cross-Platform Update: Players Can Now Beta Test On Windows 10, Android

The cross-platform update for “Minecraft” is now available for beta testing. Learn more below.

Microsoft is really serious in bringing countless of “Minecraft” players together. The Redmond-headquartered company has already launched the beta of its upcoming cross-platform update for the block-building sandbox game.

Windows 10 & Android Cross-Platform Beta

In a blog post published on Monday, Mojang’s Marsh Davies announced that the cross-platform beta has started to roll out for Windows 10 PCs and Android devices. Through this beta, Windows 10 and Android users can join each other in-game, collaborate and access each other’s adventure maps.

Davies pointed out that their main goal in launching the beta is to encourage players to try out the feature ahead of its official release. This way, they can help the developers in testing what the latter have built so far and identify bugs that need to be squished prior the official launch.

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Xbox One Cross-Platform Beta

Unfortunately, Xbox One users should wait a little longer before they could get their hands on the cross-platform beta. The beta for Microsoft’s gaming console still doesn’t have a release date yet, but Davies assured fans that it will arrive in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Windows 10 users will need the Xbox Insider Hub app to get in on the beta. Of course, they’ll also need a digital copy of the game. Once they have both, they can join the Minecraft Beta found on the Insider Content section of the app. On the other hand, Android users need to have access to the Google Play Store and a copy of the game to join the beta, as per TechCrunch.

Beta Features & Other Details

Since this is still a beta version, not all of the Better Together update’s features are available for gamers to use. What it does have are items that have yet to appear on console, such as stained glass, fireworks (with Elytra boost), parrots, banners, ravines, recipe book and coarse dirt.

The beta also features new world start options (Starting Map, Bonus Chest and Trust Players), new game rules (TNT Explodes and Natural Regeneration), in-game host options, new loading screens with funny and helpful tops, how to play screen, remix 3D and structure blocks, split-screen and world conversion.

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Better Together Update Explained

Announced at E3 this year, the Better Together update is Microsoft’s effort to unifying the “Minecraft” gaming experience on supported devices. The update will bring the console, Windows 10 and Android versions of “Minecraft” into the Bedrock Engine family, making it easier for users to enjoy cross-platform play, according to IGN.

The Better Together update is slated for release this fall. The official version will bring cross-platform play to the Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, Windows 10 and Xbox One versions of “Minecraft.”

Only the PlayStation version of the game is not getting cross-platform support since Sony declined to participate in the update. Nevertheless, Microsoft is doing its best to persuade Sony into joining the update. “We are still in discussions with Sony about PlayStation and have nothing to confirm. We would love to work with Sony to bring players on PlayStation 4 into this ecosystem as well,” Microsoft was quoted as saying by Eurogamer.