The future of Minecraft on PC

And how does it affect the community?

In this post I'm sharing some observations as things now appear to be heading in the direction I expected they would. So how then will those changes affect those who play the original Java version of Minecraft? The version that will now in future be referred to as Minecraft: Java Edition.

I'd been toying with these ideas as a topic for a while now based on the changes as they occurred, some of which I'll outline below. And with the announcements by Microsoft at the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2017 event in Los Angeles, which in a way confirmed some of my assumptions, I figured now was a good time to try and compile some of those thoughts and ideas. 

For context, where I started with Minecraft

I purchased Minecraft for Windows, the original Java Edition sometime in 2012. I bought it primarily for my son to play as it seemed to be the game that all the kids were playing and also so I could learn a little more about it. I'll admit that I personally have never played the game for any extended period of time. Perhaps when you get to a certain age you're at the risk of not getting the point of it all. I helped my son to get started and while doing so became fascinated by how overly complex it all seemed to be and by that I mean the setup and use of the Java Edition. Just recently I had another go at it, to try the core game play loop of Survival Mode and at this point my son was providing step-by-step instructions, so no How To videos on YouTube required. Which goes to prove how good the game obviously must be and why it has become such a phenomenon.

I should also add that at this point I own copies of multiple versions of Minecraft across PC and mobile, more on this below. The original Java Edition is still the one that is now played the most and in a way my son and his friends sort of rely on the features of it. I looked at the other versions merely out of curiosity and in an attempt to keep up with the changes which I felt have been accelerated by the recent announcements.

When we first started playing the Java Edition it took a while to get used to setting things up as it wasn't implemented like most of the popular games on PC, or at least when compared to those I already owned. Software and games running inside a third-party software environment on a computer like Adobe Flash or Java games are nothing new of course but as Minecraft has such a large player base the complexity took me a little by surprise.

You first needed to download and install the Java Runtime Environment (now part of Oracle). I've noticed that the current version of the Java installer offers by default the option to change your internet browser homepage to Yahoo. No doubt Microsoft would rather it act more like their Skype installer offering Bing and MSN. I recently discovered that this step has been removed, more on this below.

You then placed the copy of the Java Edition of Minecraft you purchased into a folder and away you went. And then if you wished you could investigate downloading modifications (commonly referred to as mods) and copy them to the .minecraft folder in Windows and then configure things using the Minecraft Launcher. Assuming of course that everything worked smoothly which often it didn't, at least when it came to trying out the various mods available. The base game, the current vanilla version which you get if you leave the Launcher options at the default settings has always run okay though and it seems has been regularly updated by Mojang.

In the beginning my son was playing using an Xbox controller which by default works with most games on Windows but not with Minecraft: Java Edition. He now uses a mouse and keyboard as most who play on PC do so a minor point but nonetheless important from a user experience point of view. To use the Xbox controller with the Java Edition I had to purchase an additional third-party application to interpret controller input when playing. And at the time it was a bit of a pain given that Minecraft for video game consoles of course already included native game controller support.

It seems there are mods available for the Java Edition to support the use of a game pad such as an Xbox controller as well as the ability to play two-player split-screen mode like you can on a video game console. I looked into the options briefly but it all sounded a bit too complex and if it wouldn't be user friendly for the child playing then there anyway would be no point.

Microsoft acquires Mojang & Minecraft

Microsoft acquired Mojang, the maker of Minecraft, for $2.5 billion in September 2014. Many wondered what would happen given that it's growth, at least on PC was due to how open the Java Edition is.

To play the Java Edition you need to purchase a copy of the game and login with the Mojang account you create and once you own a copy you may modify it. I think I paid around €20 for my copies of the Java Edition, following the acquisition it seems the price has gone up to just under €24, minor thing, I only just noticed it. 

Available alongside the PC version has been Minecraft Pocket Edition (MCPE) for mobile such as Android and Apple devices. And it was from this version that the initial major changes came as Microsoft used it as a basis for a new Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition written in C++ and so a native Windows application.

The new Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition first appeared in beta form and was free for those with a Mojang Account who already owned a copy of the Java Edition. I claimed my copies as soon as the new Windows 10 Edition beta became available. One feature of the Windows 10 Edition is native game pad support so you can now use an Xbox controller quite easily should you wish to. Most will still use a mouse & keyboard on PC but it's good to have the option. 

There's no two-player split-screen support included with the Windows 10 Edition like there is for Minecraft on video game consoles. The expectation is of course that players on PC use a single mouse and keyboard setup and that computer screens are not big enough etc. It's not a PC processing power issue and many of us have two or more game pads we could use. Nowadays split-screen support for games on PC isn't so common, the Minecraft like Lego Worlds on PC supports it though and that title requires a lot more processing power than Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition.

To get the game you need to be running Windows 10 of course and signed in with a Microsoft account to download the game from the Windows 10 Store. And have an Xbox Live account for online multiplayer which can be managed using the Xbox app included with Windows 10. It seems that the full release of the Windows 10 Edition when purchased separately is more expensive than the original Java Edition. And if you purchase a copy of the original Java Edition it includes a copy of the Windows 10 Edition but not vice versa for obvious reasons, more on this below.

Minecraft: Java Edition gets updated

I'll now take a look at the current version of the Java Edition. Something important to note is the fact that the updated Minecraft installer now includes the installation of the Java Runtime Environment. So now there's no need to separately download and install Java and keep it updated. This was something I wasn't aware of until recently when I had to reinstall the Java Edition and the process included a Downloading runtime element. Java is still there of course and you may receive a Windows Firewall prompt to allow Java to connect when you first attempt to play online using the Java Edition.

The launcher, illustrated below has been updated and somewhat streamlined which I can appreciate. And you still have the ability to add your own custom player Skin to change the appearance of your in-game character. Although they haven't yet added the option to purchase Skins via an in-game store as appears in the other versions.

Playing the Java Edition online and the community

I'm using the term community here in the loosest possible sense since I've merely glimpsed at the extent of it. Of course a large part of it runs on the original Minecraft: Java Edition given the extent at which it's been modified. You can also download the Minecraft mulitplayer server and run it from your own PC or Mac (or Linux) at home which I've tried a couple of times and it works, internet connection provider permitting of course. And there are now countless multiplayer servers to connect to and play minigames online for free. As I've already mentioned to play the game you need to purchase a copy and create a Mojang account and they've been providing regular updates to the base vanilla version of the game. So in a way there's a structure in place, but what you do with the game once you're purchased a copy, at least of the original Java Edition is up to you.

My son and his friends appear to go between playing local multiplayer games at home (for computers connected to the same network) and playing multiplayer online by connecting to Mineplex or Hypixel as illustrated below. These multiplayer servers offer a selection of popular minigames and appear to be free to use for the most part. 

Minecraft Realms are paid private multiplayer servers hosted by Mojang that have been offered for a while now from the Java, Pocket and now Windows 10 Editions. I think I tried a trial period once from the Java Edition but never proceeded to pay as I didn't have a need for it. I guess they're a good option for those without the time or perhaps the ability to setup their own online multiplayer server and are a safer place online for kids to play. So long as those kids can get their friends to connect to their Realm once they have one of course.

Minecraft on YouTube, again this is a mere glimpse of the extent of it. I found a link which lists a thousand or so Minecraft YouTubers at seuscraft.com/find/youtubers. Below screenshots of a couple of channels that my son follows and at this point on a daily basis. Many if not most of these as far as I'm aware create content based on the Java Edition of the game showcasing new custom maps, mods and multiplayer games. The random examples illustrated below includes a reference to a SNIPER which at first glance doesn't appear to be child friendly. Again it goes back to how open and modifiable the game is. 

Minecraft mod projects & hosting

Minecraft: Java Edition has enabled the creation of large scale mod projects and companies selling hosting of Minecraft multiplayer servers. A recent controversy was the shutting down of the Pixelmon Mod a Pokémon related Minecraft mod project. This comes as no surprise of course as the Pokémon Company is usually swift to shut down any unofficial Pokémon related projects regardless of the platform they're released on. Again the openness of the Java Edition of Minecraft enabled the creation of such a large project which if I recall correctly came with it's own custom launcher and content downloading system.

And related to Minecraft mod projects some additional elements which in a way are an extension of the original topic as I became aware of them while I was in the process of finalising this post. I recently purchased a set of SteelSeries brand wireless headphones and once I'd finished installing the available device configuration software on my PC I was offered to download a SteelSeries GameSense Minecraft mod which extends the functionality of some of the company's products such as mice and keyboards. In this case there was nothing available for headphones but I anyway clicked on the links to have a look as I was already familiar with custom launchers for Minecraft, the aforementioned Pixelmon Mod project being an example. And I was curious to know how these options functioned and what they offered.

To begin I had to visit technicpack.net on the web illustrated below and download the mod launcher which is listed as hosted by Apex Minecraft Hosting, more on this below.

Before you can install the technicpack launcher you must have Java installed which of course you would already have if you've been playing the Java Edition. And once you have the launcher installed you need to login using your Minecraft/Mojang account to access the Technic Platform which would then proceed to download any mods you select. As I alluded to earlier it can often be difficult getting mods up and running so launchers like this which download all the required components for you allowing you to just click Play are quite impressive and even more so since they're free.

I noticed that the main screen of the technicpack launcher was displaying a Pixelmon Reborn modpack and when searching I found several references to Pokémon which was interesting given the recent controversy over the Pixelmon Mod. And another pack Tactical Siege which includes a large selection of guns which my son liked but I don't imagine such content ever being made available through the Minecraft store.

The technicpack launcher shows the extent of the projects created using the Java Edition of Minecraft and in this specific case it's a feature being promoted by a manufacturer of hardware accessories. My son and I hadn't heard of this project before I purchased the headphones. 

Following the installation of the Technic Platform listed as hosted by Apex Minecraft Hosting I had a quick look at their website and another which it seems had been hosting the Pixelmon Mod at nodecraft.com. I'm assuming these companies primarily host multiplayer servers based on the Java Edition. Some may also offer the hosting of Pocket Edition servers as I believe such a thing exists but the hosting of Java Edition servers is I guess the core of their business or at least it appears to be for now.

Why did Microsoft acquire Mojang & Minecraft?

Microsoft has gone through many changes and will continue to do so. It's still a software company (Windows and Office) and a core element of that offering is now online services (Office 365, Xbox video games etc). While I think they dropped the devices and services company moniker they do still produce Xbox consoles and the Surface line of computer hardware products.

On a very basic level and going on the signs that are clearly visible the purchase of Minecraft is being used to push the adoption of Windows 10, the creation of Microsoft accounts and use of the Windows 10 Store. And to sell copies of Minecraft on consoles and of course not just the Xbox as Minecraft is a cross-platform title. Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch has only recently been released. And the messaging is clear, purchase the Java Edition and we'll include the Windows 10 Edition and it's the development of the latter they'll now be focusing on, that's clear to see.

Minecraft still tops the video game sales charts, the head of Xbox Phil Spencer noted in an interview during the recent E3 event that the game was released in 2009 and they had their biggest sales period ever at the end 2016. And Minecraft is being used as a platform to sell a whole host of in-game items. Like the Java Edition the Windows 10 and Pocket editions also offer the ability the add your own custom player Skin to change the appearance of your in-game character as well as offering the option to purchase Skins and in some cases as illustrated below representing characters from some well-known video game franchises. 

Players use real money to buy virtual currency known as Minecraft Coins which can then be used to buy items via the in-game store. And the idea is that purchased items can be used across multiple versions of the game by linking purchases to a user's Xbox Live account. To function correctly of course the Xbox Live account would need to be accessible through the Android version of the game. 

Below from the Windows 10 Edition store a few random examples of the Skin Packs available to purchase based on popular TV, movie and game franchises.

And included is content created by the community which are effectively paid mods which is often a controversial topic. After the in-game store takes a 30% cut of the revenue earned through purchases the content creators will see a minimum of 35% of the revenue their work brings in. If it's reasonably priced and functions as advertised then it's probably a good idea and helps to support those who would otherwise perhaps be releasing content for free. 

I ran the Windows 10 Edition today to capture some screenshots and was offered a Mash-up Pack which at 990 coins would cost around €6. I'm not sure if my son would be interested in these. Or at least not unless he'd be able to play it together with his friends who would need to have access to a Windows 10 PC or be able to play online using the Pocket Edition. Support or not of cross-play between the Windows 10, Apple and Android and video game console versions of Minecraft has been an a bit of a moving target, this is changing now though, more on this below.

I should also mention the Minecraft: Story Mode games by Telltale Games (referred to in the Skin Packs shown above) which my son has also been enjoying the first of which came out a year or so after Microsoft acquired Mojang and is also a multi-platform release. I noticed that on the Windows 10 Store it's listed as Free or at least the first episode of the in-game story is. The rest of the content you need to pay for so it's a little misleading.  On the Steam online games store on Windows (below on the left) you can just pay for all the content when you purchase the game. And coincidentally another release of Minecraft: Story Mode, Season Two has been released.

I should also mention the Minecraft Education Edition initiative at education.minecraft.net. This I gather was originally a mod for the Java Edition entitled MinecraftEdu from a company called Teacher Gaming which Microsoft acquired in January 2016. The application is now based on the Windows 10 Edition and is part of a paid subscription service which integrates with Microsoft Office 365. There's also a version for the Mac it seems. This will be yet another revenue stream for Microsoft and as it integrates with Office 365 is way to create visibility for the service. 

There was at one point a lot of buzz and excitement around Microsoft's HoloLens Augmented Reality (AR) Headset. And Minecraft was used to demo the concept, stills from a video included below. It seems the original demo wasn't exactly as shown, something to do with the field of view from inside the headset being a lot narrower than suggested. It appears the product is anyway a long way from being generally available and like any new or experimental technology in terms of adoption it's only as good as what you can purchase right now and how much it costs.

I've also seen references to Minecraft in VR (Virtual Reality) which requires the Windows 10 or Pocket Editions. I guess it's technically possible with the Java Edition but of course that doesn't require the user to be running Windows 10. I don't own a VR headset and those are as far as I'm aware not suitable for kids, I think Sony's recommendation for their offering PlayStation VR was ages thirteen and up. The Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition page in the Windows 10 Store lists the title as Available on Holographic which I assume refer to the HoloLens which isn't yet generally available so I'm not sure what purpose that listing serves. Either way VR and AR are here to stay at this point and the developments in this area are interesting.

A more efficient application

The first assumption was that since this new version of Minecraft for Windows 10 was written in C++ and so a native Windows application it would be more efficient than the Java Edition. Minecraft doesn't look like the most graphically demanding of titles but there are graphics mods available for the Java Edition to add more realistic light and shading effects. Running such mods effectively on the Java Edition on PC requires quite a lot of computer processing power, or at least in my experience it does.

I'm not a software developer so I can't comment on which is technically better, in other words the Java or Windows 10 Editions. I looked it up and found some discussions on Twitter and Reddit and from which I'll include some excepts below. The Windows 10 Edition is it seems the more efficient version and in my own experience when comparing the two I've noticed the same.

Obviously Microsoft would prefer that those who play Minecraft on PC adopt the Windows 10 Edition which aids in the adoption of Window 10 and the Windows 10 Store etc. And offering a native application would make more sense as opposed to one that requires the user to download and install the separate third-party Java Runtime Environment that Microsoft don't control. And as stated above if you now purchase a copy of the Java Edition it includes a copy of the Windows 10 Edition.

At the recent E3 event in Los Angeles Microsoft announced some updates coming to Minecraft including a Super Duper Graphics Pack for more realistic graphics and 4K resolution, screenshots from the announcement below. This is similar to mods for the Java Edition that require some processing power to run. Of course it requires powerful graphics processing in the Windows 10 Edition as well which is to receive this update but not the Java Edition.

The Future of Minecraft

Following the announcements at the E3 2017 event a post was published on the Minecraft blog outlining the details of the Better Together Update. Also referred to as the Bedrock Edition as this update is based on the Bedrock engine which the Pocket & Windows 10 Editions run on and now the console versions will too. I'm including a excerpt below edited a little to include the elements relevant to this topic.

“This E3 we shared our plans to introduce the Better Together Update to unify console, mobile and Windows 10 versions of the game under a single edition. This new version brings in-game multiplayer servers and cross-platform support - letting console, Win 10 and mobile Minecrafters play together for the first time!

So going forward, the edition you’ll find on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, mobile and VR will simply be known as ‘Minecraft’, a separate entity from ‘Minecraft: Java Edition’, which is the original PC game (that we’ll continue to support, of course).

Independent servers, run by members of the amazing Minecraft community, have been around since the earliest days of the game. Unlike Minecraft Realms, which gives you access to a private, cloud-hosted world for you and your friends, servers are open and accessible to everyone. So this Summer, all platforms receiving the Better Together Update will then have a server browser in the Minecraft start menu. This’ll let you search a list of servers which you can join right away! We’ll be launching with four servers – Lifeboat, Mineplex, InPVP, and CubeCraft - with more to follow. Plus we’ve made sure that parental controls and other safety features will be in place, so you decide what your child can access.

This Fall, we’ll be releasing a free update that allows you to boost Minecraft’s graphics. Minecraft will get 4K HDR graphics. This’ll be available to folks playing on Xbox One, Windows 10, iOS, mobile, and VR - essentially every platform that gets our Better Together update.”

It's clear that they're adding the popular elements of the original Java Edition such as graphics improvements and popular online multiplayer servers. I've put together a quick table below to provide an overview of the changes as I see them. As I said my son plays the Java Edition almost everyday. And moving forward there's now a clear distinction between the original Java Edition and every other version of Minecraft which is the direction I expected Microsoft would eventually take.

As a side note there's been some talk of the Sony PlayStation version of Minecraft not receiving this Better Together Update. The new Minecraft where all versions apart from the Java Edition can play together requires some cross-play functionality where the users on PlayStation would I understand be required to use an Xbox Live Account which is used in part to manage parental controls for the new online multiplayer servers. Regardless of the technicalities the number of Minecraft players on PlayStation is substantial so eventually Sony will have to update their version or it runs the risk of being left behind in terms of new features.

I've referred to Minecraft online multiplayer servers and server hosting above. And in relation to that concept the announcement of plans to integrate server search and popular Minecraft servers such as Lifeboat, InPVP, Mineplex, and CubeCraft into this new version of Minecraft will no doubt have an impact. Some details from the Better Together Update FAQ page below

“Q: How does server integration into Minecraft and the Minecraft Marketplace work?
A: Players will be able to find and access community servers right from within Minecraft itself using a server browser. The server browser has a list of vetted server partners that they can join with one touch. Not only are we partnering with these servers to offer integrated access directly from Minecraft, but we are also providing them with monetization, store, wallet and login backend support. This takes a lot of administrative and backend work off of their plate so that they can focus on creating and maintaining great online communities.”

So it seems that these partners will still be hosting their multiplayer servers for popular minigames. It appears that players on Xbox will require a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription to access them which is an additional cost for parents of console players and more so when the servers will I assume still be free to access from the other versions of the same game.

Adding these multiplayer servers directly to the game is smart as it allows Microsoft to cherry-pick from the selection of community created content and integrate it directly into the game generating revenue for both them and the server partners. Note the reference from the FAQ above to we are also providing them with monetization, store, wallet and login backend support above.

The Java Edition, below on the left of course has multiple free multiplayer options available. And on the right accessing a free server from the current Windows 10 Edition which I didn't know was possible until I looked into it. Note the pe.mineplex.com Server Address referring to Pocket Edition server. I assume with the update that PE servers will be no more. There's an entry from the FAQ page below which doesn't appear to indicate how the Windows 10 Edition will manage direct connections to servers following the update, I assume the function will still be included.

“Q: Can I still access other servers via direct IP connect?
A: Players will still be able to access servers from beyond the servers listed in the server browser from mobile. On consoles, due to platform restrictions, server access is limited to partner servers only.”

Mojang have stated they'll continue to support the Java Edition and I've no doubt they will. The thousands of Minecraft related videos on YouTube, a large portion of which feature the Java Edition will continue to sell the concept of Minecraft to new users each and every day. It's the openness of the original Java Edition which kick-started the phenomenon that is Minecraft. And if this original version gets left behind, and there's no reason to think that it will, the countless users creating content online could potentially be reduced to using whatever Mojang & Microsoft deem appropriate, I mean in terms of how much you can modify the new Minecraft based on the Add-Ons system Microsoft is now offering.

And related to the recent changes I noticed that two weeks after the Better Together Update announcement on June 11th 2017 that two of the Minecraft Java Edition YouTube channels my son follows created additional channels focusing on Minecraft Pocket Edition. At this point the subscriber counts of the new channels are of course a fraction of those already gained by the Java Edition focused originals. 

The Better Together Update will add the Community Marketplace we referred to earlier to video game consoles that are set to receive the update. Again this is a form of the often controversial topic of paid mods, paid for content that would otherwise be free to download. And with respect to downloadable content for Minecraft be it free or not, it brings to mind something I noticed recently that relates directly to this particular topic.

One of the YouTubers my son follows referred to above UnspeakableGaming recently released a video featuring a Minecraft map created by what I assume is a fan. And a link to download the map entitled Unspeakable Boss Battle was included with the video. This is a common method with Minecraft videos on Youtube and I've downloaded many maps in the past and recently assisted my son in uploading a map of his own to share. Usually there's a link on planetminecraft.com to the map or mod hosted on for example DropBox or Mediafire.

My immediate assumption was that this guy on YouTube with three million subscribers and nearly five hundred thousand views of this particular video wasn't supporting the creation of this map created in his name. It would perhaps make sense or at least benefit the original content creator if he was in some way. Instead when you click the download link on planetminecraft.com you get served an ad before you get a download link, a synopsis of which I'm illustrating here. Many of us are familiar with these types of ads and usually you just wait a few seconds and then proceed. It occurred to me that it may mostly be young kids who are trying to download these maps and for whom such ads are in a way not really suitable. But if this is how these free Minecraft mods are supported then that's how it goes. This is perhaps a case where the creator could also try creating content for the official Community Marketplace. Although in this specific example I don't think Microsoft would be willing to publish content created in the name of a YouTuber, it's a just a little too specific I guess.

Free content for a new Minecraft in a new format

The Add-Ons section of the official Minecraft website, some screenshots below offers free content which they state Works best on Windows 10 Edition. According to Microsoft the files which are in the JavaScript Object Notation (.JSON) format contain the behaviors for each character in the game as well as things like their size and speed. All you need is a text editor on a PC or smartphone to edit the .JSON files. And this is safe because you’re just editing text files and all you have to do is delete your new files and the game will default back to its original state.

Microsoft also states that these Add-Ons will not go out-of-date. On PC, a lot of people run old versions of the game because certain mods wouldn’t work. Add-Ons is built in a way to address that problem. Anything you build for the game using the Add-Ons method should continue to work in Minecraft forever and — eventually — on all versions. Overall this seems to be a step in the right direction in terms of creating content for Minecraft at least from the point of view of the technical requirements.

So to be fair Microsoft & Mojang do seem to be continuing with the community content creation aspects of Minecraft, their Add-Ons promo video for what will now be Minecraft on the right. And which ties neatly into their continuation of the Minecraft Education Edition initiative.

Will the community adopt these new methods of content creation for Minecraft or will they at some point have no choice or risk being left behind as potentially Minecraft adopts new features and receives updates that Minecraft: Java Edition doesn't receive? I'm assuming not and Microsoft have stated they'll continue to support the Java version with feature parity between Minecraft and the Java Edition. And it wouldn't make sense for multiple reasons but then again the old Minecraft: Java Edition isn't a platform for selling in-game items and doesn't require Windows 10. Just a thought...