Microsoft announces launch of Augmented Reality version of Minecraft – ‘Minecraft Earth’

May 17, 2019 – Ten years ago, Minecraft launched on PC. Since then, the game has sold more than 176 million copies to-date in almost every country in the world. As a way to celebrate 10 years for the franchise, Microsoft has today announced a brand-new augmented reality version of the Minecraft game – Minecraft Earth.

Minecraft Earth is a new free-to-play AR game for mobile that brings the creative nature of Minecraft to the real world. In a similar style to Niantic’s Pokémon GO released in 2016, Minecraft Earth’s mechanics allow users to explore their neighborhood to find blocks and unique ‘mobs’ (a term used to describe in-game animals and monsters) for use in their builds. Once obtained, any flat surface is an opportunity to build.

The game features multiplayer functionality, where players can team up with friends to create builds on ‘Build Plates’, and then place them in the real world to explore at life-size. Users can also battle mobs, craft new items, breed mobs, and grow crops – much of what is featured in the original Minecraft game.

The game blends Microsoft technology such as Azure Spatial Anchors AR tracking and PlayFab integration to bring the Minecraft Earth experience to life.

Microsoft added that there will be more news coming soon but for now, players should visit http://minecraft.net/earth to stay up-to-date on the latest Minecraft Earth information, and upcoming closed betas.

Video credit: Microsoft/YouTube

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Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.