Updated: 3/16/2023
Minecraft, one of the most popular games of all time is coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC next month. Starting November 2, the Minecraft Launcher on PC will provide access to both the Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft for Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers.
For those unfamiliar, Minecraft: Java Edition is the original version of the game that has cross-platform play between Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as support for user-created mods and skins.
Minecraft for Windows 10 is a separate version of the game built on the new cross-platform “Bedrock” version” that supports cross-play multiplayer via Xbox Live, Virtual Reality, as well as ray-tracing. Xbox Game Pass for PC will get to play both versions of Minecraft for free via the Minecraft Launcher.
Minecraft has been available on Xbox Game Pass for Console for quite some time now, and its absence for PC was a bit surprising considering it’s a Microsoft game. Minecraft Dungeons, a Minecraft-themed dungeon crawler has also been available on Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC on day one.
Anyway, it’s good to see Minecraft finally joining Xbox Game Pass for PC next month, and developer Mojang Studios announced a couple of exciting updates for the sandbox game during Minecraft Live 2021 this weekend.
The Part II of the Caves & Cliffs Update will be released later this year and will allow players to dig even deeper and revamp the procedurally generated mountains and caves.
Mojang Studios has also started teasing The Wild Update for Minecraft, which will be released next year. This free update will introduce, mud and mangrove swamps, different types of frogs and tadpoles, as well as boats with chests.
On June 7, 2022, Microsoft’s Xbox team announced that both Minecraft Bedrock and Java editions will now be sold together on PC. This means that you’ll only find one vanilla version of Minecraft on Windows now.
You can learn more about everything that’s been announced during Minecraft Live 2021 this weekend, including new updates for Minecraft Dungeons on this page.
