Microsoft announced yesterday during their E3 2017 press conference that Minecraft is getting “the Better Together Update to unify console, mobile, and Windows 10 versions of the game under a single edition.” However, when the list of cross-play platforms was released by Mojang, PlayStation 4 was absent.
According to Jez Corden of Windows Central, “RE: cross platform Minecraft. Yes to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation refused.” Asked if the news came directly from Sony, Corden added, “Dunno, Microsoft said it’s their hope for all modern versions to connect to each other. But I got separate info that Sony refused.”
In a couple of follow-up tweets, Corden said, “Didn’t ask [Sony] for comment, I don’t cover PlayStation. It’s confirmed that it won’t connect to Nintendo/Windows/Xbox versions of the game,” and “Microsoft approached, [Sony] said no.”
GamesBeat reached out to Sony for a comment on Minecraft cross-play and hasn’t heard back yet, but Minecraft communications boss Aubrey Norris did say, “We can’t speak for Sony. But as we said, we would love to have our PlayStation 4 community join our Minecraft unification plans.”
Speaking with Time, Executive Producer Jesse Merriam said, “Our goal is always to bring every Minecraft player together. Today we can confirm Nintendo Switch and Xbox One support, but our vision is really to get everyone together.” Merriam wouldn’t reveal why PS4 cross-platform play isn’t happening, just that it’s something the team “really wanted to do.”
Norris also answered several questions on Twitter, revealing that the in-game servers and Super Duper Graphics Pack aren’t confirmed for PlayStation:
We would love to have PlayStation players along with the unified Minecraft, hope that we can. https://t.co/hRGPG8Aj8a
— Aubrey @ E3 (@Chupacaubrey) June 11, 2017
Nope the shaders will be on all our platforms in one form or another.
— Aubrey @ E3 (@Chupacaubrey) June 12, 2017
No, sorry- we are working on current gen consoles only
— Aubrey @ E3 (@Chupacaubrey) June 12, 2017
We do love our PlayStation players too! Hope that we can bring all of the Bedrock Engine Minecraft goodness to them too.
— Aubrey @ E3 (@Chupacaubrey) June 12, 2017
Right now all features that we announced today are only confirmed for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
— Aubrey @ E3 (@Chupacaubrey) June 12, 2017
We agree and would love to be able to bring it to PlayStation too.
— Aubrey @ E3 (@Chupacaubrey) June 12, 2017
Here’s how the Minecraft Better Together Update will work on the confirmed platforms:
A game all about teamwork, building together and creating communities shouldn’t be restricted to one device, which is why our Better Together Update introduces cross-platform play, breaking down the barriers and letting people play the same complete Minecraft with each other across devices! We’ve wanted to integrate cross-platform for ages, essentially making a version of Minecraft that’s consistent no matter what device you’re choosing to play on.
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). This means when you buy ‘Minecraft’, you’re buying a game that can you can play with friends across devices.
Anyone playing the game on Windows 10, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and VR devices will be able to play online together. If you own Minecraft for your mobile or VR device, you’ll get this as a free update this summer. If you own Minecraft: Xbox One Edition or Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition, you’ll receive the brand new version of Minecraft for free, and your existing worlds and DLC will come along to the new version with you. What’s more, any DLC you purchase will be accessible amongst the various devices at no extra charge. (For example: if you buy the Greek Mythology pack on Nintendo Switch, you’ll also own it on the mobile, Xbox One and Windows 10 Editions too – no extra charge).
If Sony explains why Minecraft cross-play isn’t coming to PS4, we’ll let you know.
[Source: Minecraft, Time, Jez Corden (Twitter 1, 2, 3, 4), GamesBeat, via VG247, Eurogamer]
