Minecraft Earth: all you need to know about Microsoft's augmented reality game

Summary

• Minecraft Earth: a game based on Spatial Anchors technology

Last week, for the 10th anniversary of Minecraft, Microsoft unveiled the teaser of an augmented reality mobile game. This May 20, 2019, the Redmond firm unveils all the details on this new project.

Entitled Minecraft Earth, the title transposes the gameplay of the classic game into augmented reality. Thus, it is possible to create and constructs in the same way as in the original version released on PC in 2009. Subsequently, however, these constructs are to be disposed of in the real world. By exploring the real world, the player collects resources and unlocks new creatures to populate their environment.

Minecraft Earth: a game based on Spatial Anchors technology

This game is based on Microsoft's Azure Spatial Anchors technology. This allows permanent virtual elements to be placed, which will remain in the same place in the real world if the player returns later. In addition, other users will be able to see these elements in the same real world location on their smartphones. Players will be able to collaborate around common creations. A survival mode will also be offered.

For now, Microsoft has yet to give details on the business model of the game. The firm specifies, however, that there will be no "loot boxes", these loot boxes which create controversy in a large number of video games.

Le game will be available on iOS and Android smartphones, but not on the Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality glasses. We can hope to see such a port in the near future, but Microsoft has not communicated anything on this subject for the moment.

La beta version of Minecraft Earth will be launched in summer 2019. You can register to participate at this address. However, it is not known when the full version of the game will be available.