Have You Tried ‘Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta’ Yet?

For those people who like to play with as many different versions of Minecraft as possible, there is now a new one available.

Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta is (surprise) only available on Windows 10, so if this interests you, you will need to perform the upgrade first. For everyone who currently owns Minecraft on the PC or Mac, you’ll be able to download this new version of Minecraft for free! For the rest of you, it only costs $10 for the beta version, and updates in the future will then cost nothing additional. The game is in beta because this new version of Minecraft will evolve over time with the beta testers’ feedback and comments. You can join in at any time now, after you’ve upgraded to Windows 10.

“Does this replace my current Minecraft?”, you might ask. No. This is a new version that you can play in parallel along side your current version of Minecraft. It won’t affect your current worlds, but you also won’t be able to play them on the new version.

Here are some highlights, given to me by Microsoft:

• Craft, create, and explore online with up to seven friends playing Windows 10 Edition beta, through local multiplayer or with your Xbox Live friends online.
• Play online and local multiplayer with other Pocket Edition players thanks to a free update, due to arrive soon after launch.
• Support for multiple inputs–switch between controller, touch, and keyboard controls with little to no effort.
• Record and share gameplay highlights with built-in GameDVR.
• Help shape the future of Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta with built-in player feedback mechanisms.
• Chickens, zombies, pigs, boats, armed skeletons, potatoes, zombies, baby squids, enchantment tables, villagers, naked sheep, iron golems, potions, ghasts, pickaxes, carrots, and all the weird and wonderful goodness you’ve come to expect from Minecraft.

Since there are a lot of fingers in this particular pie, there are several places online to get more information and have your FAQs answered. Look at the Windows blog, the Mojang website, and the Xbox support page.

But if you’re like my son, one of your first questions is, what about mods? Since it’s still early in the beta’s development, they aren’t announcing anything about mods or plug-ins quite yet. Patience. Servers? This new beta version doesn’t currently support private servers, but will support multiplayer gameplay over Xbox Live. How about redstone? They have nothing to share yet about this. I am hoping they will soon!

Here are some additional answers to FAQs:

Q: Will I still be able to play the current version of Minecraft if I upgrade to Windows 10 operating system?

A: Yes, the current PC/Java version of Minecraft will play better than ever on your Windows 10 PC.

Q: Does the Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta have all the same features as the existing PC version of Minecraft?

A: The beta is in early stages so not all Minecraft features will be available right away. In the coming weeks we will bring all the features of the existing PC/Java version to Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta as well as exciting new features. Today, we are inviting players to download the beta and share their feedback with us.

Q: Does the Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta have unique features that aren’t in other versions?

A: Yes. The advanced gaming platform of Windows 10 allows us to bring some cool new features to the game including:

• Switch between mouse and keyboard, game controller and touch screen on the fly; the UI adjusts automatically
• Earn Xbox LIVE Achievements and Gamerscore
• Record and share GameDVR screenshots and game clips to the web without leaving the game
• Enhanced weather effects–smoother transitions between weather types and snow accumulation
• (Coming Soon!) Play online with other Xbox LIVE friends in the beta
• (Coming Soon!) Cross-play between Windows 10 Edition beta and Pocket Edition allows up to five friends to play together across mobile devices and Windows 10 tablets and PCs

Q: Does Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta allow cross-platform play?

A: Yes, but not on day one. Soon after launch, players on Windows 10 PCs and tablets will be able to play with friends on Pocket Edition (iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Kindle Fire). We’ll provide an update when this exciting new feature is available.

Q: Is this Minecraft 2.0? Does it replace current versions of the game?

A: The Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta does not replace other versions of the game running on PC, Linux, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows Phone, Android, iOS and Kindle Fire; it is simply a new option for players who want to share their feedback and help craft the best version of Minecraft possible.

Have you upgraded to Windows 10 and installed the new Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta? Let us know what you think! What are you hoping to see in this new version?

Note: As part of the Microsoft Bloggers program, I have been provided hardware and software for the purpose of these reviews. The views expressed in these posts are my honest opinions about the subjects involved.