This summer, Minecraft: Pocket Edition on iOS [Direct Link] will gain a free update that plans to introduce cross-platform play between most devices that the popular survival crafting game is available on, including iOS and Android smartphones, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10 PC, and VR. So if you're playing on iPhone or iPad, you can still join in with a friend who only owns the game on Xbox One or PC.

Game developer Mojang said that it has always wanted to introduce a cross-platform feature, and promised that the new "Better Together Update" will bring a more consistent and unified version of Minecraft. This unification will extend into the game's subtitles, which are being nixed going forward, with Mojang explaining that Minecraft on iOS, Android, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and the VR version, will all simply be called "Minecraft."

minecraft iphone creation

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.

Better Together will also introduce cross-platform DLC support, so that any extra content that's purchased on one device will be accessible on any of the devices supported by the new update. As Mojang explained in an 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."

iOS players will see the Better Together update in the App Store sometime this summer, and on Android and VR it'll be rolled out as a simple version update as well. On Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, Mojang will give players an entirely new version of the game for free, and promised that all existing worlds and DLC will carry over to the new version of Minecraft.


The Better Together Update will also include an in-game server browser on the main menu, and a "Super Duper Graphics Pack" will come later this fall with 4K HDR support and improved lighting, shadows, and water effects. For more news about the additions, which are coming out of E3 this week, check out Mojang's blog post here.

Top Rated Comments

69Mustang Avatar
102 months ago
The M$ version seems to be moving a bit more like real-life Legos where various games and adventures are packaged up, rather than the raw game Minecraft has been. That said, people have been building various kinds of games, adventures, eco-systems off the Java game for years now, so in that regard, some of that is just being packaged now to draw interest and eventually sales.

My issue is that the community is being split between the Java and C platforms? (I think it's C) Part of what a large part of the community loved was the ability to mod it and create servers (i.e.: communities) on their own. The C version seems to be reigning that in, or at least putting it back under M$'s control. For example, there is no server for the C version... aside from a reversed-engineered community effort.

I'm sure if you add the iOS, Win10, etc. it already outnumbers the Java version, and this move above might be the nail in the Java coffin. I'm not sure if I'm happy with a Minecraft future where you buy 'servers' from M$, along with everything else pre-packaged from M$.
You sure do like that 'M$':D
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mousse Avatar
102 months ago
I don't get it, are there missions in minecraft or it is "only" a building game /app....

Honest question not bashing!
Building games are lots of fun. It's LEGOs without fire walking pain. My kids play in creative 99.44% of the time.

You can play in survival mode and have creepers blow up your shiny new house. Or you can summon Withers to pee in your cheerios. If that's not enough to brown your trousers, you can always fight the End Dragon.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
earthTOmitchel Avatar
102 months ago
I don't get it, are there missions in minecraft or it is "only" a building game /app....

Honest question not bashing!
I honestly can't explain why I still play the game, it's really baffling even to me. I spent 100+ hours on the Xbox 360 version, and just bought the Switch version almost in a trance lol. It's just one of those games that I can totally mellow out to.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AbSoluTc Avatar
102 months ago
Official 4K HDR support and improved lighting, shadows and water effects. In Minecraft. What a time to be alive, lol.

Cross-platform support is cool, but doesn't the mobile version still have a way to go before it can catch up to the Xbox version? I also remember them making comments a while back about how they wanted the mobile version to be more distinct from the other versions. Guess they're undoing all of that?
It's a fluster cuck of a platform right now. No Mac support, windows10/PE edition, Java edition. So on.. Minecraft on mobile is not fun in my opinion. It's a challenge. I want to play on all my devices and that includes, iOS, macOS and Windows 10.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
102 months ago
It's a fluster cuck of a platform right now. No Mac support, windows10/PE edition, Java edition. So on.. Minecraft on mobile is not fun in my opinion. It's a challenge. I want to play on all my devices and that includes, iOS, macOS and Windows 10.
Yeah, it's a challenge in a bad way. As in the controls are practically unusable. It would be neat if the Mac got the non-java version. I bought it for Switch the other day because it's easier to play it with my kid than lugging my XBO upstairs. OMG I just realized the new Xbox One X would be abbreviated XBOX.
[doublepost=1497277357][/doublepost]
To the best of my knowledge, the iOS version of Minecraft already supports infinite worlds, whereas the console versions of Minecraft still have constrained world limits in varying sizes depending on the platform. In that sense, the iOS version of minecraft is quite a bit ahead compared to console versions.
That may be true but I thought the mobile versions were still well behind in features. Haven't been paying close attention though. Waiting for them to keep updating their new APIs so mods are more feasible on consoles. They're making sure the community store is in place first before they officially allow mods using their new tools so they can monetize it. Smart idea and I'm sure that a lot of people like me who don't play much anymore will come back to the platform when there is a mod store so we can get some of the mods we had on java without the hassle and lag.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JTP3XP Avatar
102 months ago
I don't see any mention of the tvOS version - do you think that gets the update at the same time as the iOS version?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

iPhone Foldable Display Said to Feature iPad-Style 4:3 Aspect Ratio

Friday March 28, 2025 3:44 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming "iPhone Fold" will feature a foldable screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, according to a Chinese leaker who previously leaked the book-style device's display dimensions. The Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station claims that Apple will adopt a "roughly" 4:3 aspect ratio on the inner display in order to achieve consistency between the outer display, as well as to ensure parity...