As Minecraft turns 10, Microsoft has released a brand new version of the game and is dramatically different. It will be free to play.
Minecraft Earth is an augmented reality game that looks like it may be more Ingress-like than anything else.
As with many AR games, Minecraft Earth requires you to get out into the real world, off the sofa, and explore to find small clusters of blocks, chests or even mobs. Exploring reveals small slices of Minecraft life that you can interact with.
For example, walking down a sidewalk might be a walk through a diamond mine and a visit to the park might be race through skirmishing skeletons.
Microsoft have said they will release new ways to play Minecraft Earth in the future. The game is already multiplayer and through the use of things known as Build Plates, players can design permenent creatons.
Unlike Ingress, Minecraft Earth does not (yet) show any factions or guilds. It appears to be more players versus mobs. This gameplay is similar to the direction Niantic has taken with their forthcoming AR game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in which all players are on a single side against evil.
The game is due out later for iOS and Android. Microsoft have said there are no plans for loot boxes.
You can read more about Minecraft Earth on the official site.
