Minecraft Earth is a free-to-play augmented reality (AR) mobile game developed by Mojang AB and published by Xbox Game Studios for iOS and Android. The game is about building structures and collecting materials by traveling to real-life locations.
In Minecraft Earth, players can build structures with other players and "place them in the real world at life-size".[5]
In the map, players can see their character, which can be changed with the skins owned from the marketplace. Scattered around the maps are Tappables. If a Tappable is within a player's collection range, they will be able to tap it and collect items. There are multiple types of Tappables, including stone, grass, chests, and mobs.
Adventures will also appear on the map. Adventures are the survival aspect of Minecraft Earth. Players will fight mobs, and collect rewards.
This version of Minecraft features many unique gameplay aspects and interactions similar to the main game.[6]
The game uses Azure's new Azure Spatial Anchors along with Open Maps technology to help with the experience. This helps map out where certain objects should be along with pinning players' builds.[6][8]
It has been announced that The End and The Nether will come to Minecraft Earth in a future update.[9]
Build plates
Build plates are worlds that players can use to build on. They can be shared, and worked on by invited individuals.[6][8]
Build plates can vary from size, reaching up to 200 feet (60 metres).[6] Using the shop, players can upgrade the size of their plot, or buy a new plot.
Plots can also be earned via a leveling system.
Build plates can be 8×8, 16×16 or 32×32 blocks in size, and their build height limit is 221 blocks.[10] From ground level, a build plate also extends 3 blocks downwards. After digging down 3 blocks, bedrock will be revealed.
Build plates function like personal realms, and can be used anywhere. They run in the Bedrock Engine, meaning redstone, physics, and other mechanics are identical. Players may invite friends to build with them locally and then share the world to others.[6][8]
Once a build is complete, if the player wants to have a persistent hologram of their world pinned somewhere, it would need to be reviewed before its pinned. Mojang claims to have a 24/7 moderation team, reviewing and looking at reports.[6]
People who are not invited can interact with the pinned world locally; once they leave said world everything will be reset.[8] Only invited individuals can change the real world and take resources from it, non invited players cannot collect resources.[8]
Build plates can be seen through the world as pinned worlds, and can be opened to explore and interact with.[8] To get their own, players will need to level up or purchase them through the store.
Build plates can also be shared via a link, so players don't need to be near the pin to see creations.[6] The links shared can be temporary or never expiring.[6]
Microtransactions
The game has been confirmed to have full microtransactions.
The in game currency is Rubies, which is not to be confused with Minecoins.[6]
During Microsoft Build 2015, Microsoft's HoloLens team unveiled an augmented reality version of Minecraft.[12]. On May 6, 2019, Microsoft released a video on Youtube, where some features from Minecraft Earth were shown. [13] On May 8, 2019, a trailer was released which showed some AR mods in Minecraft Earth. On Minecraft's 10th anniversary (May 17), Minecraft Earth was officially announced.
Release
Closed beta
iOS
The closed beta for Minecraft Earth was launched for AR-compatible devices with iOS in the following cities:
The closed beta for Minecraft Earth was launched for AR-compatible devices with Android in the first five cities the closed iOS beta was also launched in: London, Seattle, Stockholm, Tokyo, Mexico City.
Closed beta start date
Description
August 22, 2019
Pre-registration for the full game on the Google Play Store and registration for the closed beta on the Minecraft Earth site becomes available.
August 30, 2019
The closed beta was released in the same cities as iOS.[17]
Early access
Minecraft Earth was made available in early access in the following countries, listed by date and version of first release:[18]
