The sandbox block-building game, Minecraft, will make its long-anticipated next-generation debut on the Xbox One this Friday, September 5th, according to an update published at 9 PM last night on Microsoft's Xbox website. The update goes on to describe the next generation version of the game, stating it will feature worlds up to thirty-six times larger than those of the Xbox 360 version, as well as several minor pieces of DLC to entice some of those players away from their PCs and maybe even their Xbox 360s.
Minecraft Finally Coming to Xbox One
Players looking to upgrade from their Xbox 360 versions of the game can expect to pay $4.99 USD, while newcomers can download the full game for $19.99 USD. Content from the Xbox 360 version of the game will carry over to the Xbox One, as well. However, Mojang's website notes that most, not all, DLC skins and texture packs that you've purchased will be available to transfer due to licensing deals. Of course, if you're picking up the game for the first time, then you will benefit from the aforementioned DLC included in the Xbox One edition.
There is no word yet on a release date for the PlayStation 4 and Vita versions of the game. Last month, 4J Studios, the developer of console editions of Minecraft, tweeted that the game had been sent to Sony for certification. However, the game failed certification. On the 26th of last month, 4J tweeted that the game had been sent back to Sony for final testing, though it does bring into question what exactly Sony found to object about in the first submission when other versions of the game seemed to make it to console with no problem.
Pause for the PlayStation 4
Although there has been no information since, we can assume that the PlayStation 4 release is imminent, as it was widely reported around the internet yesterday that Minecraft had appeared briefly on the Playstation Store's mobile storefront before being removed. [UPDATE: Mojang's Daniel Kaplan tweeted earlier today, just as this article went live, that the PlayStation 4 version of the game could go live as early as tonight.]