Minecraft is one of the greatest hits in video game history. In this context, each announcement is eagerly awaited. This new discovery is disappointing, explanations.
Decidedly, there are statements that we would prefer never to hear. Like what, in the world of video games as elsewhere, you should never sell the skin of the bear before having killed it. Rumors have been circulating about a next-gen version of Minecraft for Xbox Series X/S for many months. A new leak seemed to go in this direction just a few days ago… But Microsoft seems to see things differently.
Minecraft and the Big Wait
Rumors have been circulating for a while about a version of Minecraft with ray tracing for Xbox Series X / S, without however having official confirmation from Microsoft or Mojang. These speculations were fueled by rating listings, first spotted in August via German ratings board USK, and more recently in the United States via the ESRB. Although these lists do not provide any information about possible new features, the fan community had high hopes. One of the most notable expectations was the integration of ray tracing, a graphics technique very popular with gamers.
For the record, ray tracing makes it possible to create more realistic images in video games. With it, each ray of light is tracked from its source, like the sun or a lamp, to where it lands, like a wall or an object. This technique then calculates how light interacts with surfaces, creating shadows, reflections and effects just like you would see in the real world. The result ? Much more beautiful and realistic graphics. In Minecraft, it was particularly stunning with the RTX update. And recently Nvidia tried the experiment again with Half-Life 2 RTX.
Microsoft disappoints
Even if this potential Xbox Series version for Minecraft is highly anticipated, Microsoft has just put a stop to players’ hopes. In a statement to Eurogamer, the company clarified that these lists were “not indicative” of a possible new release in the “near future”. Something to bang your head against the wall.
Given the number of platforms and geographies Minecraft is available in, we periodically conduct reviews and updates with various regional councils,” a Microsoft spokesperson explained. “This recent memo n does not indicate any new releases or platform support for Minecraft in the near future.
On Twitter, it’s already a festival of sadness (and rage).
Some players go even further and accuse Mojang of being lazy:
Mojang is an incredibly lazy and incompetent development studio that releases content as if only Notch and Jeb are still working on the game.
From your side, what do you think of this new statement from Microsoft?