Minecraft Legends, a new game for the upcoming Xbox Series X, is set to be launched in 2023. Mojang Studios and Blackbird Interactive have collaborated to create an exciting action-strategy spin-off that takes place in the vast Minecraft universe. The game will have a colorful visual style and a unique take on the familiar Minecraft mechanics.
In contrast to surviving in the Overworld, you will need to collaborate with the mobs to combat a Piglin army invasion. The game is expected to be user-friendly for casual strategy fans while offering a surprising level of complexity for hardcore gamers. With the release of Xbox Game Pass, gamers can try out Minecraft Legends soon. Check out more information about Minecraft Legends below.
Minecraft Legends release date and available platforms
Minecraft Legends is scheduled to be released on April 18, 2023. The launch date was announced in January during an Xbox Developer Direct event, which also showcased Redfall, Elder Scrolls Online, and Forza Motorsport. Mojang, along with other Xbox Game Studios members, participated in this event, and it was then that Microsoft Gaming unveiled the game's PvP mode for the first time.
Although Microsoft owns Mojang, having acquired the developer and the Minecraft IP in 2014, the company remains committed to ensuring release parity for this universe. That means that Minecraft Legends will be launching on practically every platform there is: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5 on April 18. Minecraft Legends will also be a part of the full Xbox Game Pass list from day one, meaning it'll be available to Xbox and PC Game Pass users as part of the subscription.
Minecraft Legends gameplay
Minecraft has earned a reputation for being very user-friendly, enabling people of all ages to dive in and start building. This is also true for Minecraft Dungeons, a cooperative dungeon-crawler that is effortless to start exploring with friends. Based on the video previews, Minecraft Legends gameplay appears to follow a similar trend. The game has a low entry barrier, making it simple to grasp but also has a profound depth for those seeking a challenge.
In Minecraft Legends, players can expect to gather resources to construct more robust defenses against the Nether's invading armies. The game will feature exploration across various biomes, enabling players to collect unique and rare resources. It will also include large-scale combat, allowing players to direct their allies in pushing back the enemy forces.
Minecraft Legends story
The Minecraft Legends plotline revolves around the objective of "Uniting The Overworld." The events are not based on fact or fiction but rather a legend that has been passed down through generations. According to the legend, a great hero united the Overworld to combat an invasion by the Piglin army. Players will collaborate with various mobs, such as Creepers and Zombies, to repel the Piglins back into the Nether. Minecraft Legends includes a complete story campaign and offers opportunities for cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes with friends.
Is Minecraft Legends Multiplayer?
Minecraft Legends will launch with a distinct PvP mode, separate from its campaign. With support for up to eight players (split into two teams) your objective is to capture and destroy your enemy's base while establishing defenses of your own. There's also a third team to worry about, with an AI controlled Piglin faction present on each of the procedurally generated maps to create a little chaos for both sides.
What's interesting here is that Mojang has still kept the collaborative spirit of Minecraft alive and well in this Minecraft Legends multiplayer mode. Each side's army and resources are shared among the members of a team, something which should allow for players to specialize – resource gathering, building, fighting, and so on – without having to worry about the bigger picture in minute detail. Blackbird and Mojang has designed the multiplayer to be in-depth and fast-paced, with games said to last between 20 and 30 minutes.
There's also a more traditional online co-op mode in Minecraft Legends, which will allow up to four friends to join together in drop-in, drop-out multiplayer sessions to build structures, build armies, and generally mess around in the Overworld.
Does Minecraft Legends have crossplay support?
Minecraft Legends will have crossplay support available on its launch day, allowing players from Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch to play together. This feature will enable players to enjoy the game's PvP mode with friends, no matter which platform they are using, and also participate in four-player online co-op sessions with others.
Minecraft Legends development
Mojang, the developer of Minecraft, often collaborates with outside studios to create spin-offs that differ from the original sandbox game. For instance, Double Eleven, a British developer, worked on Minecraft Dungeons in 2020. Similarly, Mojang has teamed up with Blackbird Interactive, the studio behind Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak and Hardspace: Shipbreaker, to develop Minecraft Legends as an action strategy game. Blackbird has experience working with Mojang, having contributed to the now-defunct Minecraft Earth AR game.
In an Extended Showcase presentation of Minecraft Legends, executive producer Dennis Ries revealed that the partnership with Blackbird was initially called Project Badger, and even showed footage of Mojang lead developer Jens Bergensten wearing a Badger-themed t-shirt during Minecon 2018. While it may seem like an obscure Easter egg, it's still a charming detail.
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