'Minecraft' adds a new 'Battle' mini-game for all you blocky warriors
You've always had to fight to survive in Minecraft, but the newly announced, totally free Battle mini-game gives your epic sword-swatting showdowns a little more focus.
Battle turns player-versus-player interactions in Minecraft into a structured activity. The update comes with three purpose-built maps that allow up to eight online players (or four split-screen players) to cross swords.
The mini-game eliminates Minecraft's resource grind by filling each map with chests containing randomly generated gear. It's customization-friendly, too, meaning the host of a match can set his or her own rules.
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In a fun twist, fallen players turn into bats, allowing them to fly around freely and spectate for the rest of the match.
While the Battle update is free, fans of the mini-game will have the option of purchasing $2.99 add-on map packs. This is also just the first in what Microsoft says will be a series of Minecraft mini-games.
The Battle mini-game is expected to arrive in June, but it's only coming to the console version of the game.
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Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
