You can play 'Minecraft' in virtual reality right now
Is the first true "killer app" for virtual reality finally here?
Minecraft is out for Gear VR starting April 27, meaning anyone that owns Samsung's headset and a supported smartphone can fully immerse themselves in a blocky world all their own.
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The VR release is technically Minecraft: Pocket Edition, but it's not the same as the one that's available in the Google Play store. To play the VR version, you'll have to fire up your Gear VR and buy it -- yes, it's a separate $6.99 purchase -- from the Oculus Store.
The Gear VR version of Minecraft supports cross-platform play with both the non-VR mobile game as well as the Windows 10 release.
Mojang notes that Galaxy S6/S6 Edge, Galaxy S7/S7 Edge and Note 5 are all supported, and provide the optimal experience. Older devices -- specifically those that worked with the earlier "Innovator Edition" of Gear VR -- could work as well, though they "might not run the game as well in true stereo or with as high a draw distance."
An Oculus Rift version of Minecraft is also in development, but there's no release timing available yet. That said, we liked what we saw of Pocket Edition when we checked it out with a Gear VR at the 2016 Game Developer's Conference in March.
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Topics Gaming Samsung Virtual Reality
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.
