New edition of Minecraft announced for Windows 10

Early this morning Mojang’s CWO, Owen Hill, announced via the Xbox website a new version of beloved sandbox, Minecraft. Dubbed Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta, the new incarnation will still feature the mainstays of Creative and Survival modes, as well as continuing to support multiplayer.

There are plenty of new and returning features set to arrive with the new version, including:

• Craft, create, and explore online with up to seven friends playing Windows 10 Edition Beta, through local multiplayer or with your Xbox Live friends online.
• Play online and local multiplayer with other Pocket Edition players thanks to a free update, due to arrive soon after launch.
• Support for multiple inputs – switch between controller, touch, and keyboard controls with little to no effort
• Record and share gameplay highlights with built-in GameDVR.
• Chickens, zombies, pigs, boats, armed skeletons, potatoes, zombies, baby squids, enchantment tables, villagers, naked sheep, iron golems, potions, ghasts, pickaxes, carrots, and all the weird and wonderful goodness you’ve come to expect from Minecraft

Much like the initial release of Minecraft back in 2009, this will arrive as a beta, soliciting you for feedback and evolving as it goes, but ensuring all future updates will be free. Starting July 29th, owners of the Java edition of Minecraft will be able to download the Windows 10 beta for free and those new to the franchise will be able to purchase it for an introductory rate of $10. Also, beta players will be able to keep their game once the full version is released.