Footage of Elden Ring, FromSoftware's upcoming action RPG that the studio itself considers the spritual successor to Dark Souls, has allegedly leaked online. According to journalist Jeff Grubb, the gameplay was recorded on a base Xbox One console. The footage doesn't show anything very significant, although based on the character's jumps in the gameplay, it appears that players will be able to jump more fluidly in Elden Ring than in most previous FromSoftware games.
It's important to take leaks with a grain of salt, although based on the visual location of the leaked gameplay, it's likely that the leak is real since the surrounding environment matches what has been seen in official screenshots. You can watch the leaked footage below:
If the leak is real, it marks the first time that we've seen Elden Ring gameplay outside of official trailers. We expect to see more of Elden Ring soon since the game is slated to release on Jan. 21, 2022, but this small tidbit is sure to get fans excited in the meantime.
Elden Ring is FromSoftware's next fantasy epic, featuring a focus on open-ended design in a universe created by both FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin.
Gotham Knights is an upcoming game from WB Montreal and WB Games that's focused on the Court of Owls.
Players take on the role of Batman's allies, such as Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing and Jason Todd.
Gotham Knights is currently slated for a 2022 release window.
Gotham Knights is an upcoming action-adventure game from developer WB Montreal and publisher WB Games. During DC Fandome 2021, a new trailer showed off the threat posed by the Court of Owls, revealing just how far the mystery of this secret society goes. You can check out the trailer below.
In Gotham Knights, Bruce Wayne's apparent death kickstarts a chain reaction that sees multiple villains fighting for power in Gotham. Meanwhile, various trainees of the Caped Crusader have to step up, allowing players to fight in single-player or two-player co-op as Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing or Jason Todd.
Gotham Knights is not set in the same universe as the Batman Arkham games, despite the story premise and the fact that WB Montreal developed Batman: Arkham Origins and supported the development of other games in the series. Instead, the continuation of the Arkham games is found in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is being developed by Rocksteady Games.
Originally slated to launch at some point in 2021, Gotham Knights is one of the many, many games that's been delayed over the last year due to the effect of the pandemic. As a result, Gotham Knights is now slated to arrive in 2022 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, PS5 and PS4.
Everyone's favorite team of villains is finally getting the game they deserve.
The rumors are true. Rocksteady Studios has confirmed that it is working on a Suicide Squad game. The developer behind the Batman: Arkham series gave us our first glimpse of Suicide Squad at DC FanDome in August 2020. We'll run through everything we know about the game so far as we get closer to its release.
At DC Fandome 2021, we got our first in-depth look at Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and what will go into doing the aforementioned killing of the Justice League.
We get glimpses at characters like Amanda Waller, Superman, the Flash, and more. Check it out above.
What is the Suicide Squad?
The Suicide Squad is a team of supervillains from DC Comics. There have been several iterations of them over the years, but they usually take the form of a task force employed by the government, under the leadership of Amanda Waller, to perform operations that were considered to be suicide runs or secret missions that the government otherwise wanted off the record. These were done in exchange for reduced sentences and parole, and members were implanted or fitted with bombs to ensure obedience. Disobey Waller and she wouldn't hesitate to set off the bomb.
Notable members of the Suicide Squad over the years have included Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flag Jr., King Shark, Deathstroke, Black Manta, Duela Dent (Joker's Daughter), Enchantress ... well, there are a lot.
In Rocksteady's version, the squad will be comprised of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Boomerang.
Suicide Squad: What's the gameplay like?
Judging from Rocksteady's previous work with the Batman: Arkham series, you can likely expect brutal melee combat. We've heard that it is a loot-based game similar in style to Marvel's Avengers, but this is unconfirmed. It will feature 4-player co-op, but you can play the game entirely in singleplayer. In this case, the rest of the spots will be filled with AI. Players will be able to switch between characters at any moment during gameplay.
Suicide Squad: What's the story?
You can probably guess what we'll be doing by its title. The Suicide Squad looks to be on a mission to kill the Justice League. Particularly, we saw the group hunting Superman under the apparent control of Braniac in Metropolis. It's unknown which other heroes are planned to show up, but you can probably expect more than just Superman.
For anyone who isn't familiar with the Justice League, they're a team of superheroes who protect the Earth. Founding members include Batman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Over the years members like Green Arrow, Hawkman, Black Canary, Zatanna, Cyborg, Blue Beetle, and many more would join.
Other than that, we have very little to go on. Rocksteady will likely create an original story for its game that takes inspiration from some of the franchise's most beloved comics. DC Comics ran a series called Justice League vs. Suicide Squad from 2016, which follows the League's discovery of the secret Suicide Squad and their effort to take them down as they see them as a threat to society.
Rocksteady has confirmed that Suicide Squad takes place in its Arkham universe, so you may see some references and crossovers between previous storylines. Batman: Arkham Knight ended with the apparent death of Batman, but as we've learned time and time again in comics, no one is ever really dead.
Suicide Squad: Do I need to watch the movie to play the game?
There are two Suicide Squad movies now: Suicide Squad (2016) and The Suicide Squad (2021). The first one is trash. If you value your time and money at all, do not watch the Suicide Squad movie from 2016. I don't care that it won an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. It's awful. Go watch the Birds of Prey movie with Harley Quinn instead. You don't need to in order to understand the game; it's just a good movie.
Now when it comes to The Suicide Squad (2021), that actually is a good movie, and I highly recommend watching it. This R-rated version from director James Gunn is exactly the type of movie the DC universe needed. It has a ton of heart, humor, and loads of action. You won't need to watch it to understand the game; it's just a good movie. The game shouldn't be related to either of the movies.
Suicide Squad: Is it coming to Xbox Series X, PC, and PS5?
Suicide Squad is coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5, and PC. Rocksteady made no mention of an Xbox One or PS4 release. Given Xbox's plans for cloud gaming on consoles, it is possible we could see Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on Xbox One through Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming. We don't know until Microsoft or Rocksteady elaborates on their plans.
Suicide Squad: When does it release?
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will hit Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and PS5 in 2022. This is the same year that Warner Bros. Montreal plans to release its next Batman game, Gotham Knights, which was originally set for a 2021 launch before being delayed. There's no word on whether Suicide Squad will be delayed, but we're expected to learn more at DC's next FanDome event on Oct. 16, 2021.
After years of speculation and months of teasing, Warner Bros. Montreal's new title has finally been revealed. It's called Gotham Knights and while at first glance it looks like it is set after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight, WB Montreal has confirmed that it's not connected to the Arkham games and is instead a completely original setting in the Batman universe. Here's everything we know so far about Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights story trailer from DC Fandome
We got a new story trailer for Gotham Knights at DC Fandome 2021 that goes into the Court of Owls, the Penguin, and more.
Check it out in the video above.
What is Gotham Knights?
Gotham Knights is revealed with the premise that Bruce Wayne is (ostensibly) dead and with that, a new protocol has been enacted, requiring the Bat-Family to take action in Gotham against villains like Mr. Freeze and the mysterious Court of Owls. You can check out the reveal trailer below.
It appears this game is an original Batman setting that isn't connected to the Arkham games, despite several similarities.
Gotham Knights gameplay and features
Gotham Knights is a third-person action-RPG that can be played solo or in two-player co-op. So far, the roster consists of Robin, Red Hood, Batgirl and Nightwing. Each of these characters has their own progression, allowing them to unlock new abilities and skills. They all play differently, with a variety of advantages and disadvantages. The developers have also teased that as players grow stronger, their foes grow stronger as well.
At the reveal of the game, a few minutes of gameplay footage were shown, which you can see below.
Does Gotham Knights have cross-play?
It's not currently known if cross-play will be supported in Gotham Knights.
When is the release date for Gotham Knights?
Gotham Knights is currently slated to be available at some point in 2022. More information on the game is coming at DC Fandome 2021 in October.
Gotham Knights was originally scheduled to release at some point in 2021 but like many games, ended up being delayed due to the ongoing pandemic affecting development. When it arrives, it'll release on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5, PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
If you're eagerly waiting for the new Gotham Knights, why not check out two of the most critically-acclaimed superhero titles — Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City — with fully remastered and updated visuals.
The odds aren't in the squad's favor, but that's the point.
What you need to know
At DC Fandome 2021, Rocksteady Games showed a new trailer for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
The trailer shows Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang and Deadshot fighting various members of the Justice League.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is slated to launch at some point in 2022.
During DC Fandome 2021, Rocksteady Games and WB Games shared a new trailer for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. This new in-engine story trailer gives an overview of the four members in the titular squad: Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang and Deadshot. The trailer also shows several members of the Justice League, including Wonder Woman, Superman, the Flash and Green Lantern.
You can check out the trailer below:
In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the members of the Justice League seem to be controlled by Brainiac, prompting Amanda Waller to authorize use of the squad to try and take down the League. The keyword being try.
Rocksteady Games previously developed the three mainline Batman Arkham games, with the latest one being Batman: Arkham Knight, which launched in May 2015. The only entry series not handled by Rocksteady was Batman: Arkham Origins, which was instead developed by WB Montreal, a team that acted in a support capacity on the other games, as well as handling some of the DLC packs.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is currently scheduled to arrive at some point in 2022 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC and PS5.
Unlike Gotham Knights, another WB Games title being developed by WB Montreal, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was never intended to launch in 2021 and as such has not yet been delayed.
Minecraft Live 2021 sets the tone for Mojang Studios and Minecraft in 2022 and beyond.
Mojang Studios is a huge developer behind one of the greatest games of all time, Minecraft, which means a neverending stream of news and updates throughout time. Today, Mojang hosted Minecraft Live 2021, a stream that condenses some of the biggest Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons announcements into one entertaining livestream. With the tail-end of the event disappearing in the rearview mirror, we compiled all the biggest reveals and updates from Minecraft Live 2021 right here.
Minecraft Live 2021 included breakdowns of the next major update for Minecraft, the reveal of next year's Minecraft release, the results of the annual Mob Vote, what's next for Minecraft Dungeons, and more. Here's everything that was announced during Minecraft Live 2021.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Play with anyone and play anywhere.
What is Minecraft Live 2021?
Minecraft Live 2021 is the second annual livestream hosted by Mojang Studios, which delivers the year's most important Minecraft-related updates remotely in place of Minecon. Minecraft Live 2020 was where we first learned of the Caves and Cliffs Update, the Howling Peaks DLC for Minecraft Dungeons, and much more.
Minecraft is one of the most successful games of all time, and as such boasts a huge community of dedicated fans that are always looking to what's next for their favorite game. Minecraft Live is where Mojang can drop a ton of information on everything players can expect over the next year and beyond, and Minecraft Live 2021 was absolutely no different. From an update on an imminent release for Minecraft to the future of Minecraft Dungeons, Minecraft Live 2021 was packed from end to end with delicious details and information.
Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons both deserve a place on the list of best Xbox games and best PC games, so Minecraft Live understandably garners a ton of attention from all over the world. Minecraft Live 2021 gave us an appreciation for the community, inspiration for the next era of Minecraft toys and gifts, new ways to access our favorite games, and much more.
If you couldn't catch Minecraft Live 2021 while it was, you know, live, then you can catch up right above. Otherwise, we have all of the important announcements and reveals below, so you don't miss anything.
What is every announcement from Minecraft Live 2021?
While Minecraft Live 2021 was generally busy from start to finish, moments and sections of the event definitely deserve more attention than the others. Here is every announcement from Minecraft Live 2021, with all the details you need to know.
Minecraft 'The Wild Update'
Arguably the biggest single announcement during Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios has revealed its plans for the Minecraft update following the ambitious Caves and Cliffs Update. The Wild Update is official, and it intends to embrace Minecraft's Overworld with plenty of new features and significant improvements to existing mechanics when it releases sometime in 2022.
The Wild Update is understandably a more minor release than its predecessor, but Mojang still has big plans for what's to come in this release. Including the arrival of the Deep Dark (which was delayed from the Caves and Cliffs Update and expanded upon), frogs, mangrove swamps with a new kind of tree, a focus on parity and feature quality, and more, The Wild Update is shaping up to be an exciting addition to Minecraft.
Details are a little scarce on The Wild Update right now, and that will likely be the case until after 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two is officially released. Still, we've compiled everything we know about The Wild Update for Minecraft, and we'll continue to update it as we learn more about what's to come.
Minecraft Dungeons 'The Cloudy Climb'
Minecraft Dungeons also got plenty of love during Minecraft Live 2021. After the conclusion of Minecraft Dungeons' first story arc with the release of the Echoing Void DLC, Mojang teased that something big was still coming to Minecraft Dungeons in the future. Now, we know the next project for Minecraft Dungeons is The Cloudy Climb update, which includes a ton of new features and gameplay for players (and outlines a plan for the future).
In a nutshell, The Cloudy Climb includes two major new features: Seasonal Adventures and The Tower. Seasonal Adventures feature battle pass-like tiers filled with all kinds of rewards for players, including cosmetic goodies and in-game currency, with a paid premium option for additional cosmetic rewards. The Tower, on the other hand, is a challenging multi-level obstacle for players to overcome with generic characters, for a chance at rare and powerful rewards for their main Minecraft Dungeons character. Both of these features aim to offer renewable and rewarding gameplay over time.
The Cloudy Climb update is heading to Minecraft Dungeons with the first Seasonal Adventure during the Holidays in 2021, and there are likely more Seasonal Adventures planned for the future. If you want to learn more, we've compiled everything we know about The Cloudy Climb update for Minecraft Dungeons, which we'll update as we learn more.
Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote
The Minecraft community had the opportunity to participate in today's event during the annual Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote, which saw three different brand-new mobs on the roster. Whichever mob won the Mob Vote would be added to Minecraft in a future update, and every mob featured possessed unique attributes and behaviors.
This year, the choices were between the glare, which warns when it's dark enough for hostile mobs to spawn; the allay, which will collect dropped items similar to anything you give it and return them to you; and the copper golem, a crafted mob that loves pushing copper buttons in its area.
In the first round of the Mob Vote, the glare was unfortunately disqualified with only 11.2% of the votes versus 37.8% for the copper golem and 51% for the allay. In the second (and final) round between the copper golem and allay, the allay won with 54.3% of the votes, while the copper golem lost with 45.7%. This means that allay will be added to Minecraft in a future update, while the two losing entries are relegated to the secret Mojang Studios mob vault.
Minecraft PC Bundle & Xbox Game Pass
During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios revealed what's next for Minecraft specifically on PC. Right now, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition are fighting for PC dominance, while also catering to two entirely different audiences. With the new Minecraft PC Bundle announced during Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang is bringing the two versions together in one package. The Minecraft PC Bundle brings both titles to Xbox Game Pass for PC for the very first time, with players being able to use their Microsoft Account to access the games through the Minecraft Launcher, as part of their subscription.
Players have been waiting for Minecraft to come to Xbox Game Pass for PC for a long time now, and now those prayers are being answered. The Minecraft PC Bundle will be available through Xbox Game Pass starting on Nov. 2, 2021. Later in 2022, Mojang intends to release the bundle as a standalone purchase for players, with owners of one of the editions eligible to get the other for free.
Minecraft 'Caves and Cliffs Update'
The Caves and Cliffs Update is arguably the most ambitious update Mojang Studios has ever attempted for Minecraft, with a list of features so long it defies reason. This ultimately meant the update was split into two parts and partially delayed, with the larger second half still in development. During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang shared its appreciation with the Minecraft community for helping it make the Caves and Cliffs Update better than it ever could have been otherwise with a lovely video.
We also learned that 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two is still absolutely slated for release later this year, and will include some new features that Minecraft players who test early builds may already be familiar with. When the update drops later this year, players will be able to take advantage of world blending to seamlessly mix their existing worlds with the brand-new world generation features. Additionally, brand-new cave biomes and structures can still appear within loaded chunks in the world, underneath player builds and explored areas.
The Caves and Cliffs Update will also introduce seed parity for the very first time between Bedrock and Java Editions of Minecraft. This means that world seeds (basically a unique code that every single world possesses) will generate nearly identical worlds no matter where you play Minecraft, with only very minute differences. This is a huge deal, and speaks a lot to the improvements to parity Mojang has made. If you need more info, we've broken down exactly what the Minecraft PC Bundle is.
Minecraft numbers update
Minecraft being one of the most successful games of all time means it boasts some impressive statistics and numbers. During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios provided an update of where Minecraft currently stands, and the momentum it built up (especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic) appears to be continuously growing. As of Aug. 2021, Minecraft had over 141 million monthly active users, which is frankly ridiculous when compared to Minecraft's rivals at the top of the best-selling games list.
The Minecraft Marketplace has also generated over $350 million in revenue for creators so far, driven by how over 67% of Minecraft players use the Marketplace to customize their experience. Minecraft multiplayer also continues to be popular, with over 1 billion hours spent playing online. Finally, Minecraft was the most-watched topic on YouTube in 2020, with over 201 billion accumulated views under its belt. The only number that seemingly wasn't updated during Minecraft Live 2021 was the number of copies solid, which still holds steady at 238 million.
Other announcements
Alongside all the major news during Minecraft Live 2021, Secretlab had an announcement of its own. The popular premium gaming chair company collaborated with Mojang Studios on a Minecraft-themed special edition chair, which is launching now. The chair is built on the latest Secretlab platform, known as TITAN Evo 2022, and is inspired by the Minecraft Creeper. Using Secretlab's signature SoftWeave Plus fabric, the TITAN Evo 2022 Minecraft Edition certainly looks the part, and will likely deliver plenty of quality as well.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Play with anyone and play anywhere.
Minecraft Dungeons has released a ridiculous amount of content since its launch, and now players can gain access to it all in one fell swoop with Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition, a value-driven bundle that includes the base game, all six DLC expansions released so far, and the Hero Pass DLC. If you already own Minecraft Dungeons, you can also get the Ultimate Edition add-on for all the DLC.
No update on sales, but Minecraft certainly continues to grow over time.
What you need to know
Minecraft is one of the most successful games of all time, and boasts some absolutely ridiculous numbers and statistics.
During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios has updated some of the key statistics for Minecraft up until now and through the last two years.
While we don't have a new number for number of copies sold, Minecraft saw over 141 million monthly active users in Aug. 2021.
Minecraft was also the most-watched topic on YouTube in 2020, with over 201 billion accumulated views.
With Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios is revealing all the biggest updates and announcements the Minecraft community needs to know about the growing Minecraft universe. Beyond reveals as to what's coming next for Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons, though, Mojang also updated some of the statistics we have on the momentum that Minecraft continues to grow over time.
In April, 2021, we reported that Minecraft had nearly 140 million monthly active users. It seems that momentum has impossibly managed to sustain and even grow since then, with Minecraft boasting over 141 million monthly active users in Aug. 2021. That means the number of people that actively played Minecraft just in Aug. approached and even surpassed the number of copies sold by some of the best-selling video games of all time. This shows that an incredible number of people are still investing plenty of time in Minecraft in 2021.
That's not all we learned, however. Below are some of the key statistics on Minecraft, all of which are up to date as of Aug. 2021. Unfortunately, Mojang did not provide an updated number for how many copies of Minecraft have been sold so far, meaning that number is still officially 238 million.
There were over 141 million monthly active users in Aug. 2021
Over $350 million in revenue has been generated by creators in the Minecraft Marketplace so far
Over 67% of players actively customize their Minecraft experience using the Marketplace
Over 1 billion hours have been logged in Minecraft multiplayer
Over 201 billion hours of Minecraft YouTube videos were watched in 2020, making it the most-watched topic on YouTube that year
With such staggering numbers, it's clear Minecraft is holding on tight to its title as the greatest game ever made. None of these numbers seem to apply to Minecraft Dungeons, but we reported that Minecraft Dungeons crossed 10 million players in Feb. 2021, an impressive milestone for a relatively young game. Because of this, both Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons have secured their spots as some of the best Xbox games.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Play with anyone and play anywhere.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.
Minecraft is about to get a lot more wild with its next major update, releasing in 2022.
Minecraft is a game that constantly improves over time, with Mojang Studios usually releasing at least one major update per year. For 2022, we now know The Wild Update is what's next for Minecraft after the release of the massive Caves and Cliffs Update. The Wild Update adds some awesome new features, improves existing mechanics, and highlights Mojang's commitment to making Minecraft a better game with every single release.
Here's everything we know about The Wild Update for Minecraft, including its release date, features, and much more.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. The next update for Minecraft has been revealed as 'The Wild Update,' and it's coming in 2022 with new areas, mobs, and the spooky Deep Dark.
What is The Wild Update for Minecraft?
The Wild Update is Minecraft's 2022 titular release, and will bring new levels of polish and quality to the game after the fundamental shifts and changes introduced in the gargantuan Caves and Cliffs Update. The Wild Update will be smaller than its predecessor, but will also have a finer focus on parity between Bedrock and Java Editions of Minecraft, achieving a greater level of quality for new and existing features, and making Minecraft's Overworld a more exciting and diverse place with which to explore and interact.
Announced during Minecraft Live 2021, The Wild Update will follow 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two, still slated for release later in 2021, with a fresh batch of additions and features for all platforms Minecraft is available. It will also likely introduce the winner of the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote, alongside all the other changes and brand-new features.
On the surface, The Wild Update may not be as immediately exciting as the Caves and Cliffs Update's major shifts to world generation and mining (a key pillar of Minecraft's gameplay loop), but it'll still contain plenty to get players excited. The Wild Update will, hopefully, do nothing but contribute to why Minecraft is the greatest game ever made. As we learn more about The Wild Update and everything it entails, we'll continuously update this space with all the information we have.
When is the release date of The Wild Update for Minecraft?
With the second half of the Caves and Cliffs Update not even officially released to players yet, the question of when The Wild Update can be expected is met with an understandably vague answer. Mojang Studios has elected not to share any release dates or even a target window, which aligns with how the developer usually works (Minecraft updates usually are tested with the community for months before a general release). At least for now, the release date for The Wild Update is simply "2022," with nothing more specific than that.
1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two is expected later in 2021, and then we'll likely begin to learn more about The Wild Update and what's to come. Right now, The Wild Update looks to be one release instead of the two-part drop that the Caves and Cliffs Update was, but plans could change later on (the Caves and Cliffs Update was also meant to be one part).
Like with every Minecraft release, The Wild Update is heading to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition, which is available on practically every gaming platform imaginable. The Wild Update should also be closer in parity across Minecraft versions than previous updates.
We'll continue to update this section as we learn more about when The Wild Update is coming to Minecraft players everywhere, including when Mojang begins early testing of features and changes through its beta and snapshot programs.
What are the features and gameplay of The Wild Update for Minecraft?
The Wild Update may not be quite as grand in scale as the highly ambitious Caves and Cliffs Update that predates it, but it still contains a plethora of brand-new features and improvements to Minecraft. As Mojang Studios divulges more details on what's included in The Wild Update, we'll update the below sections with everything we learn. With new biomes, mobs, blocks and items, and several other changes, The Wild Update is another exciting addition to everything that makes Minecraft great.
Biomes
Minecraft has many biomes to speak of, each with its own unique attributes and reasons for players to visit. With The Wild Update, Mojang is planning to add at least two brand-new biomes to the mix, which aim to diversify the Minecraft Overworld and make it more interesting to explore, even when you're underground. Here's what you need to know about the new biomes in The Wild Update for Minecraft.
Mangrove swamps. The first new biome being introduced in The Wild Update are mangrove swamps, which tweak the classic and beloved swamp with a brand-new kind of tree. You guessed it, Mojang is adding mangrove trees to Minecraft. These trees feature a unique design with massive roots, but that's not all that makes the mangrove swamps interesting. Some of the features include:
The aforementioned mangrove trees, which are made of an all-new variant of wood that players can use for crafting or building
Mud blocks, which can also be used for crafting or building, like for creating the awesome-looking mud bricks
Frogs, which are a passive mob with unique behaviors and attributes, including a separate form when they're babies (tadpoles!)
Fireflies, which are the favorite food of frogs
The Deep Dark. There's also The Deep Dark, a biome that many Minecraft players may already be familiar with. That's because this biome was originally intended to drop with the Caves and Cliffs Update, but has been postponed so that Mojang can expand and improve upon it with new features. Some of these features include:
Being an underground biome, buried deep under mountains of deepslate
Ancient ruins of cities and long-lost civilizations, which may be filled with treasure and secrets
The enigmatic sculk blocks, which are able to detect sound through vibrations in the air, and give off redstone signals
The Warden, an incredibly dangerous mob that tracks down players by detecting sound, and guards the secrets of The Deep Dark
Mobs
With the addition of new biomes, of course comes the arrival of new mobs. Mojang is expanding the Minecraft ecosystems with a variety of new mobs, all of which add something new to the game. You may have already spotted them up above, but here are even more details on every mob being added in The Wild Update for Minecraft.
Frogs. For some reason, frogs may end up being one of the most exciting mob additions to Minecraft in a long time. These adorable hoppy peeps aren't just here for show — they're also first to do a few things in Minecraft. Some of the highlights of frogs include:
Being the first cold-blooded mob in Minecraft, which means that their appearance as fully grown adults changes depending on where they grow up! Tadpoles can grow into one of three different variants, with each one corresponding to a different temperature
Having a different form as a child. That's right, frogs are the first mob in Minecraft that aren't just miniature versions of themselves as babies. Tadpoles are coming to Minecraft, and they'll be the ones growing into these cute frogs
Loving to jump and hop on dripleaf and lilypads. Frogs are known for their hopping, and that certainly isn't changing here. Frogs in Minecraft will hang out on dripleaf and lilypads, and they'll be sure to get in plenty of leaps while doing so
Feeding on fireflies. Another new mob being added in Minecraft with The Wild Update, frogs will actively seek out and feast on any nearby fireflies
Fireflies. As mentioned above, fireflies are also being added to Minecraft in The Wild Update. We don't know much about these bugs at the moment, other than they'll be the favorite food of frogs everywhere.
The Warden. This terrifying mob is almost boss-like, and will prowl The Deep Dark biome in search of trespassing players. The Warden doesn't have any vision, which means it relies on sounds and vibrations to make its way around. If you want to avoid a fight with The Warden (recommended unless you're seriously powered up), you'll need to sneak around The Deep Dark to survive.
Sculk shriekers. This abnormal mob tends to live near sculk sensors and blocks, and makes a ton of noise whenever a nearby sculk sensor detects movement or vibrations. This terrifying shriek can attract The Warden, so watch out! Also, sculk shriekers cause the surrounding area to darken considerably for a few moments when it screams.
Blocks & items
Minecraft is a game all about blocks. The entire world is made of blocks, after all. Minecraft is also all about crafting, and these two facets often go hand-in-hand. With The Wild Update, Mojang is introducing a variety of new blocks and items for players to use. Here's what you need to know about the blocks and items coming in The Wild Update for Minecraft.
Mangrove wood. A new kind of wood, mangrove wood can be found in mangrove trees, which are in turn found in mangrove swamps. Nothing surprising there.
Mud blocks. The latest building block to join Minecraft is the mud block, which features a unique look and a variety of use cases, including being crafted into mud bricks.
Sculk blocks. One of the most interesting additions to Minecraft in ages, sculk blocks are a peculiar form of block found only in The Deep Dark biome. These blocks can detect sound and vibrations in the air, and give off a redstone signal corresponding to the strength of the vibrations. Players are sure to find some amazing uses for this unique redstone-related block.
Boats with chests. This is probably one of the most requested features from the Minecraft community. While minecarts with chests have been in the game for a while, players have been looking for a way to transport goods over water for a while. With The Wild Update, players will be able to craft boats with chests to accomplish exactly that. Yes, you can use the new mangrove wood, too.
Other changes
Beyond the big three categories, there are other changes and tweaks Mojang Studios might be planning on incorporating with The Wild Update for Minecraft. We'll keep track of any features that slip between the cracks here, as well as the overarching focuses of The Wild Update.
A renewed focus on parity. Parity between Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition has been steadily improving for years, and has reached new milestones with the Caves and Cliffs Update. However, with The Wild Update, Mojang intends to continue focusing on bringing these two wildly different versions of the same game closer together. It remains to be seen what exactly this will look like, but any improvement to Minecraft parity is welcomed.
A focus on feature quality. The Wild Update is understandably smaller in size than the Caves and Cliffs Update, but this also means that Mojang Studios can focus wholeheartedly on not only ensuring The Wild Update features are polished and complete, but that existing mechanics and systems are improved and provide the experience Mojang originally intended them to. It's not clear exactly what improvements we can expect from The Wild Update yet, but it's always good to hear these intentions.
A change to how sound works. You may have already guessed from the addition of sculk blocks and The Warden, but Mojang intends to drastically alter how sound works in Minecraft (a lot of this has already been in testing). Different actions and sounds will cause various levels of vibration, which can be detected by The Warden and sculk blocks. This includes walking and running, eating, using tools and weapons, placing blocks, mob and villager noises, and more.
The Wild Update is the next Minecraft release, and will undoubtedly help secure Minecraft's position as one of the best Xbox games you can play. It will also likely inspire a new wave of Minecraft toys and gifts, especially The Warden.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. The next update for Minecraft has been revealed as 'The Wild Update,' and it's coming in 2022 with new areas, mobs, and the spooky Deep Dark.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.
'The Wild Update' is a smaller update with plenty of great new features about which to be excited.
What you need to know
Before we've even seen the official release of 1.18 'Caves and Cliffs Update' Part Two, Mojang Studios has revealed what's next.
'The Wild Update' is the next major release for Minecraft, and was revealed during Minecraft Live 2021.
The release will be smaller than the Caves and Cliffs Update, focusing on improving existing features and adding a few meaningful new ones.
The Deep Dark biome, a new swamp biome and kind of tree, frogs, and much more are arriving with 'The Wild Update' in 2022.
The height of Minecraft Live 2021 has to be the announcement of The Wild Update, which is officially the next major release for Minecraft across all devices. Following the absolutely colossal (and still not fully released) Caves and Cliffs Update, The Wild Update will understandably be on a smaller scale than its predecessor. Still, Mojang Studios is still delivering a handful of awesome new features and improvements when The Wild Update officially arrives sometime in 2022.
The focus of The Wild Update is embracing Minecraft's Overworld, as well as placing emphasis on improving existing features and how players interact with Minecraft's wilderness. It will also bring players the Deep Dark, which has officially been delayed out of the Caves and Cliffs Update to receive additional changes and improvements. There's certainly plenty to be excited about with The Wild Update.
The Wild Update is the latest in a long line of releases for Minecraft, which stands firmly as one of the greatest games ever made, and certainly one of the best Xbox games. It'll be interesting to see how The Wild Update resonates with the Minecraft community, and how it (and the Deep Dark) inspires new Minecraft toys and gifts.
Some of the features in Minecraft's The Wild Update include:
Aims to make exploring and interacting with the Overworld more immersive. We don't have all the details on how The Wild Update intends to accomplish this goal, right now, but Mojang Studios apparently intends to focus on the quality of existing features while also introducing brand-new mechanics.
New mangrove swamp biome. One of the new biomes being introduced in The Wild Update is a different variety of swamp, which features the mangrove tree.
Mangrove trees have huge roots, and drop a new kind of wood when harvested
You can also find mud blocks in mangrove swamps, which can be crafted into mud bricks and other fun building blocks
Frogs and tadpoles. The Wild Update will add a new mob that many players will probably be ecstatic about: frogs. The first mob that actually has a different form when it's a baby (tadpoles), the frog will be a friendly addition to Minecraft's busy ecosystems. Frogs also love to eat fireflies, another new addition to Minecraft in The Wild Update.
The Deep Dark. Finally, the Deep Dark, which was originally intended to arrive with the Caves and Cliffs Update, is now coming with The Wild Update (complete with several improvements and additions).
The Deep Dark will be a dark and dangerous place, filled with the ruins of ancient civilizations and cities
Here, players will be able to find plenty of treasure and loot, and the unique sound-detecting sculk block
The Deep Dark is defended by the Warden, though, a deadly mini-boss mob that hunts players down by detecting vibrations through sound
A focus on parity. It's worth noting, as well, that Mojang Studios has a renewed focus on parity between different editions of Minecraft. While it's an ongoing battle (the Caves and Cliffs Update sees major improvements to parity), Mojang will continue to work on parity between Bedrock and Java Editions with The Wild Update.
There's probably plenty more we don't know about in The Wild Update for Minecraft, but we'll have to wait longer to see it. It's likely Mojang Studios won't begin testing early builds of The Wild Update or sharing new features until well after the release of 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two, especially since the release window for The Wild Update is simply "2022." Still, this looks to be a great follow-up to Minecraft's most ambitious update yet, and should, hopefully, bring lots of improvements and alterations with it.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. The next update for Minecraft has been revealed as 'The Wild Update,' and it's coming in 2022 with new areas, mobs, and the spooky Deep Dark.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.
At Minecraft Live 2021, Microsoft and Mojang unveiled the latest update for Minecraft Dungeons, dubbed The Cloudy Climb. The central feature adds more depth to the endgame, alongside a tower designed from the ground up for procedural, ongoing content.
Here's a rundown of everything coming to The Cloudy Climb, which is the first of a series of Seasonal Adventures Mojang will add to the game over time to keep it fresh, and how it interacts with the new Adventure Rank system, which will give players more rewards than ever before.
If you're unfamiliar, Minecraft Dungeons is an isometric Diablo-style dungeon crawler from Microsoft, Double Eleven, and Mojang. The game can be played either solo or in parties of four, complete with cross-play and cross-save between Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, 5, and PC. The game is also available to play on mobile devices via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's cloud service, where it works very well.
Players create a character, and then adventure across a large Minecraft-inspired world. Many DLC packs have been released for the game, showcasing various Minecraft environments while bringing in various creatures and monsters from the original game, alongside some new ones.
Minecraft Dungeons is a great and accessible dungeon crawler for gamers of all ages, whether you just want some simple dungeon-crawling fun with a younger family member, or get serious with its challenging endgame content. The game is available relatively cheaply to buy separately or included free as part of an Xbox Game Pass subscription on Xbox, PC, and mobile devices.
Minecraft Dungeons is a dungeon-crawler in the vein of Diablo. Teams of up to four adventure across a blocky land, grabbing piles of loot in the process.
What are Seasonal Adventures?
The Cloudy Climb is the first Seasonal Adventure Mojang is adding to Minecraft Dungeons, which brings with it a ladder of rewards players can earn in a Battle Pass-like structure.
As you progress through a Seasonal Adventure and complete its associated challenges, you'll earn Adventure Points which raise your Adventure Rank. You can earn points simply by playing, while also completing weekly challenges, alongside seasonal challenges that will rotate on a regular basis.
You can spend your Adventure Points in an all-new Adventure Hub in the base camp, which brings with it a large range of rewards. You can pick up emeralds, gold, unique seasonal skins, capes, and more. Seasonal Adventures will also add new emotes players can use to communicate, alongside unique characters "flairs" which play at certain times, such as killing a boss or leveling up.
The first Seasonal Adventure is called The Cloudy Climb, and adds an all-new feature to the game, dubbed The Tower.
What is The Cloudy Climb?
The Cloudy Climb is the first Seasonal Adventure for Minecraft Dungeons, and adds a single-player challenge area to the game called The Tower.
The Tower features new and existing biomes in a set of pre-planned levels, which will refresh every two weeks. In here, you'll start with a blank slate character, and gradually grow in power as you progress, and choose rewards, similar to games like HADES. It will feature new enemies and obstacles too, and it saves your progress when you leave, meaning you don't have to start over.
If you fail your run, you'll still earn rewards, but more powerful rewards await those who successfully complete a Tower run to its conclusion. Mojang says The Tower is designed to get gradually more difficult the higher up you ascend, although players who memorize the upcoming threats will have an easier time strategizing and choosing their power loadouts on subsequent runs.
Will it be free?
Seasonal Adventures are completely free of charge, meaning you won't have to pay anything on top to access The Tower.
However, Seasonal Adventures will also come with a premium Adventure Pass, which adds a track of premium cosmetic-only skins to unlock.
Release date: When does it launch?
The Cloudy Climb is slated for a late 2021 launch during the "Holiday Season," at some point during December.
Minecraft Dungeons is a Diablo-style dungeon crawler where you and up to four friends can battle across a wide variety of Minecraft-inspired lands. From haunted tombs to jungle forests, Minecraft Dungeons has a huge variety of content, fit for various playstyles and skill levels.
Minecraft Dungeons was criticized in ages past for its relative lack of ongoing endgame content. The developers behind the game have worked hard to fix that, adding various challenges and systems to supplement the content already on offer. At Minecon, they announced the game is taking it another step forward.
Minecraft Dungeons' next big update is called The Cloudy Climb, and it will be free as part of a new Seasonal Adventure system. The Cloudy Climb adds a new single-player dungeon area called The Tower, where players start with a blank character, and work their way up preset rooms and events choosing different upgrades as they go. The layout should sound familiar to players of games like HADES. The layouts will change every two weeks, giving players fresh challenges to face off against.
Seasonal Adventures also add another dimension to play, giving you ongoing rewards from an all new Adventure Hub, found in the camp. For completing challenges, participating in The Tower, or simply just playing the game will net you Adventure Points, which can be spent on a variety of seasonal cosmetic rewards and currency. There will also be a premium paid Adventure Pass, but it will only feature cosmetic items, sidestepping pay2win gameplay.
Microsoft says The Cloudy Climb will drop towards the end of 2021 during the holiday season for every Minecraft Dungeons platform. Minecraft Dungeons is available now on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud, alongside retail versions for Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Minecraft Dungeons has released a ridiculous amount of content since its launch, and now players can gain access to it all in one fell swoop with Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition, a value-driven bundle that includes the base game, all six DLC expansions released so far, and the Hero Pass DLC. If you already own Minecraft Dungeons, you can also get the Ultimate Edition add-on for all the DLC.
Best answer: The Minecraft PC Bundle is a bundle of the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft in the Minecraft Launcher that will be available to Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers on Nov. 2, 2021. The bundle will fully launch and become available to all PC players in 2022.
What is the Minecraft PC Bundle?
During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios announced the "Minecraft PC Bundle," which is a package deal that gives players access to both the Java Edition and Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, which is one of the best PC games available. Both editions of the game will be playable through Mojang's Minecraft Launcher with this bundle. Previously, only Java Edition was available through the launcher; if you wanted to play Bedrock Edition, you'd have to buy it separately on the Microsoft Store. This will no longer be the case thanks to the Minecraft PC Bundle, and players that already own one version of the game will be given access to the other one for free once the bundle releases. Note that the Minecraft PC Bundle will only be obtainable with a Microsoft Account; Mojang Account users will need to migrate to a Microsoft Account from their Minecraft.net profile page.
There are some fairly large differences between the Java and Bedrock Editions of Minecraft, so the fact that PC players won't have to choose between the two will be welcomed by many. Java Edition allows players to use custom pieces of content like the best Minecraft mods and the best Minecraft shaders, while Bedrock Edition has better overall stability and provides access to Minecraft with RTX as well as cross-play functionality with Xbox players.
When is the Minecraft PC Bundle release date?
The Minecraft PC Bundle will first be available for Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers starting on Nov. 2. Then, the bundle will fully launch and become available as a standalone purchase for all PC players at some point in 2022 (Mojang hasn't provided any specific dates yet). Note that players who already own one edition of the game won't gain access to the other one until the 2022 release unless they subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for PC.
How much will the Minecraft PC Bundle cost?
Mojang is yet to announce Minecraft PC Bundle pricing for the standalone package. In the meantime, access will be granted via Xbox Game Pass through its PC membership from $10 monthly, or those with its $15 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate-tier subscription.
Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.
Mojang Studios has announced the Minecraft PC Bundle during Minecraft Live 2021.
The bundle includes Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition, and is coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC on Nov. 2, 2021.
Players will need to migrate their Mojang Accounts to Microsoft Accounts to access the titles through Xbox Game Pass for PC.
In 2022, Mojang is planning to release the Minecraft PC Bundle as a standalone purchase for interested players.
Mojang Studios, the development studio behind one of the best PC games ever made, Minecraft, has announced the "Minecraft PC Bundle" during Minecraft Live 2021. This bundle allows PC players to access and play both Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition through the Minecraft Launcher, which previously only supported Minecraft: Java Edition.
Mojang has confirmed that the Minecraft PC Bundle will first be available for Xbox Game Pass for PC subscribers starting Nov. 2, 2021. The bundle will then officially launch in full at some point in 2022, although Mojang has not provided any specific dates for the release of the bundle at this time. Players who have previously purchased either Minecraft: Java Edition or Minecraft: Bedrock Edition will gain access to the edition of the game they don't have for free once the bundle retails in 2022. Note that Java Edition players will need to migrate their Mojang Account to a Microsoft Account on their Minecraft.net profile page to get access to Bedrock Edition once the bundle releases.
Bundling Java Edition and Bedrock Edition together should be a welcome change, as previously, fans have had to choose between one or the other when buying Minecraft. Java Edition offers players support for the best Minecraft mods and other forms of custom content such as the best Minecraft shaders, while Bedrock is more stable, supports crossplay with Xbox players, and gives players access to Minecraft with RTX. Both versions of the game have their pros and cons, meaning PC players can now play both with this new bundle.
Grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for your access to all things Xbox, including access to Xbox Game Pass for PC that you can use to play the Minecraft PC Bundle when it becomes available Nov. 2.
Some features won't be making the cut this year though.
What you need to know
Part Two of the Caves and Cliffs update for Minecraft is still slated to launch later this year.
The Deep Dark and archaeology features will not be part of this update.
The Bedrock and Java versions of Minecraft now have Seed Parity.
Mojang Studios expressed its appreciation for all the Minecraft players that helped make the Caves and Cliffs Update possible.
Minecraft continues to grow as one of the best PC games available. As part of Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang Studios revealed some major news regarding the Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two. The update is still on track to launch later this year, introducing a new 'blending' feature. This means that any players who load old worlds will see these worlds blended with the new features, with cave biomes appearing underneath existing loaded chunks.
Another big feature of this update is Seed Parity. For the first time ever, the Java and Bedrock versions of Minecraft will have matching seed layouts. While there are still some small differences, for the most part the games will line up, meaning seeds can be shared between the two versions of the game to share mostly-identical world layouts.
This update won't deliver everything previously promised, however, as both the Deep Dark and the archaeology features aren't making the cut this year. The Deep Dark is is slated to be part of a future update, while the archaeology features are being put on hold for now, with no new release date or release window.
During Minecraft Live 2021, Mojang expressed its appreciation for the Minecraft community, as Minecraft players offered tons of feedback and research while testing early builds all throughout the year.
Despite these omissions, 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and grand Minecraft releases yet, especially when paired with its little sibling, 1.17 Part One of the huge update. The Caves and Cliffs Update includes brand-new mobs and biomes, massive changes to world generation across underground caves and mountainous peaks, and so much more.
With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, players get access to Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Cloud Gaming, EA Play and Xbox Live Gold. That means one easy bundle lets you access games like Minecraft and play them online with your friends.
While not officially signed by Microsoft, Intel's latest drivers show that the new dynamic refresh feature is very close.
What you need to know
Intel's generic graphics for 10/14/2021 enable 'Dynamic Refresh Rate' for Windows 11.
The drivers let specific displays jump between 60 and 120 Hz automatically.
While it works on Surface Pro 8 and Laptop Studio, users need to install the drivers manually.
Once approved as stable, Microsoft will push the drivers out through Windows Update.
In June, we noted a new feature in Windows 11 called Dynamic Refresh Rate, which would allow PCs with high-refresh displays to jump dynamically between low and high-refresh based on scrolling, inking, or inactivity. We strongly hinted that new Surface products would likely embrace such technology, and sure enough, Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio both have 120 Hz screens.
Despite the underlying technology being present, Dynamic Refresh Rate is not enabled on either new Surface is something coming later via an update. Today, users on reddit spotted Intel's latest generic display drivers and noticed that upon installation, a new option now appears enabling this new display option.
We've confirmed on Surface Pro 8 that the new drivers add the option for dynamic refresh rate found under Settings > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate. Instead of just 60 Hz or 120 Hz, there is now a third option for Dynamic (60 Hz or 120 Hz) that was not present earlier.
Users must manually install the new Intel drivers.
The feature seems to work quite well, although more testing is needed for stability and to see any oddities with the drivers.
The drivers need to be manually installed (extract drivers from the zip file, upgrade driver through Device Manager) as the .exe installer will not work.
Microsoft releases its own "Surface-approved" graphics drivers through Windows Update after it has signed off on the drivers as being stable. It also removes things like the Intel Graphics Panel, which is auto-installed with these drivers.
As a rule of thumb, most users should hold off until Microsoft releases its Surface-approved drivers. These new Intel ones could cause unforeseen issues, especially if someone picks the wrong driver to update or the drivers themselves cause a conflict.
However, the good news is it seems Dynamic Refresh Rate for Windows 11 devices (those with 90Hz or higher displays) is right around the corner. We'll likely see many more laptops announced in the coming months that support this feature, which improves inking (reduced latency) and makes scrolling and OS animations a bit smoother while also helping to mitigate the hit on battery life.
Minecraft Live is returning for another year, with something for every Minecraft fan.
Minecraft is one of the biggest games in the world (some might even say Minecraft is the greatest game ever made, and every major announcement from the franchise ripples across the gaming community and its millions of Minecraft players. With the onset of the ongoing pandemic, Mojang Studios made an effort to shift its in-person Minecon event to the online-only Minecraft Live in 2020, which is returning for another year with all-new interviews, reveals, community events, and more. Minecraft Live 2021 is happening, and we've brought together everything you need to know about when the event starts, how you can watch, and what you can expect.
Minecraft Live 2021 is officially kicking off later today. We've outlined everything you need to tune in when Minecraft Live 2021 begins, including what to expect from the show. Minecraft Live 2021 will also feature a brand-new Mob Vote, which we have more information on below.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Play with anyone and play anywhere.
Minecraft Life is the one-stop shop for all the latest Minecraft-related news and announcements, and it rolls around once a year, courtesy of Mojang Studios. Because Minecraft Life is an online stream, absolutely anyone can tune in and participate in Minecraft Live events like the annual mob vote, where the Minecraft community can vote on a new mob to be added to Minecraft in a future update.
Minecraft Live 2021 was officially announced by Mojang, and airs on Oct. 16, 2021. With Minecraft continuing to grow bigger and bigger, we're expecting some huge surprises and reveals during this year's Minecraft Live, so fans should definitely be looking forward to what'll be shown off during the event.
Minecraft Live 2021 is an online-only event, meaning you only need an internet-connected device to tune in and witness the event unfold. Minecraft Live 2021 officially begins on Oct. 16, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. CEST. You can check out the image above for even more specific time zones.
The Minecraft Live 2021 pre-show will begin at 8:25 a.m. PDT / 11: 25 a.m. EDT / 5:25 p.m. CEST, or 35 minutes before the main show begins.
You can tune into Minecraft Live 2021 from the following locations:
Minecraft may be one game (two if you count Minecraft Dungeons), but the extended Minecraft brand is large enough to fill the entire year with news and updates. Minecraft Live is where Mojang Studios can collate the largest and most significant announcements into one place and deliver them to the Minecraft community, so you can expect the event to be full of news. It's hard to know exactly what to expect, but we do have a few ideas.
A new mob vote. Mob votes are commonplace at Mojang events, where the studio tasks the Minecraft community with voting for one of the next mobs to be added to the game. Last year's mob vote ended with the glow squid as the victor, and another mob vote is coming in Minecraft Live 2021. We're already learning about the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote, and we'll continue to update that post as more details emerge (and the vote takes place!).
Interviews and commentary. Minecraft Live 2021 will feature a variety of interviews and commentary from Mojang Studios team members, community members, and even (apparently) a few surprise appearances.
The next Minecraft update. Minecraft is always moving forward, so there's inevitably another update planning to follow after the Caves and Cliffs Update enjoys its moment in the spotlight. We don't have any details on what this update could be, yet, but there's a good chance we'll learn what's coming to Minecraft in 2022 and beyond at Minecraft Live 2021.
An update on the Caves and Cliffs Update. The Caves and Cliffs Update was tragically split into two parts, and the smaller first part has already been released. The more major second half is expected before the end of the year, and is still in active development at Mojang Studios. Expect a hefty update on the progress of 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two, any new features or changes to the original plan, and (maybe) even a release date.
An update on Minecraft Dungeons. Minecraft Dungeons just concluded its epic Arch-Illager saga with its latest DLC, as well as the release of Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition. At first glance, it looks like Minecraft Dungeons has reached its end, but that's not the case. Mojang has hinted that big things are in store for Minecraft Dungeons in the future, so it's possible we'll get a sneak peek at what's to come during Minecraft Live 2021.
Other reveals and announcements. It's no secret that Mojang Studios is a massive studio, and it's undoubtedly working on other projects and products that we haven't seen yet. There's a chance we may get to see some of these secret projects during this year's Minecraft Live 2021, especially as "surprise reveals" are being teased. I did recently discuss what other games Mojang could be making, any one of which may become reality one day. Don't hold your breath, though, as nothing has been confirmed.
Minecraft on Xbox Series X|S? I hear you; we all want to hear what's going on with Minecraft on Xbox Series X|S, especially when it comes to ray tracing. I've previously written about how Minecraft on Xbox Series X|S is disappointing, and little has changed since then. Unfortunately, we haven't seen any indication that this mysterious update is even officially planned, let alone if it'll appear during Minecraft Live 2021. This may be one of the "surprise reveals" mentioned earlier, or it may not appear at all. We'll have to wait and see.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Play with anyone and play anywhere.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons are both already included in Xbox Game Pass.
This chair will offer industry-leading comfort and durability, as long as it doesn't explode.
What you need to know
As part of Minecraft Live 2021, gaming chair company Secretlab and Mojang Studios have announced a collaboration.
Secretlab's industry-leading TITAN Evo 2022 gaming chair is gaining a new Minecraft-inspired special edition.
The chair, which is the company's first special edition with its award-winning SoftWeave Plus fabric, is themed like a Minecraft Creeper.
The chair is launching today, and combine's Secretlab's excellent comfort with Minecraft's iconic design.
With Minecraft Live 2021 happening today, the internet will be flooded with an influx of Minecraft news and announcements. As part of the event, gaming chair company Secretlab has announced a brand-new collaboration with none other than Mojang Studios. That's right, the TITAN Evo 2022 chair from Secretlab is gaining a brand-new special edition flavor, this time modeled after one of Minecraft's most infamous and legendary mobs: the Creeper.
Available in three different sizes, the Minecraft Edition of Secretlab's latest gaming chairs is the first special edition from the company to be wrapped in its signature SoftWeave Plus fabric. This unique fabric promises to offer excellent comfort and durability in one package, and has apparently been requested by the community in a special edition chair for ages. Beyond the choice of fabric, this chair includes everything that makes the TITAN Evo 2022 platform special, but themed to look like a Minecraft Creeper.
Alongside the Creeper face proudly embossed on the front, the chair also features a unique pixellated texture along the sides and a handful of Minecraft logos that appear alongside the expected Secretlab logo. It certainly looks the part, and Secratlab's reputation as some of the best gaming chairs around hopefully means this chair will be worthy of the price tag.
The Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 Minecraft Edition chair is now available to check out on Secretlab's site. Be sure to tune into Windows Central for the rest of our Minecraft Live 2021 coverage, as we're keeping track everything being announced.
The Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 "Minecraft Edition" combines the latest and greatest comfort and durability from Secretlab with Minecraft's most infamous mob: the Creeper. The first special edition chair from Secretlab decked out in its SoftWeave Plus fabric, this is the ultimate gaming chair for Minecraft fans.
Minecraft Live 2021 brings news, announcements, and reveals to the Minecraft community on Oct. 16, 2021.
Part of the event is the annual Mob Vote, which lets the community vote on a new mob to be added to Minecraft.
This year's vote will feature three brand-new mobs, and Mojang Studios has already begun to tease the options.
The three mobs featured in this year's Mob Vote is the glare, the allay, and the copper golem, each of which have unique attributes.
While Mojang Studios continues to work hard on Part Two of the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft, they're also preparing to showcase the future of Minecraft with the arrival of Minecraft Live 2021. Part of this year's event is the continuation of the annual Mob Vote, which will let the wider Minecraft community for their favorite of three brand-new Minecraft mobs. The winner will be added to Minecraft in a future update!
Ahead of Minecraft Live 2021, which officially airs on Oct. 16, 2021, Mojang has begun to tease and reveal the mob options. The first to be announced is the grumpy glare, but the other two will be shown off over the course of the week before Minecraft Live 2021. We'll be updated this post with the mobs as we learn of them, and the results of the vote during Minecraft Live 2021, so be sure to tune in.
During Minecraft Live 2021, we'll see progress on 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two, the future of Minecraft Dungeons, the next major update for Minecraft, the Mob Vote, interviews and more, and maybe even a look at what Mojang Studios is working on next. Of course, we'll also probably see the inspiration for the next wave of Minecraft toys and gifts.
Here are the mobs featured in the Mob Vote at Minecraft Live 2021.
Glare
The glare is an adorable grumpy mob that can apparently be of great use to players. These leafy creatures aren't dangerous to players, and can actually give a warning when there's a danger of hostile mobs spawning in the area. Minecraft recently changed how mob spawning works, so hostile mobs only spawn in complete darkness, and glares will let players know if an area is too dark.
Glares do not spawn hostile mobs, and players can actually take glares with them when they travel. Glares simply get really disgruntled whenever it's too dark in the immediate area, which is a sure sign there's danger of spooky mobs spawning there. We don't know much else about the glare's other abilities or behaviors, but they certainly look the part!
Allay
The allay is the second mob to be added to Minecraft Live 2021's annual Mob Vote, and looks to be an exciting and unique addition. This equally adorable alternative to the glare is friendly to players, absolutely loves music and dancing, and has a useful behavior! If you give an allay an item, it'll go off to collect similar items that have been dropped on the ground and return them to you. A friend that constantly brings you presents? The allay makes a good case for itself ahead of the Mob Vote.
Allay can pick up nonstackable items like tools and more, can collect items indefinitely, and returns collected items to a point near a note block that it enjoys. Players are already strategizing on how to use allay to make automation of certain tasks easier, even if the allay can only stay within the same chunk that you are in. Ahead of the Mob Vote, the allay appears to be the fan favorite on social media.
Copper golem
The copper golem is the final mob in Minecraft Live 2021's Mob Vote, and, like the other two options, gives players a ton of reasons to vote for it. The copper golem is actually crafted by players out of pure copper, and, like other copper pieces, oxidizes over time until it freezes into a statue. Copper golems are full of energy, and absolutely love to push copper buttons (regardless of what they do). That's right, copper buttons would also be added to Minecraft if the copper golem was voted in.
Copper golems won't tamper with any other buttons besides copper ones, which means existing redstone contraptions are safe. Also, they have a lightning rod on their head that can attract lightning, which disperses any oxidation. Players can also use an axe to quell the progress of oxidation, similar to other copper blocks. Copper golems are friendly, and won't really interact with other players or mobs. Many players are theorizing how copper golems may be used to automate some redstone contraptions.
Update, Oct. 12, 2021 (10:25 a.m. CT) — The 'allay' is the second mob featured in the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote
Mojang Studios has now revealed the 'allay,' a friendly mob that loves music, and enjoys collecting similar items and dropping them off near music blocks. You can watch the allay's reveal trailer for the Mob Vote up above, and learn a little bit more about what makes this particular mob special.
Update, Oct. 13, 2021 (10:15 a.m. CT) — The 'copper golem' is the final mob featured in the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote
The third and final mob in this year's Mob Vote is the 'copper golem,' another friendly mob that is actually crafted by players out of pure copper. These energetic friends oxidize over time, love pushing the brand-new copper buttons, and in general are a lot of fun to have around.
Update, Oct. 16, 2021 (9:30 a.m. CT) — Players are discussing every mob on social media ahead of the Mob Vote
On social media, especially Twitter, thousands of players are flocking to discuss every mob ahead of the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote. Many players have already seemingly decided which mob they plan to vote for, with the allay, especially, seemingly building up a lot of attraction (at least, on Twitter). We've updated the above post with additional information on each mob to help you make an informed decision before voting.
Update, Oct. 16, 2021 (11:45 a.m. CT) — The first round of voting between the glare, allay, and copper golem has begun
The Mob Vote is open! It's time pick your favorite: Glare, Allay or Copper Golem!
The first round of voting in the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote has officially begun on Twitter, and is being held between the glare, allay, and copper golem. The mob that receives the least number of votes in round one will be disqualified from the Mob Vote, while the two remaining winners will move on to a second round of voting later during the show. You'll need a Twitter account to vote, and you can do exactly that above!
Update, Oct. 16, 2021 (12:05 p.m. CT) — The second (and final) round of voting is between the allay and copper golem
In third place it’s the Glare, we guess you aren’t as afraid of the dark as we are? That leaves the Allay and the Copper Golem going head-to-head in the final round!
With the glare knocked out in the first round of voting, the second part of the Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote is between the allay and the copper golem. The round of voting is now live, and you can vote right now directly above. Whichever mob wins this vote will win overall, and will be added to Minecraft in a future update.
Update, Oct. 16, 2021 (12:20 p.m. CT) — The Minecraft Live 2021 Mob Vote has concluded with the allay winning it all
After two rounds of intense voting, the allay is the official winner. This item-loving mob will be added to Minecraft in a future update, and beat out both the glare and copper golem with over one million votes in each poll. In the end, the allay won with 54.3% of the the votes, while the copper golem lost with the remaining 45.7%.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox, Windows 10, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. Play with anyone and play anywhere.
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October is typically a big month for tech enthusiasts, as both events and fresh gadgets make a lot of noise around this time of the year. October 2021 is a particularly busy one. On the Microsoft side of upcoming goodies, we have everything from Surface madness and the impending arrival of the Surface Duo 2 to more niche items such as the Xbox Series X fridge, also known as the meme that became a real boy.
But there's more to tech than just Microsoft, contrary to what some may tell you! Techtober 2021 is also putting a spotlight on items like the iPhone 13 and Pixel 6. Are these the devices you're most amped for?
Let us know what you're feeling most jazzed about, even if it's an item not on the list. Perhaps there's a tiny little Techtober treat not on the general public's radar that has you stoked. If so, vote that way and drop a comment detailing what everyone should be paying attention to. After all, there's no wrong answer when it comes to what gets you excited, contrary to what some might say when confronted with the notion of voting for the iPhone 13 over the Xbox Series Fridge on a site called Windows Central.
And if you want to focus on Techtober events instead of individual gadgets, go vote in Android Central's poll that asks which Techtober event readers are most excited about. AC gives an overview of what events are coming up in October from Apple, Google, Sony, and Samsung, and details when said events are going down.
Two polls, one jam-packed Techtober full of gadgets and events. Truly, an exciting time for mainstream tech enthusiasts and a scary time for wallets.
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