Mojang has confirmed it will cease supporting virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) for Minecraft across all platforms by March 2025. The company announced this change in their latest update notes for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. After this deadline, no further updates will include VR or MR support, affecting both PlayStation VR and PC players who rely on VR headsets.
Once the final VR-compatible update is released, players will still be able to access Minecraft on non-VR platforms, including computers and consoles. According to Minecraft’s community manager Jay Wells, players can keep building in their worlds without VR, and all in-game purchases, like skins and Minecoins, will remain available for non-VR devices.
End of an Era for Virtual Reality in Minecraft
Minecraft first embraced VR in 2016, offering players a fully immersive experience on the Oculus Rift. Over the years, support extended to devices like Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR-compatible headsets, allowing players to dive into the game’s blocky universe in new ways. However, Mojang now says they can no longer maintain VR/MR support, and the final update in March 2025 will be the last to support these features.
Beyond that point, players using VR headsets will need to switch to traditional devices to continue receiving game updates. Cross-platform compatibility will remain, ensuring players can still access their worlds via keyboard and mouse, controllers, or on non-VR consoles.
PS5 Users Get a Native Version at Last
At the same time, Mojang has unveiled a long-awaited update for PlayStation 5 users. A native PS5 version of Minecraft has been launched, bringing significant improvements, including 4K resolution, a smoother 60 frames per second, and a longer draw distance. Up until now, PS5 players had been relying on the PS4 version of the game.
The new version is available for free to anyone who already owns Minecraft on PS4, and it can be downloaded directly from the PlayStation Store. This release coincides with the “Bundles of Bravery” content update, which adds new features to the game and offers fresh adventures for players.
Alternatives for VR Enthusiasts
For players who are still eager to experience Minecraft in VR, community-created mods provide alternative ways to play after Mojang phases out official VR support. Vivecraft, a popular mod for the Java Edition, enables VR gameplay on PC, while Questcraft allows Meta Quest users to keep exploring their blocky worlds in virtual reality. While not supported by Mojang, these mods offer a workaround for fans of VR gameplay.
However, these mods come with some caveats. They are primarily designed for the Java Edition of the game, meaning they lack the cross-platform play available on the Bedrock Edition. Nevertheless, they offer dedicated VR players a way to keep using their headsets in Minecraft, even if Mojang is stepping away from supporting VR natively.
A Shift in Priorities for Mojang
By discontinuing VR support, Mojang is likely focusing its resources on ensuring the game runs smoothly on more widely-used platforms. With the vast majority of players playing on traditional screens, VR represents only a small fraction of the user base. As a result, the company seems to be prioritizing developments like the new PS5 version and content updates over maintaining VR compatibility.
Although VR’s exit from Minecraft is disappointing for some, the game remains fully functional on all non-VR platforms, and Mojang continues to release updates that enhance gameplay for the majority of its audience.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:21 pm CET
