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Just recently Minecraft developer Mojang revealed that the console versions of their popular brick-based title had surpassed the PC/Mac versions in terms of total sales. While the announcement itself — that Minecraft is a huge success on console — didn't come as much of a surprise, it was a bit surprising to think that gamers preferred the couch-based experience of console Minecraft versus the PC version. Especially because the PC version carries the latest and the greatest when it comes to the game's feature set.

Nevertheless, it appears gamers prefer their Minecraft in a little more palatable form. Sitting at a desk with mouse and keyboard is not nearly as comfortable as reclining on the couch with controller in-hand.

Whereas before, customization seemed to be the key for Minecraft's success, now it appears ease of use is a bigger selling point. In fact, we bet that if Mojang could bridge the gap between the PC/console versions of Minecraft and Minecraft: Pocket Edition — the mobile version of the game — then that option would win out above all else.

Minecraft Pocket Edition Big July Update

Unfortunately, Minecraft: Pocket Edition has always trailed behind both its PC and console counterparts. There's a clear gap between the two, and platform limitations and resource allocation (i.e. Mojang dedicating staff to the versions that sell the best) has always held the Pocket Edition back.

The good news, though, is that Minecraft: Pocket Edition is improving. In fact, on July 10th Pocket Edition will be getting its most substantial update yet.

Granted, most of the features in the pipeline for Minecraft: Pocket Edition's July update are already available on the PC and console versions, but for mobile players these are exciting times. Read the full update list below:

  • Infinite worlds!
  • Caves!
  • Loads of new blocks and items including Monster Eggs and huge mushroom blocks.
  • Wolves! Tame a loyal companion.
  • Loads of new flowers! So pretty.
  • New mobs, including the spooky endermen and less spooky Mooshrooms.
  • New biomes from the PC version, including mesas, jungles, swamps and extreme hills.
  • Abandoned mineshafts, villages, and many other cool places to explore.
  • A brand-new “interaction” button. Never accidentally punch a sheep again!
  • New feature generation, including lakes, vines and monster rooms.
  • Many bugs fixed, and possibly a few added.

While it's unlikely that Mojang will ever fully bridge the gap between Minecraft on PC (or even Minecraft on console) and the Pocket Edition, it's nice to see they haven't abandoned the mobile versions. At this point, Minecraft has become such a success that Mojang could have easily sat back and counted their money. Instead, the developer is dedicated to bringing the game to new platforms (Xbox One, PS4, and Vita) and improving those experiences that are already on the market.

Which new feature are you most excited for? What features do you hope hit with the next Minecraft: Pocket Edition update?

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Source: Mojang