From 2012 to 2017, the sandbox video game Minecraft was ported by 4J Studios to multiple seventh and eighth generation video game consoles. These ports have become retroactively known as "legacy console editions". These platforms include, in order of release: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch.
These console versions have multiple differences exclusive to them in comparison to other editions of the game. Rather than the virtually infinite worlds available on other platforms, worlds on the legacy console editions are capped out at a few thousand blocks. Exclusive content to these versions includes dedicated tutorial worlds, unique multiplayer modes (known as "minigames"), and downloadable content. The Xbox 360 Edition was the first time Minecraft was released physically.
Starting in 2017, the legacy console editions were gradually replaced by the game's Bedrock Edition on eighth generation consoles, with Xbox One Edition being the first to be replaced, followed shortly after by Nintendo Switch Edition. The versions on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Wii U stopped receiving content updates in late 2018; Bedrock Edition did not arrive on those consoles. PlayStation 4 Edition received prolonged support due to issues with bringing Bedrock Edition to the platform, with Sony refusing to allow cross-platform play until 2019.
The final update that most of the ports received was equivalent to Java Edition version 1.13; Xbox One Edition and Nintendo Switch Edition only received 1.12, while PlayStation 4 got 1.14. Overall, the legacy console editions were received positively by video game journalists. Compared to Java edition, the early editions were criticized for their small world size and lack of features. In 2026, the full source code for earlier versions of the legacy console editions leaked online.
Background Minecraft is a sandbox video game developed and published by Mojang Studios, released in 2011. In the game, players explore a procedurally generated world made up of voxels (cubes). Players are able to harvest materials, craft tools and items, build structures, and fight hostile mobs. Since the game's original development phase starting in 2009, the game has been released on a variety of platforms, including several video game consoles.
Overview
"Legacy console editions" is a retroactive label given to the versions of Minecraft that were published on video game consoles prior to the release of the game's Bedrock Edition in 2017. These platforms include, in order of release: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. These versions were developed by 4J Studios, and featured multiple differences from the main PC editions. The Java source code for Java Edition was rewritten in C++, with further modifications to ensure optimal performance. Due to saved game size limits on platforms with legacy console editions, world sizes were capped out at a limited number of blocks in comparison to other editions, where world sizes are virtually infinite. Dedicated tutorial worlds were added to assist newer players with learning the game's mechanics and newest updates. The crafting system was simplified for the legacy console editions; instead of placing items on a grid to craft items, the player goes though a menu of different recipes for craft items. Most versions include support for split-screen local multiplayer, with Xbox 360 Edition having a drop-in four-player split-screen.
Also included in these versions were unique multiplayer game modes, referred to as "minigames". These were "Battle", a hunger games styled deathmatch mode where several players have to fight to be the last one standing; "Tumble", which requires player to destroy a floating platform to knock other players off and also be the last one standing, and "Glide", a flying racing mode. Legacy console editions also featured a variety of exclusive texture and skin packs. Among these were ones based on other video game franchises, such as one based on Super Mario that was exclusive to Nintendo platforms. Updates for the legacy console editions were generally delivered after their PC and mobile counterparts. For example, features from Minecraft's 1.9 "End Update", which officially released in February 2016, were not added to console editions until December.
History +Development information of legacy console editionsEdition/consoleFirst releasedDiscontinuedFinal update equivalentXbox 360201220181.13PlayStation 32013PlayStation 4201420191.14Xbox One20171.12PlayStation Vita20181.13Wii U2015Nintendo Switch20171.12
Mojang, the company which created Minecraft, worked with Markus Persson, Microsoft, and port specialist 4J Studios to build a version of Minecraft that was "slightly less advanced" for home consoles. In June 2011, it was announced at E3 that Minecraft would be released on to the Xbox 360. In March 2012, the first console edition was revealed at Pax East for the Xbox 360, as part of the Xbox Live Arcade NEXT promotion. The Xbox 360 Edition was released on May 9, 2012, on the Xbox Live Arcade. In the first day of the games release, it had sold over 400 thousand copies, by fifth day, it hit a million copies sold.
All legacy console editions were developed in C++. In May 2012, senior technology officer Paddy Burns of 4J Studios did an interview with Digital Foundry to discuss the development of the Xbox 360 Edition. Burns said that the main priority was to match all the features available on PC, and that the legacy console editions were created on a strong technical foundation and had considerable scope for improvement. Burns said that the visuals and gameplay are "essentially identical" to the original, with the procedural world generation, its lighting and the physics engine being "all entirely intact." However, the Xbox 360 had restrictions on worlds size, meaning that worlds generated was limited to 864x864 blocks. Burns said this was "one of the big focuses of improvement for future updates." The developers wanted to address the criticism that the game was outdated compared with the PC version by updating it. On the topic of mods, skins, and texture packs, Burns said that downloadable skin and texture packs were in development, however mod support was "a difficult thing to provide on a console".
On June 28, 2012, Xbox 360 Edition was released physically. It was the first time Minecraft was released physically. By October, the Xbox 360 Edition had sold 4 million copies. On October 16, 4J Studios added Creative Mode, the hunger mechanics from the PC version, and new enemies and items. In December, 4J Studios announced information about Title Update 7, including that "The End" sequence from the PC version will be in Title Update 8. TU7 added animal breeding, baby animals, the Nether Fortress, and Villagers. In January 2013, Mojang revealed that Xbox 360 Edition outsold Java Edition (PC version), with 5 million copies being sold compared to Java 4.1 million copies. On May 11, 2013, TU11 was released, which included some bug fixes, and updated the spawn limit for shearing or breeding, paintings, and item frames.
In November 2013, 4J Studios announced a PlayStation 3 version was in development. 4J Studios said that it is "prioritising work" on the PlayStation 3 version before launching on any other platform such as the then next-gen consoles, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Xbox One. The Xbox 360 Edition would stop reserving updates until the PlayStation 3 Edition launched. PlayStation 3 Edition was released on December 17, 2013. In March 2014, TU14 was released. It added new items including emeralds and had more general improvements. On April 25, Mojang confirmed that PlayStation 3 worlds will transfer to PlayStation 4 and Vita. Former CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer also confirmed that game saves from the Xbox 360 will be transferrable to the Xbox One version.
By April 4, 2014, the Xbox 360 Edition passed 12 million copies sold. On April 16, Mojang announced that the PlayStation 3 Edition would be getting a physical release on May 14. Along with this, they revealed the PlayStation 3, 4, and Vita boxes, with different box art compared to the Xbox 360. According to GameSpot, the physical version of the Xbox 360 was at the high end of the UK charts since its launch. The PlayStation 3 Edition had sold around 1.5 million copies. In June 2014, Mojang's Patrick Geuder said that Minecraft has sold almost 54 million copies across all platforms. The PlayStation 4 Edition release on 4 September 2014. Originally planned as a PS4 launch title, it was delayed before its eventual release.
The Xbox One Edition launched on 5 September 2014, featuring larger worlds and support for more players. On September 15, 2014, Microsoft bought Mojang for $2.5 billion. Later that September, Sony announced that PlayStation 4 Edition would release in disc form on October 3, 2014. On October 9, 4J Studios announced that the PlayStation Vita Edition would release on the 15th. On May 7, 2015, to celebrate the three year anniversary of the legacy console editions, Mojang added free skins of the developers for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One editions. They were available to download until the 17th of May.
On June 30, 2015, TU25 was released, which would add the "Superflat" world type, stained glass, and new game options. On July 1, two new DLC's would release, including a Minecon 2015 skin pack and a LittleBigPlanet mash-up pack, with the latter being a PlayStation exclusive. In December, TU31 would be released. Game Informer said it was the "biggest console update". The update added bigger world sizes and new biomes. Minecraft: Wii U Edition was released on 17 December 2015, with a physical release in North America on 17 June 2016, and in Europe on 30 June. On October 4, 2016, TU43 added polar bears, banners, and beetroots. TU46 was released In December 2016, adding the Elytra, End Cities, and amplified terrain. The Nintendo Switch version launched via the eShop on 11 May 2017.
Discontinuation
On June 11, 2017, Microsoft announced that, starting In August, the Better Together update for the game's Bedrock Edition will be replacing the game across nearly every platform, including Pocket Edition (version for mobile devises), and the legacy console editions. The Xbox One Edition being the first to be replaced, followed shortly after by Nintendo Switch Edition. The versions on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Wii U stopped receiving content updates in late 2018; Bedrock Edition did not arrive on those consoles. The last major update for those versions was the Aquatic Update.
In May 2018, Microsoft said that they're abandoning older console versions due to the games low user-base. In a blog post, a Microsoft spokesperson said "Although we'd love to keep bringing new content to all our players forever, the older generation of consoles now make up less than five per cent of our active players." On December 18, 2018, 4J Studios announced in a tweet that the last update was doing to be adding the mash-up pack "Nightmare Before Christmas" to the game, while also adding: "Thank you to all the players on these editions for your support over the years :)"