Minecraft is now available on Virtual Reality (VR) at the Oculus Store, for a starting price of $6.99 since Wednesday.  The Gear VR Edition supports all features of the game’s Pocket Edition, including the thrilling Creative and Survival modes, said Oculus on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the game requires a gamepad that is not included in most VR headsets.

Oculus, which is owned by the tech giant Facebook, published blog post on the new release. The post claims developers that have worked closely with the Minecraft team to maintain the same experience of building things and exploring new places, with the added power of mobile VR.

On this representation, the possibilities for the game to take place virtually anywhere is demonstrated. The introduction of VR Gear to Minecraft has a massive potential as well as several applications for more than entertainment. Credit: PC World
On this representation, the possibilities for the game to take place virtually anywhere is demonstrated. The introduction of VR Gear to Minecraft has a massive potential as well as several applications for more than entertainment. Credit: PC World

John Carmack, game developer and father of the first person game, has described Minecraft as a world where players can literally lose themselves. He said his strongest memories of being inside VR, are found in Minecraft on Gear VR. The sandbox video game was acquired by Microsoft in 2014, in a $2.5 billion deal. 

“Experiencing it in virtual reality changes it from an abstract activity to a visceral one – it goes from a sense of playing the game to one of being inside your world, and spinning around to find a creeper sneaking up on you leaves a powerful impression.” he said, as reported by Oculus on Wednesday.

The game developer suggests that complex VR titles such as Minecraft are a “fabled metaverse”, where infinite places can be explored, shaped and shared by millions of people. The new Gear VR Edition available on the Oculus store is loyal to the Pocket Edition, including Creative and Survival modes.

It also includes skins and multiplayer. Users can chose between a “comfortable” theatre view that appears as default, or the “more intense and immersive” first-person view, that allow players to interact in more complex ways, with their own creations.

Users need a gamepad and a high-end device to fully enjoy features of the game

Oculus said the mobile freedom offered by the Gear VR, creates a real-world experience. To play the game, users must have a gamepad, in order to move characters and interact with the world of Minecraft.

Gamepads are sold separately and are not included in most VR devices. The Oculus team recommended the SteelSeries Stratus XL, in a blog post issued Wednesday. It can be acquired for $59.99, on Amazon.

The game works fluidly on the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, Note 5, S6 and S6 Edge, using a Gear VR headset, powered by Oculus. Older mobile devices may not support all features of the game, such as “true stereo audio”.

Source: Oculus