Switch

Xbox Live Accounts will be used with Minecraft for Switch

Xbox on Switch?? What a crazy world we live in.

During Microsoft’s E3 2017 presentation, we learned that Minecraft players on the Nintendo Switch would soon be able to play with players on other platforms — including Windows 10, Mobile and Xbox One — as a part of the Better Together update, and now we know more about how that functionality works.

In an interview with Norwegian website Press Fire, Mojang CEO Jonas Märtensson confirmed that in order to access cross-platform multiplayer, Switch players will be required to sign in to an Xbox Live account. In the interview, Märtensson says that because DLC purchases and the cross-platform Realms are designed to carry over to every platform, they needed to have an account system, and Xbox Live fit the bill. Since Xbox Live logins are already in use on Windows 10, Mobile and Xbox One, it makes sense that Mojang would prefer to use that on Switch than try to implement a new system. It also might be the reason Sony is hesitant to jump on board for cross-platform multiplayer on the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

The Minecraft Better Together update is scheduled to be released in August of this year.

Thanks to Emily for helping with translation.

Oliver Brandt

Deputy Editor, sometimes-reviewer, and Oxford comma advocate. If something's published on Vooks, there's a good chance I looked over it first. I spend way too much on games and use way too many em dashes.