MINECRAFT is closing down on a popular type of gadget – leaving gamers unable to play.
The closure is effective immediately, and means you’ll need to switch to another device to continue playing.
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Gamers will no longer be able to access Minecraft on virtual reality and mixed reality headsets.
Microsoft, which owns Minecraft, revealed the plan back in October, and originally said the shutdown would take place in March 2025.
But support has now finally ended two months later than expected, as spotted by PCWorld.
It means gamers previously played on VR or MR goggles will now need to use another machine instead.
Microsoft recommends just using a regular PC with a computer monitor instead.
Importantly, you won’t lose your account or anything you’ve built in the game.
But you won’t be able to access those worlds through the VR or MR headsets.
“Our ability to support VR/MR devices has come to an end, and will no longer be supported,” said Microsoft’s Minecraft team.
The company continued: “After you receive the final update, you will still receive updates on your PC and be able to play without a VR/MR device.
“From this point on you can keep building in your worlds, and your Marketplace purchases (including Minecoins) will continue to be available on a non-VR/MR graphics device such as a computer monitor.
“You will no longer be able to use your VR/MR device with Minecraft as it will no longer be supported in the latest updates.”
Microsoft hasn’t said exactly why it is ending support for the game on headsets.
But it’s likely no longer worth the effort for Microsoft to develop the game for the headset due to a lack of players.
Minecraft reportedly sees more than 200 million gamers logging on at least once a month.
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But just a fraction of those are likely to be VR headsets – with far more gamers accessing Minecraft through computers, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, or smartphones like the iPhone or Android.
Minecraft first gained official support for VR headsets with the Oculus Rift in 2016.
Several other headsets were added to the support roster, including Sony’s PlayStation VR.
But Microsoft is officially killing off all support, stopping the game from working on these face-hugging gadgets.
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WHAT COMPANIES HAS MICROSOFT BOUGHT?
Here are some of the biggest companies that Microsoft has snapped up…
- Mojang Studios (Minecraft) in 2014 – $2.5 billion
- Activision Blizzard in 2023 – $69 billion
- LinkedIn in 2016 – $26.2 billion
- Skype in 2011 – $8.5 billion
- Github in 2018 – $7.5 billion
Picture Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft first bought up Minecraft (and its own Mojang) back in 2014 for $2.5 billion.
It’s one of the best-selling games of all time, with hundreds of millions of copies sold – and a live-action film called A Minecraft Movie debuting in cinemas in April this year.
