Something to look forward to: Official versions of Minecraft have looked largely the same throughout its 15-year history. However, an upcoming update aims to deliver the iconic sandbox game’s first significant graphical upgrade – while still preserving its retro aesthetic. Additionally, developer Mojang recently explained why it won’t switch to a freemium model in the foreseeable future.
Mojang has unveiled plans to substantially enhance Minecraft’s graphics. While the game will retain its signature blocky style, a new optional mode will introduce dynamic lighting and shadows.
Dubbed Vibrant Visuals, the upgrade will feature directional lighting and volumetric fog. Every block will cast a dynamic shadow based on light source direction, and players will see reflections on water and metallic surfaces.
One of the most noticeable improvements will likely be the appearance of the sun. Instead of simply appearing as a giant block in the sky, it will now emit volumetric light across the world during the day, casting dynamic shadows and reflections around players.
Semi-transparent objects like grass and leaves will display a subtle glow due to subsurface scattering, while glass will react dynamically as light passes through it.
Vibrant Visuals is purely cosmetic and won’t affect gameplay. Players can join the same worlds regardless of whether the mode is enabled. The new graphics are also fully backward compatible with existing Minecraft worlds, allowing players to revisit their creations in the upgraded style without losing progress.
The Bedrock Edition will receive the upgrade first, though Mojang has not yet specified which platforms will support it. A limited number of devices will gain access to an early beta soon, and all Java Editions will receive the update sometime after the full Bedrock release.
Early screenshots suggest that Vibrant Visuals won’t go as far as Minecraft RTX – a path tracing mode Mojang released for PC in 2020 – but the new overhaul will likely be compatible with a much wider range of devices.
During the recent Minecraft Live event, Mojang also reaffirmed its commitment to the game’s current pricing structure. While a game as popular as Minecraft could generate massive revenue with a free-to-play model and microtransactions, Mojang told IGN that traditional one-time purchases better suit the game’s design and help keep it accessible to a wider audience.
Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is available on Game Pass and various other platforms for $29.99, while the Deluxe Edition, which includes the Java Edition, is priced at $39.99. A free trial version is also available.
