Could Minecraft finally come to Steam? The signs are there, but don’t get your hopes up yet
Minecraft is mysteriously missing from Steam, but could that be set to change soon?
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What you need to know
In recent years, Xbox strategy has evolved to envelop both console and Windows PC platforms. This especially includesSteam, the world’s largest PC gaming platform and a nearly unavoidable behemoth if a video game wants to succeed on PC. The vast majority of Xbox’s first-party games are available on Steam in addition to the Microsoft Store on Xbox and Windows PC, but there is one notable exception:Minecraft.
The best-selling video game of all time, Minecraft has long required its own separate launcher for the Java Edition, and the Bedrock Edition is only available on console storefronts and the Microsoft Store. However, there is a sign that this could potentially change in the near future.Minecraft DungeonsandMinecraft Legendsare already available on Steam, so it makes sense that Minecraft would make its way there, too.
Eagle-eyedXbox Game Pass Ultimatesubscribers have spotted an interesting tidbit of information, and Windows Central has verified it. As part ofMinecraft’s 15-year anniversary celebration, a new Game Pass Ultimate Perk gifts players 500 Minecoins for use in the cross-platform Minecraft Marketplace. It’s a nice offering, but what’s fascinating is the disclaimer text when you go to claim the perk: “Requires Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC or Steam) with Minecraft Marketplace.”
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Obviously, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition isn’t available on Steam, so it’s odd that the PC platform is specifically named here while other platforms like Switch, Android, and iOS aren’t. We checked other perks to ensure this isn’t generic boilerplate text, and confirmed that disclaimers are unique to each game.
However, this doesn’treallyguarantee anything. It’s unlikely that whoever is in charge of these disclaimers has in-depth knowledge of upcoming platform releases, for one, and it could simply be a coincidence or mistake, given that most of Xbox’s other gamesareavailable on Steam.
Still, it’s more sign than we’ve gotten in the past, and could potentially point to a future (likely imminent) Steam release for Minecraft. This would undoubtedly make a lot of players very happy; Steam isn’t just a storefront and the primary games library for most PC gamers, it also boasts a wide array of community features and could potentially bring more mod support to Minecraft via the Steam Workshop. On top of that, players would no longer need weird workarounds and hacks to get Minecraft to run on theSteam Deck.
Still, I wouldn’t get your hopes up, yet. While I do believe it makes a lot of sense for Minecraft to join its siblings on Steam, Mojang Studios is infamously slow at implementing massive changes for the Minecraft franchise, and bringing Steam into the tight-knit, cross-platform fold that is Minecraft: Bedrock Edition would undoubtedly be a monumental effort. Above all, this is one mention of Steam in an insignificant location — interesting, but not a stone-set confirmation of Minecraft on Steam.
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If it’ll happen, hopefully we’ll hear about it soon. If it won’t, then I imagine we won’t hear anything more at all. Whatever happens, would you be willing to purchase Minecraft once again?
Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter@BoddyZachary.
