Called Jungle Awakens it brings a new setting and three new missions to the recently released action-RPG Minecraft Dungeons. Plus, new weapons, armour, and artifacts to equip - no doubt jungle-themed in nature. This marks the first bit of post-launch content for the game, with Mojang hinting that the next bit of DLC will arrive before the year is out.


Jungle Awakens will introduce new enemies too, including Jungle Zombies.

That second bit of DLC is called Creeping Winter and is all about the snow. Perhaps the most interesting bit of news though, is that the team is working to implement cross-platform play in addition to some free content for all players. With Minecraft Dungeons available on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PS4 - and as a part of Xbox Game Pass, it's a move that makes a lot of sense.

For our full review of Minecraft Dungeons - head here.

Mojang's Minecraft meets Diablo effort drops tomorrow, positioning itself as an accessible and entry-level version of the action-RPG. The only problem with that is, it kind of goes against the whole Minecraft aesthetic - making Minecraft Dungeons a somewhat fun but shallow and finite dungeon experience.

A snippet.

The accessibility angle is commendable, and in a sense Minecraft Dungeons could be a gateway to a wider swathe of more stat-heavy experiences – traditional action-RPGs like Diablo III, Path of Exile, or Wolcen. Using an established and iconic franchise to present a genre that may not have the same appeal or recognition is always a good thing. The biggest problem here, weirdly, is the Minecraft aesthetic.

In the sense that Minecraft isn’t simple, it’s visuals are. Players are given tools that foster and nurture limitless creativity. Minecraft Dungeons foregoes any real connection to its source outside of aesthetic and set dressing. There is depth to the mechanics and the free-flow nature of the class-free customisation, but Minecraft Dungeons is painfully simple. To the point where nothing in the actual world, save for hitting mobs, reacts to your weapon. No destructible objects, only the odd pull-this-lever to open-this-door interaction. Or, find the key.

Click Here to Read Our Full Minecraft Dungeons Review

Which is when the standalone action-RPG set in the Minecraft universe will make its debut on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. Plus, become a part of Xbox Game Pass. The release date sees Minecraft Dungeons arrive a little later than expected but it will be modestly priced -- $29.95 AUD for the Standard Edition and $44.95 AUD for the Hero Edition.

With the Hero Pass including "a Hero Cape, two player skins, and a chicken pet" at launch, plus access to two upcoming DLC packs.

"As you all know, we initially planned to release Minecraft Dungeons by the end of April," notes a post on the official site. "However, due to the current state of the world, this was no longer possible, as we wanted to guarantee the health and safety of our teams, and empower them to deliver the best possible experience to you, our players. We hope you’ll find it was worth the wait."

Also, the following handy FAQ was posted which should answer many of the questions you might have about Minecraft Dungeons. Including word that cross-play is being looked into but won't be available at launch.

Is Minecraft Dungeons a Minecraft game?
Minecraft Dungeons is a brand new, standalone game set within the Minecraft universe, with most of its blocky charm and challenges. You might not be able to place blocks or build a house made of cobblestone, but you’re still very much an adventurer exploring the Overworld.

Are there character classes in Minecraft Dungeons?
Minecraft Dungeons has no classes. In true Minecraft spirit, it’s all up to the player to build their own playstyle and identity with the items they equip. You are what you wear!

Will Minecraft Dungeons be available with Xbox Game Pass?
The Standard Edition of Minecraft Dungeons will be included in your Xbox Game Pass membership, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members having access on both console and Windows PC. Xbox Game Pass members can also save up to 10% on related Minecraft Dungeons DLC and add-ons!

Does Minecraft Dungeons have multiplayer, and if so, how does it work?
Just grab your controller and jump right in! Minecraft Dungeons supports up to four players in both local couch co-op and online co-op modes. However, we do not provide you with an actual couch!

Will Minecraft Dungeons support cross-platform multiplayer?
At launch, you´ll be able to play online multiplayer with friends on the same platform. We’re working to bring cross-platform multiplayer across Xbox One, Windows 10, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in the near future through a free update after the game’s release.

Is there matchmaking for online multiplayer?
No. Minecraft Dungeons is designed to be played together with your friends – either in a comfy couch or in a comfy online session.

Do the missions change from one game to the next?
Yes! Each mission in Minecraft Dungeons is a mix of procedural content and carefully crafted elements that tie into the mission's objectives and narrative. In other words, while parts of the mission stay the same, the paths, mobs and treasure you find will be different every time you play it.

Is there DLC?
Yes, there will be! With Minecraft Dungeons – Hero Edition, you’ll get access to two upcoming DLC packs for free. We’ll share more information about these soon.

Minecraft Dungeons will be building its way to stores on May 26.

Which, set in the Minecraft universe, are definitely blocky. Also, very moody thanks to a great use of lighting and colour to differentiate between locales. For those that need a refresher Minecraft Dungeons is a spin-off to the popular builder that re-imagines the universe in the style of a Diablo-style action-RPG.

The following video, which covers and showcases some of the different environments also details how the procedural generation of levels will work. Which is akin to arranging puzzle pieces on a board in various configurations that all fit and connect in interesting ways.



Game Designer Pontus Hammarberg also notes that the procedural stuff allows for the team to craft levels themselves or leave things to become more random. Striking a balance between hand-crafted and infinite variation.

The moment when a weapon hits an enemy – the impact you feel as a player. In our chat with Mojang's Nathan Rose we talked about the bright and blocky visuals of the larger Minecraft universe and how that might inform the team's approach to creating an action-RPG. For the team it was all about fun, but also ensuring that it felt right. That it was still Minecraft.

“It was really about fun, but also about getting the combat to feel right,” Nathan tells me. “While you can imbue an axe or a pickaxe with fire, it's more about the impact of the weapon. You may see me a zombie catch on-fire – but only for a little bit. They don't go screaming off, or get dismembered. It's more about that moment of impact. The weapon is not flaming as you're carrying it.”


This is in stark contrast to some of the more well-known dungeon crawlers and action-RPGs, where dark and brooding environments lend themselves to the sort of violence and over-the-top visuals that comes with the territory. In creating Minecraft Dungeons the small team working on the project at Mojang opted for subtle effects, flaming weapons that spark up when you hit an enemy, or visual cues like visible auras relaying key information.

“There may be an aura telling you that your armour is imbued with strength, and you'll see a different colour to reflect that. Being subtle in that way was our approach. But the aura itself is still very Minecraft. Fire is a good reference point, because you would have flames coming out from beneath your feet. And here they're Minecraft pixel flames, reinforcing the Minecraft world.”

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This article is sponsored by ASUS.

At PAX Australia we had the chance go hands-on with Minecraft Dungeons and chat to Mojang about creating a brand-new action-RPG experience set in the same universe as one of the most popular games of all time.

We spoke to Nathan Rose, Senior Project Manager for Minecraft Dungeons at Mojang.

With the release of Minecraft Dungeons though, we now find the iconic pickaxe entering the world of dark and dingy caverns, shiny loot, and unspeakable monstrosities. The action-RPG.

Where Minecraft goes for a stroll, and bumps into Diablo.

“Of course, the team was looking at games like Diablo, but also classics like Gauntlet,” Nathan responds when the conversation brings up Blizzard’s iconic and genre-defining release. “Gauntlet was probably more of a reference for the team than Diablo [when it comes to combat]. What we looked at in some of those other games was the loot table, which in an action-RPG tends to get quite deep. What we have in Dungeons is what you would expect to find in Diablo but filled with recognisable aspects from Minecraft. You have your pick-axe, but you can enchant it with fire. And these enchantments come into play with all the gear you’ll find.”

“Available to play on all platforms and just about any device with a screen, the Minecraft universe has been enjoyed by an audience measured in the many tens of millions.”

But a Diablo-clone or by-the-numbers action-RPG this isn’t, with Minecraft Dungeons offering its own spin on the beloved genre. One that feels like a part of a larger, pixelated universe.

Click Here to Read Our Full Interview and Deep Dive into Minecraft Dungeons

This article is sponsored by ASUS.