Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition and Pocket Edition Now Support Cross-Play

Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta players can now play locally or online together with Minecraft: Pocket Edition players, Mojang announced today.

While the ability for players on both Windows 10 and mobile platforms (phones and tablets) to play together is a welcome addition, Mojang cautions that setting up configurations for online play might feel a little complicated for those unaccustomed to things like port forwarding.

“Online play is something of a work in progress,” director of creative communications at Mojang Owen Hill writes. “That said, it’s pretty cool if you get it set up. Click Play, then New, then the funny little plus-sign-arrow-thing in the corner, and add the name and IP address of the server you want to join.”

Mojang says that cross-platform is something they are doing “to bring our community closer” and that the ability for Windows 10 and Pocket Edition players to play together “is a small step towards that goal.” However, no mention is made for other platforms support cross-play with one another.

The ability to play across both versions of the game came via patch 0.12.1, which also has additional features. The full list of features for this patch can be seen below:

The Nether and all its inhabitants. Fight Ghasts and make friends with Pigmen
Cross platform play for up to five players between Pocket Edition and Windows 10
Revamped touch controls, controller support, and a controller mapping screen
Enhanced Weather effects! Accumulating snow and more
Zombie Villagers can now have professions like farmers or butchers
Ocelots! Try taming one with a fish
Experience, Anvils, Brewing, and enchantments. Time to up your game, crafter
Golems. We recommend you approach with caution
Flower pots. We recommend you fill them with flowers
Sneaking and sprinting! Express yourself through movement!
Loads of bug fixes that are too boring to list here.
Lots, lots more!