The release date of Minecraft Dungeons has been officially confirmed for May 26th. Minecraft Dungeons is a spinoff game of the massively popular survival sandbox Minecraft. While still maintaining the blocky charm of Minecraft, this title steps away from Minecraft’s usual gameplay, and focuses more primarily on action and combat. With procedurally generated dungeons and loot, Minecraft Dungeons may feel like more of a hybrid between Minecraft, The Binding of Isaac, and the Diablo series. Mojang first announced the title without a release date, and fans have been speculating when this new interesting take on the world of Minecraft would actually release.
Since Minecraft was initially released in 2009, the game has constantly evolved with regular updates. With each new update, Minecraft steps further and further away from the casual building game it once was. Mojang has constantly pushed the limits of sandbox games when it comes to including new features. Now, Mojang’s experimentation has brought the world of Minecraft into an entirely new genre. The dungeon-crawler genre was the perfect choice to expand upon the treacherous and treasure-filled caverns beneath the surface of Minecraft.
According to the Minecraft.net announcement, Mojang originally intended to release Minecraft Dungeons during the month of April. Due to the world’s unanimous social distancing during the pandemic, Mojang had to ensure the development team was safe before they could complete the project, and a small delay was needed. The game will release May 26th, with the $20 Standard Edition and the $30 Hero Edition which will also grant future access to two upcoming DLC packs. The game is only available for preorder on Windows, so players on any other platform will have to wait for release day to purchase and install Minecraft Dungeons.
In terms of actual gameplay, Minecraft Dungeons will feature many randomized gameplay elements such as dungeon paths, enemies, and treasure. In other words, the game will be different each and every time it’s played. Mojang has stated that players will not be able to build houses or place blocks at will. However, the freedom of Minecraft is still present. Minecraft Dungeons will not include character classes, which means players can craft their own play style and fight mobs exactly how they want.
When it comes to multiplayer, four players on the same platform can play online together, with cross-platform play coming at a later date. According to Mojang’s FAQ, the game will not include matchmaking. Minecraft Dungeons was apparently designed to encourage couch co-op, or online play with friends. With its low price and seemingly high replay ability, Minecraft Dungeons is shaping up to be a worthy spinoff of its massively popular parent. The game will only further contribute to the lovable and creative environments of Minecraft, and perhaps offer some even more intense gameplay.
Minecraft Dungeons releases on May 26, 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
