The Nintendo Switch edition of "Minecraft" was released digitally by Nintendo on May 11.
The game, which costs $29.99, is available on the Nintendo website. It comes bundled with the "Super Mario Mash-Up Pack" downloadable content (DLC) that was released for the Wii U in 2016. Nintendo has not yet disclosed the date when physical copies of the game will be available.
In a previous press release, Nintendo announced that "Minecraft" will have a higher resolution on the Nintendo Switch compared to the Wii U, at 3,072 x 3,072 blocks versus the 864 x 864 dimensions of the latter, although it is not as big as the map on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, which was at a 5,120 x 5,120 scale. However, the Nintendo Switch version will be on a par with the two game-console versions, as it will match their 60 frames per second.
Nintendo also previously confirmed that data from the Wii U version can be transferred to the Nintendo Switch. However, the company has not revealed yet when this will be rolled out.
According to Mic, the game supports a multiplayer mode. Up to four players can work on split screen locally, or up to eight if using an online server. However, the game currently does not support voice chat.
The game comes in three modes: creative mode, in which players can simply build to their hearts' content; survival mode, in which they face off against creepers; and battle mode, which allows them to battle against other players. As with the Wii U version, the Switch edition of "Minecraft" comes with a "Super Mario" texture pack, which has character skins for players to use. It is also inclusive of a "Super Mario"–themed map.
Early reviews of the game on Kotaku and Time are positive, with the latter describing the latest incarnation of "Minecraft" as the "best version."
