Mojang has announced that Minecraft for PS4, Xbox One and Vita will be released in August. For the PS Vita edition, the game will be cross-buy compatible with the PS3 version, which means anyone who has purchased the PS3 version will get the PS Vita version for free. The PS4 version will be stand-along, but will cost just $19.99. PS3 gamers can upgrade to the PS4 version for just $4.99.
The developer has also detailed what each version will bring:
PlayStation 3 + PlayStation Vita Edition:
- Minecraft: Playstation 3 + Vita Edition will be available on the PSN in August.
- It will include all the features from the most recent Playstation 3 version, including online play on Vita.
- This means everyone who has bought Minecraft: Playstation 3 Edition from PSN will get it on Vita for free. Those fluent in Sony-speak might refer to the deal as “Cross-buy.”
- We are working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment to look into ways to enable upgrade from the Blu-ray disc version of Minecraft: Playstation 3 Edition to Minecraft: Playstation 3 and Vita. We’ll have more info on this closer to release.
- Minecraft: Playstation 3 + Vita Edition will cost $19.99.
- It doesn’t matter if you buy for PS3 or Vita first, you own the game for both platforms.
- Saves are transferrable between the Playstation 3 and Vita versions of Minecraft. You will be able to craft at home on your Playstation 3, then continue on the bus/toilet with your Playstation Vita.
- All of the DLC you’ve purchased for Minecraft: Playstation 3 Edition will work on Playstation 3 + Vita Edition.
PlayStation 4 Edition:
- Minecraft: Playstation 4 Edition will be released on the PSN in August. It brings significantly bigger worlds and a greater draw distance than Playstation 3 + Vita Edition.
- It will include all the features from the most recent Playstation 3 version.
- Minecraft: Playstation 4 Edition will cost $19.99.
- If you’ve bought Playstation 3 Edition from the Playstation Network you will be able to upgrade for $4.99.
- You will be able to upgrade for a minimum of a year after the release date.
- We are working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment to look into ways to enable upgrade from the Blu-ray disc version of Minecraft: Playstation 3 Edition to Minecraft: Playstation 4 Edition. We’ll have more info on this closer to release.
- Players with Playstation 3 Edition or Playstation 3 + Vita Edition saves will be able to import their worlds to Playstation 4. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to transfer your saves from Playstation 4 to Playstation 3/Vita. There are technical reasons for this; we can make worlds bigger without too much stress, but shrinking them causes all kinds of problems.
- Cross-platform play will not be possible between Playstation 3 + Vita Edition and Playstation 4 Edition.
- Many, but not all, of the DLC skins and texture packs you’ve purchased for Playstation 3 Edition will be available for use in Playstation 4 Edition. We’d like to say all your DLC would transfer but some of the items are trapped in licensing deals that are too boring to get into here. We’ll have more on this soon.