Mojang Discontinues Support for Minecraft VR, a VR Excursion Marred by Imperfections
The captivating charm of nostalgia never ceases to amaze – from longing for a plate of spaghetti hoops after a long day, to evoking youthful memories from a whiff of a certain scent. Even revisiting Minecraft in VR, years after its initial implementation, can bring back that nostalgic rush.
The Oculus Quest, my trusty companion, blessed me with that feeling anew, thirty short minutes after its arrival. However, the bitter twist came almost a decade later, as Mojang, now under Microsoft's umbrella, decided to pull the plug on Minecraft VR support – a decision announced last October and halted this May. (It's worth mentioning that PC World had already broken the news.)
To be fair, we had a heads-up. Mojang had given us a small grace period before shutting down VR functionality, which ended this May. Now, let's be real, the Minecraft VR experience had its flaws. It was temperamental, sometimes needing tinkering to work, and its performance was inconsistent. Swinging that Meta controller to attack zombies just didn't give me the same satisfaction as playing Minecraft on a keyboard or PlayStation controller.
But despite these hiccups, the thrill of Meta Minecraft was undeniable. It injected a new dimension of fear when I spotted creepers or skeletons, making the game feel like I was experiencing it for the first time all over again. (I know, I know – it sounds cliché, but it's true.) The immersive feeling of Minecraft in VR was an entirely different experience, one that transcended the original version.
With the official VR support terminated, some of us are left in a pickle. But fear not – the tight-knit PC gaming community has come up with a solution. The Vivecraft mod, a free, fan-supported project, allows players to savor Minecraft in VR from their PC. It's a shining example of what makes PC gaming so great – community-driven development.
Of course, there are a few catches. Vivecraft only caters to the Java version of Minecraft, and it may require players to start fresh if they switch versions. Additionally, it doesn't guarantee compatibility with other VR-gr些 pavers, forcing them to rely on unofficial support and mods to play alongside friends. PSVR Minecraft enthusiasts, unfortunately, are out of luck, as there's no workaround for them.
Mojang's decision to axe VR support boils down to a few plausible factors – limited user engagement, technical challenges, and strategic realignment. Mojang may not have disclosed their exact reasons, but it's clear that their focus is on maintaining and developing the more widely-adopted platforms.
This is just another step in the planned obsolescence of older or less popular Minecraft versions – a process Mojang has been gradually implementing for quite some time now. The good news is that the vibrant VR Minecraft community is likely to shoulder the responsibility, ensuring the unquenchable thirst for a virtual Minecraft adventure remains unfulfilled.
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About the author:James Bentley, fresh off a double major in law and media, dived headfirst into the world of PC gaming in 2019. A more recent convert, James has since made a career out of marveling at graphics cards, cases, and motherboards. His writing is a refreshing break from crafting case briefs. Enjoy his insights on the latest gaming trends!
- The immersive VR experience of Minecraft, despite its flaws, provided an entirely different rush that felt like a nostalgic bet on a game.
- Even though Mojang pulled the plug on Minecraft VR support, the Vivecraft mod allows PC gamers to continue experiencing the game in VR, demonstrating the strength of the community in PC gaming.
- The towering gadgets and technology, like graphics cards and motherboards, have become James Bentley's new passion, as he trades the courtroom for the realm of gaming.
- James Bentley keeps his finger on the pulse of the PC gaming industry, offering top recommendations for gaming PCs and laptops, and continually providing relevant gaming news, reviews, and deals to accompany his technology-driven journey.
