Minecraft still gains around 300,000 new players a day, Xbox boss reveals

eurogamer.net Sep 27, 2026

Minecraft still gains around 300,000 new players a day, Xbox boss reveals

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 27, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced on Twitter that Minecraft attracts more than 300,000 first‑time players each day, underscoring the title’s enduring appeal. The post followed the launch of Minecraft Live: Dungeons II, which introduced a new dimension after 14 years and expanded creator tools. Sharma also highlighted the upcoming Switch 2 release, scheduled for 27 October, noting that existing Switch 1 owners will need to purchase an upgrade. The announcement came amid recent Xbox restructuring and Microsoft leadership praise.

💡 Why It Matters

· The daily influx of new players demonstrates Minecraft’s persistent cultural relevance, influencing both console sales and content‑creation ecosystems.
· The Switch 2 upgrade model signals a broader shift toward paid platform transitions in the gaming industry.

Capsules Gaming

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Final Fantasy 7 director says Revelation’s Platinum trophy will be “easier to…

Director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Revelation will feature a Platinum trophy that is considerably easier to obtain than the one in its predecessor, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Hamaguchi explained that Rebirth’s low Platinum rate—about 2.6 percent—was intentional, designed to force players to master extensive content. After seeing fan backlash, he and battle director Teruki Endo expressed regret but stopped short of calling the difficulty a misjudgment. For Revelation, the team has shifted focus toward “enjoyable” combat and expects at least 20 percent of players, possibly more, to achieve Platinum. The sequel launches on April 8, 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

💡 By lowering the trophy barrier, Square Enix aims to reward a broader player base while preserving the sense of accomplishment that hardcore fans crave.

gamesradar.com · Sep 27

Minecraft sells over 425 million copies and gets its first new dimension…

Minecraft announced its first new dimension in nearly 15 years during the September 2026 Minecraft Live event, bringing the total to four with the addition of the Sift. The vibrant, otherworldly plane will debut in the upcoming Minecraft Dungeons 2 next week and later roll out to Bedrock and Java editions in 2027. The announcement coincided with news of an upcoming icy underground update featuring ice caves, new biomes, calcite blocks, and glowing ice crystals. Minecraft also confirmed a launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma highlighted that over 300,000 new players log in daily, underscoring the game’s continued growth after selling more than 425 million copies worldwide.

💡 Introducing a brand‑new dimension revitalizes Minecraft’s core sandbox experience, giving both veterans and newcomers fresh terrain to explore and build on. The simultaneous expansion across multiple titles and platforms reinforces the franchise’s dominance in the gaming ecosystem.

ign.com · Sep 27

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Extended Clip Reveals Closer…

Nintendo released a 16‑second clip on its Nintendo Today! app that gives fans a closer look at Ganondorf in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2. The brief footage expands the previously shown dream sequence, depicting the Gerudo villain on horseback with a new voice‑over line, “And now… an evil has appeared, yearning after that power.” Unlike the original Nintendo 64 and 3DS versions, the remake runs the scene in slow motion, highlighting subtle visual tweaks. The clip arrives amid ongoing debate over other promised changes, such as a dedicated jump button and retained loading screens. The full remake is slated for launch on November 5, 2026.

💡 The slow‑motion treatment underscores Nintendo’s strategy of re‑imagining iconic moments to justify a premium remake, signaling that even minor visual shifts are being leveraged to attract both nostalgic and new players.

ign.com · Sep 27

Minecraft Is Getting Its First New Dimension in Over 14 Years

Developer Mojang announced at Minecraft LIVE that the Sift, a new dimension first introduced in the upcoming Minecraft Dungeons II, will arrive in both Java and Bedrock editions in 2027. The addition marks the franchise’s first new dimension since the End was added over 14 years ago, expanding the game’s world beyond the Overworld, the Nether and the End. Mojang provided only a visual teaser of the Sift’s landscape and its resident mob, describing it in Dungeons II as “beautiful, vibrant, and teeming with souls” and noting new biomes such as Meadow and Carapace. The reveal coincided with announcements for Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2 and other creator tools, while daily active players exceed 300,000. Fans anticipate the Sift will reshape exploration and building.

💡 By introducing a fourth dimension, Mojang gives players a fresh spatial frontier that could redefine map design and community content.

eurogamer.net · Sep 27

Minecraft is getting its first new dimension in 14 years, and it’s…

Mojang announced The Sift, the first new Minecraft dimension since The End in 2011, slated for release on Java and Bedrock editions in 2027. The Sift will debut early in the upcoming game Minecraft Dungeons 2, launching September 29, 2026, giving players a preview of its new biomes, mobs and gameplay mechanics. The announcement came during Minecraft Live on September 26, where a brief visual of the dimension and one resident creature was shown. Mojang provided few details, noting the environment will expand exploration options. No firm launch date for the base‑game addition was given. The reveal coincides with plans for a physical Minecraft World attraction in London opening in 2027, featuring themed hotels and a roller‑coaster and new interactive experiences for visitors.

💡 Adding a fourth dimension revitalizes core gameplay after more than a decade, offering fresh terrain that re‑engages veteran players and attracts new audiences.

windowscentral.com · Sep 27

Mortal Kombat creator polled X on fighting games … Xbox’s won

Jez Corden, a longtime Xbox-focused content creator and executive editor at Windows Central, posted a poll on X asking followers to name their favorite fighting game. The poll, which ran for several days, attracted thousands of responses from the gaming community. Results showed that Microsoft’s “Killer Instinct” secured the highest number of votes, edging out long‑standing franchises such as “Street Fighter VI” and “Mortal Kombat 1.” Corden highlighted the outcome on his podcast TheXB2, noting the surprising enthusiasm for a legacy Xbox title among a younger audience. The poll also revealed regional preferences, with “Tekken 8” performing strongly in Europe while “Guilty Gear Strive” led in Japan. The data will inform future coverage of fighting‑game development on Microsoft platforms and community engagement strategies overall.

💡 The poll proves that legacy Xbox fighting titles still command passionate fan bases, challenging the notion that newer cross‑platform franchises dominate the genre.