Minecraft’s long-awaited PlayStation 5 port is finally arriving on October 22, ending the speculation that started during the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearings over Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision. During the hearings, Xbox head Phil Spencer revealed that Sony had been “reluctant” to provide PS5 development kits to Microsoft, delaying the port’s release. However, Microsoft seems to have acquired the necessary tools, and Minecraft is now set to be optimized for the PS5.

According to the official announcement, the native PS5 version of Minecraft is designed to fully utilize the console’s enhanced hardware capabilities. This upgrade will allow the game to support greater render distances while maintaining a 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. Players can look forward to smoother gameplay and improved visuals, making their in-game experiences even more immersive. Whether building in Creative mode or avoiding hostile mobs in Survival, the increased graphical performance should add a new level of depth to Minecraft on the PS5.

The good news for current Minecraft players on the PS4 is that the PS5 upgrade will be free. Since the PS4 version of the game has been available for quite some time and is fully backward-compatible with the PS5, players could already enjoy the game on the new console. However, this native PS5 version promises enhanced performance that takes full advantage of the console’s superior hardware.

The June 2023 FTC hearings raised the question of why there hadn’t been a native PS5 version sooner. Spencer explained that Sony had delayed providing development kits to Microsoft, giving other developers an advantage. “I think Sony could have sent the development kits to Microsoft just as easily as they sent them to any other publisher,” Spencer remarked.

Today, Sony’s initial reluctance to share its development tools seems to have subsided. In addition to Minecraft, several other Xbox titles have made their way to the PS5, including Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, and Pentiment. Looking ahead, the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to launch on the platform in 2025, signaling a continued collaboration between the two companies