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Xbox One Minecraft "Better Together" Upgrade for Minecraft XB1 Players with 5+ Hours

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Minecraft is a popular multi-platform game.

It was released in an XBOX One version about the time the XB1 came out.

More recently an updated version has been released - the Minecraft "Better Together" update.
This update actually made the original game obsolete and the original game stopped being sold on the Microsoft site on the day the new version was released.

Those of you who have the older "Minecraft for Xbox One" on disc can get a free full digital version of the new game if:

a) you have played Minecraft for Xbox One for 5+ hours by 31 January 2018; and
b) your Xbox is connected to the internet and XBOX live

In theory if you try and buy a pre-owned version of "Minecraft for XBOX One" from say EB Games, you could play 5 hours, get the free game, then return the pre-owned version within 14 days of purchase….

Pre-owned old version on disk is $19 at EB Games
https://ebgames.com.au/xbox-one-165268-Minecraft---Xbox-One-…

New digital version of game is $29.95 on the Microsoft Web site
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/store/p/Minecraft/9NBLGGH537…

What’s the Better Together Update redemption process for disc owners?

A: You’ll need to log into Xbox Live (no need for gold) and insert the disc. You can either wait for the prompt once the game starts or go to the Xbox Store, where you’ll will find the new version of the game. If you’ve either played five hours in the last 12 months, or have bought DLC at any time, the new game should show up as free to download. If not, you can fulfill either of the conditions above before January 30th 2018 and then come back to the store to download. Please be prepared for a short wait, though - as it may take us a few days to process all the redemption requests.

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closed Comments

  • +2

    Have the game but am too lazy to play it. What counts as play time to get the 5 hours up?

    • Its 5 hours logged of play while connected to the internet/xbox live.

      Not sure if it includes the tutorial play or not.

    • +1

      I’d assume sitting on the main menu would be enough. Presumably they’re using the accounts activity rather than in game metrics.

      • Thinking of doing this

        • I have racked up 7 hours. Started a game, dug a hole - jumped in, then walled myself in to protect from monsters…

        • +1

          @GreatWhiteHunter:
          i wish i even knew how to do that much^

  • +1

    Got digital version with console and installed. Daughter has been playing it heaps. What do we have to do to upgrade or is it automatic?

    • If you have a digital version it should show the new version in the shop as free - or it should be a ready to download game.

      Alternatively you may have a digital version of the new game, in which case you already have it..

      If you have the old version, in your games list there should be 2 Minecraft games - Minecraft for XBOX One (old game) and Minecraft (new game)

      • Nothing in store for me. Only have one Minecraft listed in my Games list. Is there any other identifying factor to new version?

        • The new version is just called MINECRAFT

          The old version is called Minecraft for XBOX One

    • @hazzad - same for me. Just go to the Store, search Minecraft, click on the one just called Minecraft (as noted above), and when you get in it should say that you own it. Just click install, wait a bit, and you are done.

  • my son is still playing the old version, the big thing with minecraft was mods …… everybody was playing mods eg pokémon, jurassic park, etc …. being java it was one of those things that grew the community.
    does the xbox live version support mods ?

    microsoft paid $2,000,000,000 ( yes 2 billion) for minecraft …..l hope they get their money back …… somehow.

    • +1

      I'd honestly wager they've already got their money back. Since they bought it, the game has been launched on Switch, Wii U, 3DS, Vita, Raspberry Pi, and who knows what else, and that's in addition to all the sales they'd be getting on the already existing versions. Minecraft is constantly in the sales charts even still. Then you've got to factor in other stuff like licensing the name out to Telltale, then the cut they'd be taking out of that game's sales, there's a movie in the works too supposedly, they didn't buy it to lose money.

      • Plus merch.

        • That hit me like five minutes after I posted this. All those stupid plastic swords in EB, all those cardboard masks, the Lego sets, god, there's so much merch.

          Mince Raft has taken a page from George Lucas' book.

        • @TheDukeOfNukem:
          Mince Raft is a terrifying misspelling of Minecraft.

        • +1

          @johnno07: Can't even take credit for it, I stole it from one of those little gibberish sentences on the main menu one time.

  • If I have the win 10 version, can I use the same key to download the Xbox version?

    • No unfortunately. It's not a Play Anywhere title as per the linked sites FAQ.

      Honestly I was a bit surprised by that. I'd have expected it to be cross buy.

      • not at an initial purchase price of $2 billion USD.

  • +1

    I had the game bundled with my console when I got it, I know I traded it in pretty quick but I reckon I got a couple hours in. Maybe hopefully enough? Might just snag a quick copy off EB and return it the next day for the shit of it, cheers OP.

    • If you have the Xbox mobile app you can check time played if you open up the achievements for the title under your profile (Menu -> Achievements and scroll to the game). Unsure about the web page but wouldn't surprise me if it was there too.

      • I just downloaded the demo and am gonna attempt to boost my time from that. Says so far I'm just under 3 hours total playtime, so close.

  • It MAY be because I've already launched the actual game on my account, I don't know.

    But either way, I downloaded and launched the demo and it seems to be adding to the time for the game in the Game Hub section for it. Worth a try either way, dudes.

  • I figured this out a little while ago after searching Google for a reason I had a new version of Minecraft to install under ready to install section on my Xbox One…

    Sidenote, HRK currently have Minecraft Windows 10 edition for a dollar something… If purchased code off them says it's already been used, just let them know with proof, and you'll get another working code.

    If you own Windows 10 version, I think you also get free version for Xbox One.

  • I've nearly clocked myself up to 5 hours on the thing through the demo loophole, how do we go about claiming this? Does it auto appear in the download list or?

    • Ready to install tab automatically based on what I've read.

      • "You’ll need to log into Xbox Live (no need for gold) and insert the disc. You can either wait for the prompt once the game starts or go to the Xbox Store, where you’ll will find the new version of the game. If you’ve either played five hours in the last 12 months, or have bought DLC at any time, the new game should show up as free to download. If not, you can fulfill either of the conditions above before January 30th 2018 and then come back to the store to download. Please be prepared for a short wait, though - as it may take us a few days to process all the redemption requests."

        I got worried when it said shove in the disc, as I've been using the demo to bump up my hour count, but then it says "or go to the store" and it "should show up as free to download" … Here's hoping for yet another free version of Minecraft, will be my forth free copy so far.

  • How do I know what version I am on? I am connected to the store so I assume that is Xbox live account. When I go to the online store it just gives me the option to play, do I assume I have the latest update already? thanks

    • +1

      The store no longer shows Minecraft For XBOX One

      It only shows the new game, Minecraft.

      If you are in the store, you see Minecraft, and it says you own it, you already own the latest version.

  • What’s the Better Together Update redemption process for disc owners?

    A: You’ll need to log into Xbox Live (no need for gold) and insert the disc. You can either wait for the prompt once the game starts or go to the Xbox Store, where you’ll will find the new version of the game. If you’ve either played five hours in the last 12 months, or have bought DLC at any time, the new game should show up as free to download. If not, you can fulfill either of the conditions above before January 30th 2018 and then come back to the store to download. Please be prepared for a short wait, though - as it may take us a few days to process all the redemption requests.

  • Despite now having >14 hours of play racked up, still no free game. Apparently there can be a 2-3 day delay between reaching the 5 hours and getting the free game.

    Will be interesting to see what happens if we click past January 30 with no free game….4

    XBOX Live Support can manually add the game to your account…

    • I know I'll be hitting up support.

      Mind you I racked up the hours through the demo like the cheap prick I am, but the proper full game's game hub does say I've hit nearly 9 hours, and I had just under 3 when I started the demo up.

      So as far as they should be able to see, I've logged enough hours.

  • is this only or the Xbox One and not the 360? Cant see anything in the store on the 360.

    • AS PER THE TITLE

      XBOX 1 ONLY

    • https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2014/09/03/games-minecraft-launc…

      Wouldn’t expect this to still work, but maybe. They’re was a reduced upgrade cost to get the One edition at release for 360 owners.

      That’s 3.5 years ago mind you so it may have lapsed, especially now the Minecraft One Edition has shifted to a new release of its own.

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