Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, has announced its highly anticipated Vibrant Visuals update. The update brings significant graphical improvements to the 15-year-old game, including enhanced textures and lighting effects. The new update is available on PC (Bedrock and Java), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and some iOS and Android devices.
The update’s lead designer, Maddie Psenka, explained that the team took time to learn from past graphical missteps and improve the engine before launching the feature set. The result is a Minecraft game that will be able to reach a wider audience with this type of visual upgrade.
One of the most notable changes is the sun’s new role in the game world. The updated sunlight system casts dynamic shadows across everything, including player characters. Shadows were previously pixelated but have now been enhanced to look more realistic.
Another significant change is the water’s new textures and lighting effects, which make it shine brighter than ever before. This upgrade also enhances the underwater experience, making it feel more immersive.
GameSpot tested the update in a technical preview, praising its eye-catching visuals. The update is designed to be optional, allowing players to toggle between the current game textures and shaders or switch to Vibrant Visuals. Mojang assures that the update will not impact gameplay.
The company’s art director, Jasper Boerstra, expressed excitement about the future of Minecraft’s visual evolution. With a modern rendering pipeline in place, the team can now build upon this foundation, leaving room for exciting updates in the future.
While an official release date has not been announced, Mojang expects to release the update soon. A beta is expected shortly, with the full Bedrock release on its way in months. The Vibrant Visuals update promises to bring a fresh new look to Minecraft and appeal to both old and new players alike.
Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecrafts-vibrant-visuals-update-is-a-massive-step-forward-for-the-14-year-old-game/1100-6530266