Minecraft Earth launches around the world (Update: 15 new countries)

Update, November 20, 2019 (11:30 AM ET): Early access to Minecraft Earth opened in New Zealand and Iceland this October. It then opened in the UK and the US earlier this month. Now, the Minecraft team announced that it has released the game in 15 new countries around the world! This list includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. People living in any of these countries can get their hands on the game now at the link below.

Original article, October 18, 2019 (01:00 PM ET): For months now, gamers and tech enthusiasts alike have been patiently awaiting the launch of Minecraft’s new augmented reality game — Minecraft Earth. Well, fans of the franchise need not wait much longer as the game just recently began rolling out in early access…in New Zealand and Iceland.

But fret not! The team behind the game assures it will come to more countries in the coming weeks. They plan to keep their fans in the loop during this whole process, updating their website with relevant information as it’s released.

Related: Digging into Minecraft Earth Adventures mode: Our hands-on impressions

At launch, Minecraft Earth players can gather resources, use build plates to create public structures, fight mobs, craft and smelt new materials, and work on bigger projects with other players. More information about current and future gameplay mechanics will be coming in the near future.

Still not sure if the game is for you? Well, users can now demo it at their local Microsoft Stores before they even download it on their devices. Microsoft will equip stores across the US and Canada and in Sydney, Australia, and London, England, to demo the new game.