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Whitelists and subscription fees: Minecraft - Pocket Edition's online multiplayer explained

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Whitelists and subscription fees: Minecraft - Pocket Edition's online multiplayer explained
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Minecraft - Pocket Edition developer Johan Bernhardsson has given us a taste of what we can expect from the game's upcoming multiplayer component.

Responding to a series of questions on Minecraft Forums, Bernhardsson revealed that players looking to go online in Minecraft - Pocket Edition will need to be added to a whitelist in order to gain access to Mojang's servers.

Though you do not need to have a PC Minecraft account to get online with Minecraft - Pocket Edition, getting your name on a whitelist will be essential, as Mojang will not be supporting dedicated home servers (at least at first).

You will be able to put up a server via Mojang itself, however, though you will have to pay a subscription fee to keep it active.

If you do happen to have a PC Minecraft account, then your nameplate will travel with you once you enter the Pocket Edition's online playground.

Rather than squeeze an op commands box onto mobile screens, Mojang will build all the server controls into the UI. This should help keep the screen clutter free, eliminating the need for another tiny text window.

Bernhardsson also believes that swappable skins and chat options will be included in future updates, although these features may not appear in the alpha version.

Mojang has yet to confirm an official release date for the alpha version of this multiplayer mode, but Bernhardsson reckons it'll hit iOS and Android in early April.

Thanks to Tim for the tip-off.

James Gilmour
James Gilmour
James pivoted to video so hard that he permanently damaged his spine, which now doubles as a Cronenbergian mic stand. If the pictures are moving, he's the one to blame.