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The 6 biggest features coming to Minecraft 0.16 - according to Minecon

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The 6 biggest features coming to Minecraft 0.16 - according to Minecon
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Minecraft Pocket Edition is getting its next big update - the 0.16 version - on October 18th.

Mojang talked about the update at its big Minecon convention this weekend, giving us the best look yet at what to expect from the game's future.

So here are the six biggest features in the new update. They'll be joined by various small additions and tweaks, but this is the main stuff.

1. Add-ons
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This is the big one. The update may be called the "Boss Update" but the add-ons will ultimately prove to be the main event.

Why? Well, with this new feature anyone can make new content for Minecraft. Starting with new mobs (the critters, creatures, and monsters who roam the blocky world).

You'll be able to customise the mob's model, texture, and behaviours, to make a 50 foot tall creeper, an orange ocelot, a chicken that explodes when it mates, or an all new creature who eats pigs.

You'll make them on your computer, then import them into the game through the menus. You'll also be able to share the files with others, and download cool add-ons for yourself.

At launch, you'll be able to get a set of aliens made by Mojang, and a Castle Siege add-on made by community members SethBling, Blockworks and MindCrack. Whoever they are.

Add-Ons work in a single-player game, or with friends on multiplayer or on a Realm. And work on iOS, Android, Windows 10, and Gear VR versions.

"In the coming months we’ll be working on unlocking behavior change for blocks, and even more ways you can modify gameplay," says Mojang.

2. Ocean monuments Ocean monuments

Until now, there's never been a particularly compelling reason to dive deep under Minecraft's blocky blue oceans.

Well, the next update will add huge underwater temples to areas of large, deep ocean. These are made of new blocks called prismarine, prismarine bricks, and sea lanterns.

Inside you'll be able to find a treasure chamber containing gold blocks, surrounded by dark prismarine blocks.

3. Bosses Wither

Okay, so the update is called the Boss Update. And the Mojang team aren't just saying it's really cool.

Those ocean monuments we mentioned will be guarded by Elder Guardians who shoot lasers, attack you with thorns, and give you mining fatigue, which reduces your mining and attack speed.

There's also the Wither, which is a villain you make yourself. Which seems like a silly thing to do, but each to their own.

If you place soul sand in a T shape, and put three wither skeleton skulls on top, a Wither will spawn, grow in size, and generally attempt to murder you to death.

Why bother? Well, killing a Wither earns you a Nether Star which is used to make a beacon...

4. Beacons Beacon

Beacons are blocks, crafted from Obsidian, Glass, and a Nether Star, which shoot out light and provide status effects to nearby players.

The beacon must be placed on a pyramid of iron blocks, gold blocks, emerald blocks, or diamond blocks. The size dictates the power of the beacon.

Once built, you can power the beacon with and iron ingot, gold ingot, emerald, or diamond.

You can then pick a power such as increased movement or mining speed, damage resistance, health regeneration, melee strength, or jump boost.

So that's cool.

5. Slash commands Slash

A new feature in 0.16 will let you type in slash commands, which are almost like cheat codes. Bring up the talk menu and type in these commands to do all sorts of crazy stuff.

You can kill mobs, spawn blocks, teleport, clone stuff, change your spawn point, edit the weather, change the time, or fill an entire region with flowers.

We'll have more when the update is officially out.

6. Realms import and export Realms

Realms is Minecraft's paid-for server system, where you can spend a few quid a month hiring a dedicate server for your and your pals.

A much requested feature will come in October: the ability to import your offline worlds into a Realm server.

Also, you'll be able to export the world so you don't lose everything if you need the shut the Realm server down.

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer