Features

Here's what might be coming in Minecraft Pocket Edition's 0.16 update

New maps, new menus, new polar bears?

Here's what might be coming in Minecraft Pocket Edition's 0.16 update
|
| Minecraft

It's been a few months now since Minecraft Pocket Edition's last big update, when 0.15 added achievements, online multiplayer, horses, pistons, and more.

So it's time to start looking to the future, and having a look at what new features and additions are coming down the pipes.

Thanks to the Minecraft Wiki and the Minecraft Pocket Edition Wiki, we've got a pretty good idea of what to expect in 0.16. Just, don't come crying to us if not every feature here ends up in the final update.

New menus

A new settings screen, tweeted by Mojang's Tommaso Checchi, shows not only a snazzy new menu design, but a host of new options.

Settings

In this screen, we see new ways to tweak the game's graphics, such as anti-aliasing which can make the edges of blocks look more smooth - provided your phone or tablet is powerful enough.

Creative

And in another Tommaso tweet, we see a new creative mode inventory that lets us search for blocks and items by names. That should speed things up.

Then again, this may be exclusive to the Windows 10 version of Pocket Edition. We'll have to wait and see.

Resource packs

Did you know that Minecraft Pocket Edition has resource packs? And not just the ones you can buy in the in-game shop. The problem is, they're a pain to install and need some know-how when it comes to Android file folders or iTunes file sharing.

Luckily, things should be a lot easier in 0.16, says Tommaso, over on Reddit.

The game will feature a handy user interface for importing fan-made textures, and resource packs will be able to replace almost everything in the game including sounds and the user interface.

Add ons

You'll also be able to install "add-ons", according to Mojang's Jason Major, where users can create - among other things - giant rabbit zombies. Sweet!

Better maps

Maps

This is a feature that will - for now - be exclusive to Pocket Edition. And that's the ability to show different biomes on your map.

Currently, maps just use green and blue to show you where water and ground is. But in 0.16, maps will use different colours to reveal environments like ice, jungle, desert, and swamp. Handy!

Ocean Temples

So this one is pretty vague, but Tommaso said "ask [Jason Major] about oceans".

Ocean Temples

Now, that could be a reference to the nifty underwater temples found in Minecraft proper. These submarine dungeons are found deep beneath the ocean and filled with goodies.

Here's hoping they pop up in MCPE.

Polar Bears Polar Bears

A new mob in Minecraft 1.10 on PC is the polar bear. Which, unsurprisingly, can be found in snowy biomes. Minecraft boss Jens Bergensten has said that these critters will come to Pocket Edition, but not in 0.15.

So... 0.16, Jeb?

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