Minecraft Battle Mode free on consoles next month

Minecraft: Console Edition players are about to get a new PVP mini-game called Battle.

Minecraft Battle Mode free on consoles next month

As revealed by Mojang and 4J Studios, it seems Minecraft's Console Edition will soon include official mini-games to incorporate new features usually seen in the PC modding community. The first of these is "Battle", where players can engage in fast-paced first-person combat.

Each Battle match takes place in a specially-designed arena filled with chests. The weapons, armor, and resources gained from each chest are randomly generated, meaning each match could turn out differently depending on everyone's unique inventory. Upon death, players spectate the game, but from an unusual perspective - you'll become a lowly bat flying around the map waiting for your respawn. More importantly, Minecraft's Mode is intended to be accessible and fast-paced, so you can dive into combat without getting bogged down in crafting.

Battle mode supports up to eight online players, but you can still have four local players if you want to experience the glory of Minecraft's couch combat. The new mini-game launches for free sometime in June, with optional $2.99 map packs following shortly after.