Closed beta of ar game Minecraft Earth coming to iOS in two weeks

Minecraft developer Mojang has announced that it will be releasing a closed beta of Minecraft Earth, the highly anticipated augmented reality version of the sandbox game for smartphones, within two weeks. The beta will appear first for iOS, the Android app will follow ‘shortly afterwards’.

In Minecraft Earth, players can place structures in the real world via their smartphones, both alone and in co-op. The game has been quiet for a long time, but now Mojang is announcing a closed test version of the app that will be released this month.

Interested parties can register via this page to participate in the closed beta. However, the number of participants is limited; those selected will receive an email with instructions within a few days. Gamers who register will temporarily all receive a code for a free Minecraft Earth skin for Minecraft, which can be redeemed via the Microsoft website.

The scoop of the closed beta is for iOS users. That comes as no big surprise, since Minecraft Earth was already extensively demonstrated at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in early June. Android users will have their turn ‘shortly afterwards’. The minimum requirements for Minecraft Earth are iOS 10 or Android 7. In addition, participants must be over the age of 18 and play at least once a week. If not, the closed beta registration will automatically go to someone else.

Coinciding with the closed beta announcement, Mojang also released a new trailer for Minecraft Earth.