Let’s get ready to tumble.
Microsoft announced today that the console versions of Minecraft are getting a new minigame called Tumble. It is available as part of a free update rolling out today for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, Vita, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 versions. New content, especially when its free, can keep fans engaged and likely to keep playing. Minecraft has sold over 106 million copies across all of its platforms, and this helped lead to Microsoft buying its developer, Mojang, in 2014 for $2.5 billion.
“Tumble is a frantic competitive minigame where your objective is to avoid taking a dip in red hot lava by making sure that other players fall into it first,” Microsoft notes. “You get to do this by destroying the floor beneath your enemies’ feet as you stand in platforms that can have one or more layers. Sound easy? Well, remember that other players will use their shovels or snowballs to get you to fall first. And when you get up to eight friends to do this at the same time, it does get a little wild.”
This is the second competitive minigame released for Minecraft on consoles, following the addition of the Battle mode in June. Battle is a more traditional deathmatch experience, while Tumble is all about making sure your opponents fall to their deaths.
Minecraft is typically about building, survival, and exploration. These minigames open up new kinds of experience for players, especially for those looking for a faster-paced game to share with friends.