Visual appeal was never the core focus of Minecraft's design. Mojang's iconic blocky aesthetic took a backseat to the game's limitless sandbox world and extensive customization options.
Today marks a turning point, as the eagerly awaited Vibrant Visuals update launches for PC and a variety of compatible consoles and smartphones. However, not every platform will receive these enhancements, and the classic Minecraft: Java Edition will also miss out.
If you're playing the primary Minecraft: Bedrock Edition on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, or select Android and iOS devices, Vibrant Visuals is now available as part of the broader Chase the Skies update.
Chase the Skies introduces rideable Happy Ghasts to the overworld, offering a friendly alternative to their hostile Nether counterparts that shoot fireballs. You can now link camels together with leashes to form resource-carrying caravans, and locate friends more easily using the Player Locator HUD bar.
Players on older consoles like PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, or those using older Android phones, will need to manually enable Vibrant Visuals through the video settings menu. Mojang cautions that "performance may be affected on these devices."
For PC and smartphone users, the following specifications are required:
• Android: Adreno 640, Mali-G68, Mali-G77, or Xclipse 530 or higher
• iOS: A12 or M1 chip or higher
• PC: Minecraft running on DirectX 12
Vibrant Visuals does not currently support splitscreen multiplayer, custom Worlds, or Texture Packs.
What about Nintendo Switch — or the rumored Switch 2? Today's Vibrant Visuals announcement makes no mention of Nintendo's platforms, leaving compatibility uncertain for those players.
On a positive note, Minecraft is now officially optimized for Xbox Series X/S, nearly five years after Microsoft's current-generation consoles debuted.
Vibrant Visuals fulfills Microsoft's long-standing commitment to deliver a substantial graphical overhaul for Minecraft, initially teased in 2017 with a trailer for the since-canceled Super Duper Graphics Pack. Back then, Mojang planned this upgrade for Xbox One and "Project Scorpio" — later known as Xbox One X. Now, a comparable visual enhancement has finally arrived.
