Minecraft might be getting ray tracing on Xbox Series X very soon

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(Image credit: Microsoft)

Minecraft could be getting a ray tracing update on Xbox Series X very shortly.

Yesterday, The Verge reporter Tom Warren revealed that the early Preview version of Minecraft on Xbox Series X and S had been updated with an option for ray tracing. The new version of Minecraft, which is only available in Preview form right now, appears to be a native build for the new-gen Xbox consoles, complete with ray tracing support.

However, this version of Minecraft is only available for Xbox Insiders right now. The Xbox Preview program periodically rolls out games in an early access form for users to try out ahead of their full launch, and so this build of Minecraft isn't available to the public just yet.

It's entirely possible that this ray tracing-enabled version of Minecraft could be with Xbox Series X/S users in a matter of months or weeks, if not sooner. As Warren notes in the replies to his original tweet though, this new Preview version doesn't appear to have any upscale options for 4K output, as that's limited to the Nvidia DLSS version of Minecraft on PC right now. We'll have to see whether such options make the jump to consoles.

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Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.