Android Minecraft Coming To Xperia Play FirstAndroid Minecraft Coming To Xperia Play First

Author: by Kyle Orland, Mike Rose

Minecraft developer Mojang has confirmed to Gamasutra that the previously revealed Android version of its PC indie hit will be arriving on Sony Ericsson's PlayStation-certified Xperia Play before other phones. The Xperia Play version of Minecraft will feature customized controls for the system's PlayStation-styled slide-out buttons, the company said. Mojang is also developing versions of the title for iOS and other Android phones, and said the smartphone versions of the game will be tweaked slightly to deal with the vagaries of the new platform. "When playing on smartphones you will have a different screen size compared to PC, different hardware, different attention spans and thus the game needs to be customized to fit the mobile specifications," the company said. Mojang has yet to announce a price, release date or specific exclusivity period for the Xperia Play version of Minecraft, but did say the title will follow the PC model of "release early and update frequently." More information about new versions is expected at E3, where a Minecraft-themed media event invite for the evening of June 7 invites attendees to "stay in the light and take refuge with Sony Ericsson to keep the creepers at bay." The $199 (with contract), Android-2.3-powered Xperia Play launches in the U.S. this week exclusively on Verizon Wireless with six pre-loaded titles, after an April release in Europe. Minecraft has drawn tens of millions of dollars in beta sales,