Minecraft Adds 4K Resolution Support For Xbox Series Consoles

Available in Minecraft Preview now

by Liam Doolan Thu 14th Dec 2023

The latest Minecraft Preview has officially gone live and while the focus was meant to be on the new Armadillo mob, there's something even more exciting for Xbox fans.

This latest preview (Version 1.20.60.23) adds 4K resolution support for the Xbox Series consoles. Here's the official note from the Changelog about this:

GRAPHICAL - "Added 4k resolution support for Xbox Series consoles"

Sure, it might not be ray tracing, which was accidentally added at one stage, but it's a step in the right direction for Minecraft on Microsoft's next-generation platforms.

You can check out the full patch notes on the official Minecraft website and learn more about the ray tracing that was removed from the console version of Minecraft in our previous coverage here on Pure Xbox:

To learn more about 'Minecraft Preview' check out the official FAQ page. To access it, you'll need to own a copy of Bedrock Edition or have a subscription to Game Pass, and you can then search for 'Minecraft Preview' on Xbox and install it.

Will you be checking out this new Minecraft on Xbox Series X|S? Tell us in the comments.

[source minecraft.net]

Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief.

1
kihaennem
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Savage_Joe Series S is 1440p Supported only. There is no 4k games on that system. U cant use 4k on Series S!

2
Widey85
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@kihaennem You can, Ori is 4k on it and it supports 4k output for movies etc.

1440p is the target output, not the maximum

3
dreadful
Thu 14th Dec 2023

It wasn't already 2160p?

4
elpardo1984
Thu 14th Dec 2023

Seems a bit half arsed. Biggest IP they own and it’s not “best” on their flagship console. Look at what epic have done with Fortnite ported to UE5, added Lego, rocket league and rock band like features in the space of a few weeks. This just seems really stunted in comparison.

5
themightyant
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Savage_Joe Doesn’t really matter to me if it’s native or not. Frame generated upscaling can look better than native in many cases. We’re past the point where a flat pixel count is all that relevant. To paraphrase Rich from Digital Foundry “it’s now the quality, not the quantity, of pixels that is more important”

Agree with @BBB that PBR seems more likely than ray traced materials now, hopefully coming soon.

6
kihaennem
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@BowsersBuddy

No!
The affordable console instead targets 1440p (or QHD) at up to 120FPS. However, players with 4K TVs can still enjoy 4K media streaming, and the Xbox Series S will upscale games to 4K to fit the confines of your television.

7
kihaennem
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Widey85 The affordable console instead targets 1440p (or QHD) at up to 120FPS. However, players with 4K TVs can still enjoy 4K media streaming, and the Xbox Series S will upscale games to 4K to fit the confines of your television.

8
themightyant
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@kihaennem Sorry mate you are dead wrong on this one. While you are right the Series S targets 1440p, or lower, there is nothing in the system limiting it to 1440p in games if there is enough headroom.

As @BowsersBuddy said Ori runs at a NATIVE 4K at 60fps on Series S. (series X is 4K 120fps or 6K supersampled). The Touryst also runs at 4K on Series S (6K & 8K supersampled on XSX & PS5 respectively)

9
ZuneTattooGuy
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Savage_Joe
The Xbox Series S can only natively output in 1440p, it upscales to 4k

10
tornster
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@ZuneTattooGuy Series S can do 4k. Ori 1&2 are 4k. I believe Mass effect Legendary edition is also 4k in quality mode. There are some other games that support 4k.

11
ZuneTattooGuy
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@tornster
They may support 4k but the system does not render then in native 4k. It is only a 1440p system. It can upscale to 4k, no matter what settings you select even in game or in settings of the system the Series S is not capable to output in a native 4k.

12
ZuneTattooGuy
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Savage_Joe
I had a Series S, upgraded to an X. Yes it does have an HDMI 2.1 port however internally and software limitations due cap it at 1440p and 4k upscaling.

13
InterceptorAlpha
Thu 14th Dec 2023

I'm still waiting for the graphics pack they canceled ages ago.

14
ZuneTattooGuy
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Savage_Joe
Just like the PS4 Pro, it supports upscaled 4k. However the Xbox Series S is limited on a hardware and software level to 1440p upscaled 4k only. Please provide evidence to the contrary

15
ZuneTattooGuy
Thu 14th Dec 2023

@Savage_Joe
If telling yourself that it's native 4k justifies in your mind that you are playing a next generation system and you don't need an Xbox Series X that's ok. Have fun with that.

16
themightyant
Fri 15th Dec 2023

The amount of misinformation being peddled in this thread is crazy. Series S CAN do native 4K it already does is a few games like Ori & the Will of the Wisps, The Touryst and Hades. This was covered everywhere at the time including Digital Foundry. It won’t hit that very often, it was designed for 1440p and often is lower, but it 100% can output native 4K in less intensive, or very well optimised, games

17
Ocat
Fri 15th Dec 2023

I want a true XS version.. not just a resolution boost. I want to play that ray tracing tech demo. Even at 30 fps.

18
kihaennem
Tue 2nd Jan 2024

@Savage_Joe Yes i have. All king of xbox dude.

The Xbox Series S CAN output a 4K signal.
But's it's not powerful enough to render games at 4K.
So it renders at 1440 and upscales to 4K. Native 4k Gaming is Different. But your TV shows 4k coz the upscaled output...

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