When was Minecraft Pocket Edition first released?

Who this is for: Minecraft fans curious about the mobile version’s history and gaming enthusiasts interested in mobile gaming milestones.


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Minecraft Pocket Edition Release Timeline

Minecraft Pocket Edition was first released on August 16, 2011 for Android devices through the Xperia Play smartphone. This marked the beginning of Minecraft’s journey into mobile gaming, bringing the beloved block-building experience to handheld devices for the first time.

Platform Release Dates

Platform Release Date
Android (Xperia Play) August 16, 2011
Android (General) October 7, 2011
iOS November 17, 2011

Early Development and Features

The initial Pocket Edition was quite limited compared to today’s mobile Minecraft. It featured a smaller world size, basic block types, and no survival mode – just creative building. Players could only place and break blocks in a simplified environment, but it laid the groundwork for what would become one of mobile gaming’s biggest success stories.

Evolution to Bedrock Edition

Over the years, Pocket Edition received numerous updates that gradually brought it closer to the desktop version’s feature set. In 2017, it was rebranded as part of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, unifying the mobile, console, and Windows 10 versions under one codebase. This allowed for cross-platform play and consistent updates across all supported devices.

The mobile version has come incredibly far from its humble 2011 beginnings, now supporting multiplayer servers, redstone mechanics, and nearly all the features found in other Minecraft editions. If you’re interested in exploring more games that capture that same creative building spirit, you’ll find plenty of options to spark your imagination.

TL;DR

Minecraft Pocket Edition launched on August 16, 2011 for Android Xperia Play, followed by general Android release in October and iOS in November 2011.

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Joyst1ck

Gaming Writer & HTML5 Developer

Answering gaming questions—from Roblox and Minecraft to the latest indie hits. I write developer‑focused HTML5 articles and share practical tips on game design, monetisation, and scripting.

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