The first episode of "Minecraft: Story Mode" is set to arrive "at some point in 2015," IGN wrote last month. As told by the outlet, it will launch on the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, PC, Mac, iOS and Android. It is a collaboration between Mojang and Telltale Games.
While its release date appeared to be vague, we might as well understand what this "Story Mode" is all about, or if its upcoming episode is a playable game at all.
1. A Standalone Game
To start with, note that "Minecraft: Story Mode" will be a standalone game. This means the title is a separate entity from "Minecraft," although its setting made use of the popular game's sandbox world. According to Digital Trends, "Story Mode" will introduce new characters, as well as an original story that's driven by player choice.
2. An Episodic Release
In an official blog post, Mojang has announced that "Story Mode" will arrive in episodes, much like the format taken by "The Wolf Among Us," "The Walking Dead" and "Tales from the Borderlands."
No information about the number of episodes has been announced as of press time.
3. A Free World
Mojang has reiterated that "Story Mode" will not be enforcing default features found in "Minecraft," such as the protagonist Steve. Digital Trends took note of Owen Hill's statement, Mojang's Chief Word Officer, "People really like the idea of stories about 'Minecraft,' but forcing a narrative into our core game experience would restrict players' freedom to view the world in their own unique ways."
"Instead, letting them explore an alternate interpretation via 'Minecraft: Story Mode,' driven by the proven might of Telltale, seems like a no-brainer," he added.
4. A Collaborative Effort
Telltale Games' interactive game "Info Quest II" has been the source of juicy information surrounding "Story Mode." According to the game, "Story Mode" will be written and developed by "uber-brains at Telltale, but the Mojangstas and some community members will also have input."
This should be interesting, as we're bound to see how the gamemakers' creative inputs have intertwined once the episodes come out.
5. "Minecraft 2" a Joke?
In Mojang's official bullet info, the developer said, "The 'Minecraft 2' thing was a joke. No really. It was a joke." Well, it looks like we shouldn't be expecting sequels of any kind. But we're not closing doors, of course.
Ready for some"Minecraft" story? Tell us what you think in the comments section.
You can play "Info Quest II" here.
See this fan-made trailer of "Story Mode" below.