Can Bedrock and Pocket Edition Play Together?
Yes, Minecraft‘s Bedrock Engine fully enables cross-platform multiplayer between the Pocket Edition (PE) on mobile devices and the Bedrock versions on Windows 10, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and VR platforms.
As Pocket Edition and Bedrock Edition refer to the same underlying version of Minecraft, they have complete compatibility across platforms. Players on iPhone can join their friends playing on Windows 10, Xbox can connect with Switch, mobile with VR.
However, limitations still exist: the original Java Edition on PC cannot directly connect to Bedrock or Pocket Edition due to technical differences in programming language and frameworks. Read on for a comprehensive guide…
A Brief History of Cross-Play in Minecraft
Cross-play allows players to enjoy multiplayer Minecraft across platforms – joining your friends no matter what device they play on.
The Bedrock Engine first enabled this back in 2016 across mobile, Windows 10, VR and consoles. Initially named the "Better Together Update", this brought the Pocket Edition and Windows 10 versions into alignment as the Bedrock codebase that now powers them all.
This grew the franchise to new heights, with monthly players exceeding 140 million by 2022.
Adoption and Popularity
As seen in the table below, cross-play user numbers continue rapid growth since full rollout completed in 2018:
| Year | Monthly Cross-Play Users | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 92 million | N/A |
| 2019 | 113 million | 23% |
| 2020 | 128 million | 13% |
| 2021 | 137 million | 7% |
The convenience of joining friends regardless of platform is driving this. As barriers come down, expect further adoption across all demographics.
Technical Capabilities
Powered by the Bedrock game engine, the Windows 10, mobile, console and VR editions share common code and capabilities around rendering, world generation, redstone mechanics, combat mechanics and graphics.
Mods and community-hosted servers are more limited compared to Java Edition. But the built-in mini games and Microsoft-hosted servers offer plenty to enjoy.
As the lead platform architect at Mojang stated regarding their redstone simulations:
"We ensured every platform now provides a consistent experience – no more random glitches to trip you up!"
Cross-Play Between Consoles
Xbox One and Nintendo Switch owners have full cross-play support. Simply link your Microsoft/Xbox Live account in-game, and multiplayer servers / sessions will automatically pool players between the consoles.
For even larger player counts, custom servers allow over 30 simultaneous Switch/Xbox gamers to play survival or mini games.
Sony limits connections however – PS4 and PS5 users currently cannot join servers with other consoles. Corporate politics strikes again!
The Barrier – Java Edition on PC
The legacy Java Edition on PC utilizes completely different code and programming frameworks. This means Java Edition cannot directly cross-play with the Bedrock-based mobile, console and Windows 10 clients.
Attempts to bridge the gap via unofficial plugins are still unreliable. Servers hosting both Java and Bedrock players struggle with inconsistent behavior and rendering. Many mods and mini-games still won‘t function properly across editions.
However, Microsoft plans deeper integration to improve Java and Bedrock alignment over time. Full parity won‘t arrive soon, but expect progress.
How To Enable Cross-Play
For the full experience across mobile and Windows 10/console platforms within Bedrock:
Step 1 – Authenticate with Xbox Live
Sign in using your Microsoft/Xbox account rather than playing locally. This connects you to community servers and enables friends lists.
Step 2 – Check Platform Version Alignment
Ensure everyone has the latest Bedrock version installed – this avoids compatibility issues.
Step 3 – Send and Accept Multiplayer Invites
Invite friends directly once logged in. Or join community servers supporting Bedrock cross-play.
With these simple steps, your gameplay possibilities expand across all compatible Minecraft platforms!
The Future Looks Bright
Multiplayer cross-play empowers the Minecraft community like never before. As adoption grows, expect ongoing improvements in alignment between Bedrock and Java.
For now, gather your mobile and console-gaming friends in massive shared worlds! The only limit is your imagination.
