Back in 2013, Apple announced the first 64-bit smartphone, the iPhone 5S, at their WWDC conference. Fast forward to two days ago, when Apple finally updated their iPod Touch product line for the first time in years. The new model features a large number of new improvements, including the 64-bit Apple A8 processor. Even though it's still about 27% slower (according to Ars Technica) than the iPhone 6, it's a huge improvement.
But what does this have to do with Minecraft? Well, 64-bit CPUs greatly improve performance in anything related to video or graphics. Starting June 1st 2015, Apple requires every app update to include 64-bit support, so if Minecraft PE already doesn't have it, 0.12.0 will.
Minecraft Pocket Edition already cut off devices with single-core CPUs from making infinite worlds, so it makes sense it could drop older 32-bit Apple devices in the near future. This would mean everything older than the iPhone 5S, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, and the 2015 iPod Touch.
Nothing like this would happen for Android in the near future, the first version of Android that supported 64-bit CPUs (5.0) was released late last year and most devices aren't 64-bit.
Only supporting 64-bit CPUs would mean the developers could focus on performance improvements, but at the same time potentially dropping millions of users. It's hard to tell what Mojang will do.
But what does this have to do with Minecraft? Well, 64-bit CPUs greatly improve performance in anything related to video or graphics. Starting June 1st 2015, Apple requires every app update to include 64-bit support, so if Minecraft PE already doesn't have it, 0.12.0 will.
Minecraft Pocket Edition already cut off devices with single-core CPUs from making infinite worlds, so it makes sense it could drop older 32-bit Apple devices in the near future. This would mean everything older than the iPhone 5S, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, and the 2015 iPod Touch.
Nothing like this would happen for Android in the near future, the first version of Android that supported 64-bit CPUs (5.0) was released late last year and most devices aren't 64-bit.
Only supporting 64-bit CPUs would mean the developers could focus on performance improvements, but at the same time potentially dropping millions of users. It's hard to tell what Mojang will do.