Editorial: Minecraft PE may drop support for 32-bit iOS devices soon

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.

Comments

  1. Ethan DouglassJuly 17, 2015 at 8:15 AM

    If that's the case I'm getting an Android tablet, Apple can lose a costumer

    ReplyDelete
  2. highprize180July 17, 2015 at 9:10 AM

    I have an iPad Mini 2 w/ Retina. Am I affected?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ethan DouglassJuly 17, 2015 at 9:49 AM

    No you are not affected because iPad mini 2 w/ Retina is better than the original iPad mini 2 and according to the article the ones in trouble are ones below iPad mini 2 so you're fine

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kabir KwatraJuly 17, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    Nooooooooooo
    iPad3
    I cri eri tim

    ReplyDelete
  5. ONYXJuly 17, 2015 at 2:24 PM

    No it wouldn't. It said OLDER then iPadMini 2 / Retina.

    ReplyDelete
  6. highprize180July 17, 2015 at 2:39 PM

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. highprize180July 17, 2015 at 2:39 PM

    I'm just making sure.

    ReplyDelete
  8. DiamondHoe11July 17, 2015 at 3:01 PM

    I have an iPod 5... I think I'm doomed :(

    ReplyDelete
  9. DiamondHoe11July 17, 2015 at 3:03 PM

    Wait... Am I doomed? Or can I still play it? This is exactly why I hate apple

    ReplyDelete
  10. LightningFerixJuly 17, 2015 at 6:59 PM

    Well... Its not REALLY a matter of Apple is better or Android is better.... Its more about the fact that Apple just didn't create devices that support 64 bit until after Android did. Because of this, your comment: "If that's the case I'm getting an Android tablet, Apple can lose a costumer" is invalid because if anything, it's Mojang that's dropping 32 bit support not Apple saying: "You know what? We shouldn't let our older devices run Minecraft anymore." Also in your comment terr was a punctuation/grammatical error and a spelling error.
    Thanks!
    P.S. Even if it was Apple who was saying they were going to drop Minecraft support on thir older devices, how is buying an Android tablet different than buying a newer Apple product? Also wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a 2015 iPod Touch than to buy an Android tablet? Just sayin'
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. GuestJuly 18, 2015 at 12:25 AM

    Dropping all support for a device because it doesn't have 64-bit support?

    That's ridiculous if you aren't even going to do it for Android devices.

    ReplyDelete
  12. dickyduckJuly 18, 2015 at 1:00 AM

    Hmm that why i choose android than apple but i might choose apple after mcpe support 64-bit cpu cause it really fasten up game dramatically

    ReplyDelete
  13. dickyduckJuly 18, 2015 at 1:16 AM

    :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. dickyduckJuly 18, 2015 at 1:34 AM

    Too bad i have a slow cpu android

    ReplyDelete
  15. Corbin DavenportJuly 18, 2015 at 2:05 AM

    "Apple just didn't create devices that support 64 bit until after Android did."

    Nope, Apple started making 64-bit devices in 2013. The first Android version that could run in 64-bit mode was Android 5.0 (released in late 2014).

    ReplyDelete
  16. RedstoneminerJuly 18, 2015 at 4:35 AM

    If they do that, they could lose tons of dollars in revenue because tons of people still have regular ol' iPads and iPhone 4s (especially kids who get hand-me-down from their parents XD).


    One thing that bugs me is people unnecessarily dropping support for stuff, like how Mojang dropped support for block IDs in 1.8 and totally broke all my command blocks!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. carpet111July 18, 2015 at 6:15 AM

    minecraft runs horribly on old devices anyway. we shouldnt be held back because people are too cheap to buy a new device.

    ReplyDelete
  18. HELPMEJuly 18, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    THIS IS BS I AM DOOMED I ONLY HAVE AN IPad Mini

    ReplyDelete
  19. LightningFerixJuly 18, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Oh since that is the case, if the problem is Android is better than Apple (which the problem is not atm) then Apple would appear to be "better" as they had "better" devices before Android. So still, getting an iDevice would be the same if not better than getting an Android tablet.
    Thanks for the fix though Corbin!
    Also, when are you guys planning to bring back the build contests?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Shawn HallJuly 19, 2015 at 4:47 PM

    If they drop support for devices people should get their money back they spent

    ReplyDelete
  21. RedstoneminerJuly 19, 2015 at 11:32 PM

    Agreed!

    ReplyDelete
  22. RedstoneminerJuly 19, 2015 at 11:36 PM

    True. Not all people are willing to spend their hard-earned 800 bucks on a brand-new 64-gig gold-finished Uber Ultra iPhone 7 Plus Premium Edition, though.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Corbin DavenportJuly 20, 2015 at 3:56 AM

    Even if they do, it probably won't make much of a difference.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Fred FJuly 20, 2015 at 4:26 AM

    Don't get all up in arms over it all yet. It could still play out different. This is an editorial and not a news post.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Fred FJuly 20, 2015 at 4:28 AM

    Too cheap? I'm glad you're so well off that you think everyone can afford to upgrade.


    I'll just continue to use my 64 bit Android tablet, my PC and my Xbox for MC and not worry.

    ReplyDelete
  26. LuisAugust 3, 2015 at 5:51 PM

    I have an iPhone 5c am i doomed :):

    ReplyDelete
  27. LuisAugust 3, 2015 at 5:52 PM

    I have an iphone 5c am I doomed :):

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ethan DouglassAugust 3, 2015 at 7:16 PM

    Yes, the 5c is one below the 5s making it 32-bit. Sorry :(

    ReplyDelete
  29. eqnmallAugust 5, 2015 at 12:48 PM

    eqnmall

    Take my word for it.

    ReplyDelete

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