It has been nearly five years since Mojang, the developer behind Minecraft, introduced RTX support. This initiative enabled creators, modders, and enthusiasts to transform the cubic worlds into visually stunning environments. However, during this period, there has been little progress in terms of officially developed visual enhancements. Now, Mojang has advanced things further with the recently launched Brilliant Visuals update.
Recently, GameSpot visited Mojang’s studio in Sweden to explore this new update, and it’s no exaggeration to say that Brilliant Visuals is a significant advancement for the 14-year-old title. Furthermore, it’s not only for those with PCs that support ray tracing. When Brilliant Visuals is launched for Minecraft Bedrock, it will also be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and select iOS and Android devices. Additionally, for players of the Java Edition, Brilliant Visuals is in development for that platform too.
This is a change that has been in the works for years. As Minecraft executive producer Ingela Garneji shared with a small group of press, “It’s been a challenging journey. We’ve been iterating, learning, encountering setbacks, and then learning quickly, improving things alongside the community, truly.”
While the team at Mojang isn’t shy about past graphical “missteps,” as Brilliant Visuals senior product manager Maddie Psenka noted, “We embraced many of those lessons learned. This time, the studio granted the team the freedom to lay the groundwork for the engine that we envisioned for these feature sets. We were careful not to get ahead of ourselves by promising things we couldn’t actually deliver until everything was built and shared with the rest of the team.”
The ultimate result, as Brilliant Visuals producer Dejan Dimic described it, is a Minecraft that “will be reachable to more players with this type of visual upgrade and positively influence a range of devices.” However, don’t worry about it altering the way you enjoy the game if you prefer it to remain unchanged.
Yes, it’s still Minecraft
One key aspect of the Brilliant Visuals update is that, no matter how impressive it appears—and it truly does—it still retains the essence of Minecraft. Numerous existing fan-created RTX texture packs elevate the graphics to a level where it sometimes bears little resemblance to the original game.
Rather than completely revamping the concept of Minecraft, Mojang chose to enhance it. While it looks remarkable, it’s still the unmistakable pixelated realm that fans of the game love to immerse themselves in. And if you prefer not to play in this updated style, you don’t have to. Brilliant Visuals, much like RTX support, is optional and can be toggled on and off with a simple keystroke. Therefore, if you wish to engage with the current game textures and shaders, you can continue to do so.
Similarly, if you would rather stick with your RTX texture pack, you can still seamlessly enjoy it. Mojang is not removing RTX options or the ability to utilize your custom texture packs within the game. Instead, Brilliant Visuals presents an additional way to choose from. “The objective is to provide players with another method of gameplay, yet not eliminate any of the other features they know and appreciate,” Psenka said to GameSpot.
The enhancements
Beyond updated textures for nearly everything in the game, there is so much more to explore in the Brilliant Visuals update.
One of the most significant changes involves the sun. Traditionally, the sun signals whether it’s day or night—and assists with navigation if you happen to be lost—but now, the light from that massive golden orb in the sky truly casts light on everything it touches. From reflections on bodies of water and smooth surfaces to the shadows it creates, the sun feels like an entirely new building mechanic.
You can now consider the sun’s path when constructing new buildings. After all, sunlight will flood through windows, cast shadows, and generally enhance the visual appeal of structures. Take a look at the before-and-after images below to see precisely how integral the sun has become in the overall aesthetics of the game.
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Another significant change is the way shadows are created in Minecraft. Shadows played a minimal role in the original game over the years, but that is about to shift. The sun now casts dynamic shadows everywhere—including on player characters. During our technical preview, I found myself spending excessive time simply observing my shadow move as I turned my head, took steps, or adjusted my pose. The fact that the shadows respond so sensitively, look as impressive as they do, and still conform to Minecraft standards is quite an accomplishment.
However, reaching this final version took considerable time. While the shadows cast in the Enhanced Visuals are pixelated, much like the landscape of Minecraft itself, this was not always the case.
Enhanced Visuals art director Jasper Boerstra shared with GameSpot, “[The] initial versions of the shadows were just typical shadows. First, we had soft shadows, and then we transitioned to harder shadows.”
These resembled more realistic shadows, rounded and not entirely consistent with Minecraft’s unique style. After observing how the Enhanced Visuals sunlight procedure filtered light through trees, he mentioned that the team became “inspired.”
“What if we could render it as pixelated?” he mused. And they achieved just that, crafting the shadows—along with reflections and light filtering through water—to be pixelated.
For those worried that shadows will influence light levels and, in turn, mob spawning, there’s no cause for concern, as Mojang reassures us that although this is a visual enhancement, it will not impact gameplay.
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Perhaps the most exciting improvement, however, is in the water. It has never looked better. Its new textures, combined with sunlight, create a visual delight. It is vibrant, reflective, and enhances everything it touches. Additionally, it has transformed the underwater experience. Due to this update, being submerged can truly appear daunting, adding an adventurous feel while limiting visibility. Furthermore, the way sunlight filters through it looks stunning. Suddenly, searching for ocean monuments sounds like an enjoyable idea once again.
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The Final Evaluation
Vibrant Visuals marks an exhilarating enhancement for Minecraft, but it also presents exciting prospects for upcoming players. Game visuals evolve over the years, and while Minecraft’s new textures maintain charm for dedicated enthusiasts, it’s undeniable that this upgrade is visually striking. It represents precisely the kind of enhancement that might attract new players who haven’t tried the game yet. Now, it appears much more representative of a modern gaming experience. Furthermore, Vibrant Visuals paves the way for the game’s potential evolution.
“We have established a new rendering pipeline that we can expand upon,” Boerstra shared. “This truly represents the beginning of our journey.” Psenka added, “We certainly anticipate many thrilling updates in the future.”
When can you delve into it?
At this moment, Mojang has not announced an official release date. However, there’s no need to wait too long. A beta for Vibrant Visuals is expected quite soon, and the launch for Bedrock isn’t far off either. “The release is approaching in a matter of months,” Garneji informed GameSpot. “You will have it in your hands very, very soon.”
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