A dedicated community of Minecraft fans has brought online multiplayer and expanded world features to the long-discontinued New Nintendo 3DS Edition of the game through an unofficial 1.10 update. This passionate group has also extended support to the original Nintendo 3DS and 2DS models, breathing new life into the portable version of the beloved sandbox title.
Bringing Back the Blocky Fun
The New Nintendo 3DS Edition of Minecraft, originally released in September 2017, eventually supported local wireless multiplayer for up to two players. However, official online play remained absent. Mojang ceased support for this version in January 2019, with the final official release being 1.9.19. Now, this fan-made 1.10 update rectifies the lack of online connectivity, allowing players to join multiplayer servers and establish peer-to-peer connections.
Adding to the excitement, the community has established a cross-platform Survival Multiplayer (SMP) server. This server enables 3DS players to join games with those running Minecraft Java Edition 1.12 and Pocket Edition 1.1.5, fostering a more connected gaming experience across different platforms.
Expanding Horizons: Infinite Worlds and Higher Builds
Beyond online play, the unofficial update significantly enhances the game’s world limitations. The original Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition had a fixed map size limit of 2016×2016 blocks. The new version removes this restriction, allowing for virtually limitless world exploration and creation. Furthermore, the maximum world height has been doubled from 128 blocks to 256 blocks, providing greater vertical space for ambitious builds and extensive subterranean exploration.
Accessibility for All 3DS Models
A key aspect of this fan effort is the introduction of compatibility for the original Nintendo 3DS and 2DS models. Previously, the official version was exclusive to the more powerful New Nintendo 3DS family due to performance requirements. Through extensive performance optimizations, the community developers have managed to make the game run on these earlier handhelds, making it accessible to a wider audience within the 3DS ecosystem.
Installation and Requirements
The fan-made 1.10 update is distributed via the Minecraft 3DS Community’s UniStore, accessible through Universal-Updater. Alternatively, users can download it directly from the community’s Discord server. It is important to note that installing this update requires a modified Nintendo 3DS system with a custom firmware like Luma3DS and the game patching feature enabled.
For original 3DS and 2DS models, the community has provided specific installation tutorials and guides. These resources can be found on their Discord server, offering step-by-step instructions for those looking to bring this enhanced Minecraft experience to their older consoles.
