It's not really a beta in the traditional sense, though. For others, it will cost $10 for an unspecified time. The good news is that owners of the PC version of Minecraft will get Minecraft Windows 10 Edition Beta for free. In many ways, the multiple control modes could make this version feel like the ultimate hybrid between mobile and desktop versions. Minecraft Windows 10 Edition Beta has additional optimizations that set it apart from the existing PC version: seamless swapping between touchscreen, controller or keyboard/mouse controls, Xbox Live and Minecraft Pocket Edition online play, and record/share support for built-in GameDVR functions.

Since purchasing Mojang, the Swedish creators of Minecraft, in 2014, Microsoft has put Minecraft into every Microsoft platform: on Xbox One, on HoloLens, and now Windows 10. Windows already has Minecraft, but this additional variant aims to be more tuned to what Windows 10 offers.

It joins the many other places you can already play Minecraft: Windows, Mac, Windows Phone, iOS, Android, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 and PS Vita. How many more platforms can Minecraft be announced on? Does Windows 10 count? At today's MineCon conference, a worldwide gathering for Minecraft players, Microsoft announced Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta will be arriving on Windows 10 on launch day, July 29.

Windows 10 edition beta