Minecraft Earth early access now available in the US

The early access version of Minecraft Earth is now available in the US.

As well as the ability to build in AR, Minecraft Earth features a location-based game in which players can gather resources and discover mobs as they travel the real world.

The early access version features Adventures, which are procedurally generated, limited-time Minecraft worlds that can be played in augmented reality in life size.

The iOS and Android game is also available as an early access version in the UK, Canada, South Korea, Philippines, Sweden, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Iceland.

Microsoft plans to add more countries regularly until the game is available worldwide by the end of the year.

To coincide with its US release, Microsoft has announced Mobs in the Park, a series of “interactive and experiential events featuring Minecraft Earth mobs popping up in New York City, London and Sydney” beginning on Saturday, November 16.

Minecraft Earth was revealed in May as the original Minecraft game celebrated its tenth anniversary, and Microsoft demonstrated the first Minecraft Earth live gameplay during Apple’s WWDC keynote the following month.

Minecraft sales have topped 176 million and Microsoft said in September that the game attracts over 112 million players every month.

Rather than developing a full-blown Minecraft sequel, Microsoft has said its primary concern is keeping the existing community happy with updates to the original game, while expanding the franchise with spin-offs such as Minecraft Earth and Minecraft Dungeons.

Developer Mojang opened registration for a Minecraft Dungeons closed beta in October.