Looks like Minecraft is finally getting raytracing on Xbox Series X/S
UPDATE 31/3/22: Following the actually quite exciting discovery of raytracing support in the latest Minecraft Preview build on Xbox, Microsoft has admitted the feature was “inadvertently included” and that players shouldn’t expect to see it on consoles in the “near future”.
“The previous Minecraft Preview build available to Xbox Insiders inadvertently included prototype code for raytracing support on Xbox consoles,” Microsoft said in a message posted to the official Minecraft Twitter account.
It added the “early prototype code” has now been removed from Minecraft Preview and that its recent appearance “doesn’t signal near future plans to bring raytracing support to consoles.”
ORIGINAL STORY 29/3/22: Despite being used as a showcase for Xbox Series X/S’ raytracing capabilities prior to the console’s launch in 2020, Minecraft has so far remained doggedly raytracing-free on the machine. That looks to be about to change, however, with the feature having now surfaced in the latest build of Minecraft’s Xbox Preview programme.