What's new in Minecraft on PS5 in 2026?

Minecraft on PS5 supports 4K resolution at 60fps, ray tracing via RTX, cross-play with all platforms, and the Minecraft Marketplace for community content. The PS5 version includes all Java and Bedrock Edition features.

Can you play Minecraft PS5 with PC players?

Yes. Minecraft Bedrock Edition on PS5 supports cross-play with PC (Windows 10/11), Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. Java Edition players cannot cross-play with Bedrock Edition.

Is Minecraft on PS5 free?

No. Minecraft costs $29.95 AUD on PS5. PlayStation Plus subscribers can sometimes access it through the PS Plus game catalogue. The base game includes all survival and creative modes.

Minecraft on PS5 2026: Complete Guide, Best Seeds & What's New in 1.22

Fifteen years after its initial release, Minecraft is still one of the most-played games on PlayStation 5 — and with the 1.22 "Depths & Dimensions" update, it's arguably the best it's ever been. Whether you're a returning player or picking up a pickaxe for the first time, this guide covers everything you need to know about Minecraft on PS5 in 2026.

What's New in Minecraft 1.22: Depths & Dimensions

The Deep Dark Expansion is the centrepiece of 1.22, dramatically expanding the underground biome introduced in 1.19. The Ancient City now spans multiple levels, with new room types including the Sculk Library (containing lore books that hint at the Warden's origin), the Echo Chamber (a new boss arena), and the Void Gate — a portal to the new Null Dimension.

The Null Dimension is Minecraft's most atmospheric new biome in years: a dark, inverted landscape where gravity is reduced, light sources are muted, and a new hostile mob — the Voidwalker — stalks players through the shadows. It's genuinely unsettling in a way that feels new for Minecraft.

Other 1.22 additions include:

Copper Golems — finally added after winning the 2021 mob vote, they can be built to press buttons and activate redstone automatically
Firefly Bushes — decorative light-emitting plants for building
Bundle improvements — bundles now stack to 16 and show item counts clearly
Archaeology expansion — new dig sites in Jungle and Savanna biomes with unique pottery shards

PS5 Performance & Visuals

The PS5 version of Minecraft runs at a locked 60fps at 4K resolution with the Render Dragon engine. Ray tracing is available in supported resource packs and transforms the game's visuals — sunlight through leaves, reflections in water, and torch light casting dynamic shadows make familiar biomes look completely new.

The DualSense haptic feedback adds subtle texture to different block types: mining stone feels different from mining wood, and swimming has a gentle resistance feedback. It's a small touch that makes the world feel more physical.

How to Play Minecraft: Complete Beginner's Guide

Day One Survival: You have approximately 10 minutes of daylight before hostile mobs spawn. Priorities: punch trees for wood (hold Square), craft a Crafting Table (4 wood planks in a 2×2 grid), make wooden tools, find coal or make charcoal, build a shelter before dark. A dirt hut is fine for night one.

The Crafting System: Press Square on a Crafting Table to open the 3×3 grid. Recipes are shape-dependent — a pickaxe requires two sticks in a vertical line and three planks across the top. The Recipe Book (book icon) shows all available recipes given your current inventory.

Tool Progression: Wood → Stone → Iron → Diamond → Netherite. Each tier mines faster and lasts longer. Never mine diamonds with anything below an iron pickaxe — they'll drop nothing. Netherite tools require a Smithing Table and a Netherite Ingot (crafted from 4 Netherite Scraps + 4 Gold Ingots).

Finding Diamonds: Diamonds generate most commonly at Y-level -58 in 1.22. Press the Options button to see your coordinates. Mine in a branch pattern: dig a main tunnel, then branch tunnels every 3 blocks to maximise coverage. Bring iron pickaxes — you'll break several before finding a vein.

The Nether: Build a Nether Portal (obsidian frame, minimum 4×5, lit with a Flint and Steel) to access the Nether dimension. Essential for Blaze Rods (needed for brewing), Nether Quartz, and Netherite. Bring fire resistance potions — lava is everywhere.

Defeating the Ender Dragon: The final boss of the main game. Requires: 12 Eyes of Ender (Blaze Powder + Ender Pearl) to locate and activate the End Portal in a Stronghold. In the End, destroy the 10 End Crystals on obsidian pillars (use a bow), then attack the Dragon when it perches on the central fountain. Bring beds — they explode in the End and deal massive damage to the Dragon.

Best Seeds for PS5 (2026)

Seed: -1813745601 — Spawn on a mushroom island surrounded by ocean monuments. Rare biome, no hostile mob spawns, perfect for a peaceful base.

Seed: 7961765559756667 — Spawn next to a massive exposed Ancient City at the surface. Incredible for early-game loot if you can handle the Warden.

Seed: 2111844826 — Spawn in a Flower Forest with a village, ruined portal, and shipwreck all within 200 blocks. Best all-round starter seed.

Multiplayer & Realms

Minecraft Realms Plus ($7.99/month) lets you host a persistent server for up to 10 friends. It's the easiest way to play with others on PS5 — no port forwarding, no dedicated server setup. Cross-play with PC, Xbox, Switch, and mobile is fully supported.

Verdict

Minecraft 1.22 is the best version of the game ever released. The Deep Dark Expansion adds genuine mystery and challenge to a game that can sometimes feel too comfortable, the Null Dimension is a stunning new environment, and the PS5 version's 4K/60fps performance makes the world look better than ever. An essential purchase.

Score: 9.5/10 — Fifteen years in, still the greatest sandbox ever made.