Minecraft Dungeons‘ the dedicated launcher on PC is being retired in favor of a new “unified launcher” that allows you to launch Dungeons and Minecraft: Java Edition from the same place, reduce the number of places you can play Minecraft on PC by one (via Windows Central).
Minecraft Dungeons is the hack-and-slash loot collector cousin of Minecraft which until this change had its own launcher unless purchased from the Microsoft Store. Since January 18, the non-Microsoft Store version of Dungeons on PC can only be launched from the new Unified Launcher (which itself is an update of the Java Launcher). Mojang says the change shouldn’t affect save files and either a Microsoft account (which will soon be required to play on PC) or a Mojang account can be used to log into the launcher.
Here are the other ways and places you can play Minecraft on PC after the changes:
- Minecraft Windows 10 Edition (sometimes just called Minecraft Where Minecraft: Bedrock Edition) is managed through the Microsoft Store.
- Minecraft: Java Edition is handled through the Unified Launcher, but you can also play without an update, for now.
- Minecraft: Education Edition (the specialized version of the game for schools) is managed through its own launcher.
- Minecraft Dungeons (a Minecraft spin-off) is either handled in the Unified Launcher or in the Microsoft Store if you’re using Xbox Game Pass for PC or purchased it from there.
Consolidate where you throw two Minecraft games do little to help the confusion over the many types of Minecraftbut for anyone who likes to play both Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft: Java Editionit’s now a bit more convenient.
You can find more information about the change and how to download the new launcher on Mojang’s Minecraft Help Center.