Minecraft is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 towards the end of the year, but before that happens, we’re hearing that a closed beta is actually happening right now.
It seems certain players are receiving a notification on the title screen, which lets them download the beta. As of now it’s unclear what the requirements are – it could even be random.
One of the big features of the Nintendo Switch 2 version is its support for Vibrant Visuals. The maximum render distance is 16 chunks, but point lights and volumetric block lights are not available.
When Vibrant Visuals are turned off, the maximum render distance is 28 chunks. In the original Nintendo Switch version, only 12 chunks are supported.
60 frames per second is the target on Nintendo Switch 2. Without Vibrant Visuals, we’re hearing that performance is stable. When they’re turned on though, that’s where things can dip a bit. It’s possible that performance can improve when the full version launches.
Here’s an official overview of the game:
Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures.
Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs.
Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs.
Check out a couple of clips for the Minecraft Nintendo Switch 2 closed beta below.
Closed Beta First Look
Minecraft launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, 2026. We have more information from the release date announcement here.
