Minecraft Dungeons‘dedicated launcher on the PC is being withdrawn in favor of a new “Unified Launcher” that lets you launch Dungeons and Minecraft: Java Edition from the same place, reducing the number of places you can play Minecraft on the PC for one (via Windows Central)
Minecraft Dungeons is the hack-and-slash loot collector’s cousin of Minecraft that, until that change, had its own launcher, unless it was purchased from the Microsoft Store. Since January 18, the non-Microsoft Store version of Dungeons on the PC, it can only be started from the new Unified Launcher (which is an update to the Java launcher). Mojang says the change should not affect saved files and that a Microsoft account (which will soon be needed to play on the PC) or a Mojang account can be used to log in to the launcher.
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Here are the other ways and places you can play Minecraft on the PC after the changes:
- Minecraft Windows 10 Edition (sometimes just called Minecraft or Minecraft: Bedrock Edition) is managed through the Microsoft Store.
- Minecraft: Java Edition is managed through the Unified Launcher, but you can also play without updating, for now.
- Minecraft: Education Edition (the special version of the game for schools) is managed through its own launcher.
- Minecraft Dungeons (an Minecraft spin-off) is managed in the Unified Launcher or the Microsoft Store if you are using the Xbox Game Pass for PC or if you purchased there.
Consolidating where you launch two Minecraft games don’t do much to confuse the many different types of Minecraft, but for anyone who would like to play both Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft: Java Edition, is now a little more convenient.
You can find out more about the change and how to download the new launcher at Mojang’s Minecraft Help center.