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Minecraft's key art, while it has remained consistent when it comes to the iconic characters Steve and Alex, has changed quite a bit over the years. Additionally, the art style has made quite a few shifts between key art iterations, likely to help tell them apart depending on the game editions they're tied to. With that in mind, it might be helpful to take a look at these key arts and see how the art style has evolved.
From the earliest Minecraft key art to the dedicated versions for Java, Bedrock, Education Edition, and more, there's quite a bit of artwork to examine. By diving into it, fans might find an appreciation for Mojang's art design over the years that they may not have had before.
Unpacking the evolution of Minecraft's art with its key artwork
The Legacy
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Longtime veterans likely remember this key art, as it was one of the earliest of its kind. It was heavily used to promote the Legacy Console Editions including Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and also the digital storefront on the Xbox Live Arcade. It's quite similar to the previous key art on this list, but it does put more of a focus on Steve and the nearby mobs instead of including the wide-sweeping landscape.
Trending
Otherwise, the block colors and textures are very similar to the previous listing, though some of the surface textures are a tad more muted. However, given this iteration of key art was pretty early on in Minecraft's tenure, improvements would certainly be made to keep fans intrigued in future editions.
The PlayStation/Pocket Edition Special
Released during the Legacy Console era shortly before the massive transition to Bedrock Edition, this key art was seen on some PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 Editions of the game while also appearing for the iOS version of Pocket Edition and on the PlayStation Vita Edition as well. However, compared to most key art, this piece brought plenty of darkness into the frame instead of radiant color.
Instead of a massive color splash, the color is selectively applied through lighting techniques, with the silhouettes of mobs approaching as Steve emerges from a brightly lit area. All things considered, this may be the darkest key art produced for the game, but there's still more than enough light and color in the composition to ensure everything is legible.
After this key art, Mojang would typically only use such darkness in spin-offs like Minecraft Dungeons, but that's what makes it particularly unique in the franchise's history.
The Grim Nintendo Key Art
Seen for the Legacy Console Editions on Nintendo's WiiU, Switch, and New 3DS Editions, this key art took a very different approach compared to its contemporaries at the time. Other than the cave key art seen on iOS and PlayStation, this may be the darkest and most aesthetically dour of all of the official key art.
The colors are muted to signify nightfall, and while Steve and Alex are teaming up once again, they're surrounded by hostile mobs. It's an interesting combat-focused visual style in line with the PlayStation/iOS legacy key art, but it didn't last all that long. When Nintendo's consoles transitioned to Bedrock Editon, the "all-encompassing" art became the norm.
Still, this darkened and dangerous-looking art style resonated with players enough to make the game a hit on various Nintendo platforms.
The All-Encompassing Key Art
Arguably the most common piece of key art for Minecraft, this illustration is seen as part of advertising (particularly for Bedrock Edition but not solely), and it's not hard to see why. It's vibrant and includes plenty of the memorable landscapes that make the game special, as well as some of its most recognizable mobs and structures. Not to be forgotten, Steve and Alex are also adventuring together.
Though it's not as old as some of its counterparts, this key art truly epitomized the thematic aim of the game. A thrilling Overworld filled with opportunities and a game brimming with personality, color, creativity, and quirky characters.
The Wonders of Science
While it keeps the same eye-catching colors and smooth textures seen in many other modern Minecraft key arts, Education Edition took a slightly different direction by adjusting how the "camera" views Steve, Alex, and the environment at an angle to ensure that the various Education Edition blocks take precedent. This is complemented by the muting of colors in the distance and the addition of fog.
All of these small adjustments make certain that the objects in the foreground remain the most important parts of the key art while keeping plenty to enjoy the further back viewer look. Overall, this art discards wide landscapes and plenty of different subjects in the frame in favor of focusing on a few individual points of note that scream "Education Edition."
New-Look Java Edition
As Minecraft: Bedrock Edition grew in popularity across multiple platforms, Java Edition needed a new look that matched. Enter this key art. It does a magnificent job of improving the texture definition for the blocks while blending the light color pop of the outdoors with the shadowy dark tones inside the cave from which Steve and Alex emerge. Plenty of iconic mobs are thrown in to help set the scene.
This updated key art for Java Edition brought the original version of the game into the modern day, allowing it to carry on the same art style that became uniform in the Bedrock era.
Java and Bedrock United
Not long after Java Edition got its new key art, Mojang began offering a bundled version of Minecraft that included both Java and Bedrock Editions on PC, and this seemingly called for another key art release. This art took quite a bit of inspiration from the new Java release, but added plenty more action and color to the environment, creating a perspective of Steve and Alex bursting from the center.
The lighting is also used well to emphasize focus on Steve and Alex, as the colors grow darker while our two Minecraft protagonists have a bright radius around them to emphasize their cooperation, just as the Java and Bedrock bundle aimed to do.
New Horizons
Bringing together incredibly light color and solid definition for block textures, mobs, and more, this key art debuted in 2024 to signify the continued evolution of Minecraft's content as well as its art design. The lack of fog and heavy shadows like some older key art makes every aspect of the scene worthy of attention, from the cherry trees to the sunflowers and the detailing on Steve/Alex's tools/weapons.
This key art took brightness and color to a new level compared to the previous "all-encompassing" key art, likely signifying that bright days are ahead for Minecraft and adventure awaits for fans new and old.
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