Is Minecraft on PS4 Bedrock or Java

Minecraft's Java and Bedrock Editions are the two primary ways to enjoy the game. However, there is sometimes confusion about which edition is used on which platform. Take the PlayStation 4 console for example, is this iteration of the game running on Java or Bedrock? Based how it was developed, the current iteration of the game on PS4 consoles is certainly Bedrock Edition.

Both the Legacy Console version of the old Minecraft PlayStation 4 Edition and the current iteration of the game on PS4 were coded in C++ instead of Java. The modern version of the game on PlayStation 4 consoles also uses the same exact features, gameplay quirks, and connectivity as Bedrock Edition on other platforms, including consoles, mobile devices, and Windows-based PCs.

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Why does the PS4 version of Minecraft use Bedrock Edition?

Mojang intended to use Minecraft Bedrock as an equalizer across multiple platforms like PS4 (Image via Sony)

All of the confusion around the current and former console editions of Minecraft does leave one to wonder, why are the PS4 and other console versions of the game running Bedrock Edition? There isn't a simple answer, but it became quite clear that as the Legacy Console Editions of the title piled up, Mojang was likely realizing it needed an edition that could be ubiquitous across platforms.

Porting Minecraft Java to consoles was a possibility. However, much of the old code in Java Edition wasn't optimized since the game began as a side project before ultimately reaching critical acclaim. This may have made porting Java across several platforms at once a challenge, even though the Java programming language has good compatibility with C++ and has few dependencies.

It became evident that Mojang would have to provide a new engine that worked well across console platforms and could be capable of cross-platform multiplayer, which is where the Bedrock Edition codebase came in.

Written in C++, Bedrock provided an engine that would be recognizable across consoles (as well as other devices), ensuring consistent performance regardless of how it was played.

Regardless of which device Minecraft fans are playing Bedrock Edition on, they'll be provided considerable consistency. The same gameplay they see on PlayStation 4 is almost perfectly identical to Xbox.

Moreover, all Bedrock platforms are cross-compatible for multiplayer with each other, and players can use a single Microsoft account to keep their content accessible across devices.

Bedrock Edition ensured consistency between platforms to a greater degree than the legacy editions (Image via Mojang)

Instead of disparate Legacy Console Editions, Mojang could use Bedrock to unify as many platforms as possible under a single umbrella. Consistent performance, gameplay, and connectivity were all achieved. Even though bugs and performance issues can occasionally occur, players on Bedrock know what to expect from the edition no matter how they're playing it.

Console editions of Minecraft on the PlayStation 4 and elsewhere certainly worked well enough, but having a single edition to maintain, update, and improve across all devices was too difficult of an opportunity to pass up. Some players may still prefer Java Edition for myriad reasons, but Bedrock has become an equalizer allowing countless players to join in the fun together.