Minecon 2015, which took place this weekend in London, was a big hit for fans of the popular Microsoft-owned Minecraft franchise, whether it was riding around on a specially built ride, taking part in a number of panels or, of course, playing the game to great content.
However, the show had its fair share of surprises, including one that’s going to give the series a piece of narrative for the first time – through the forthcoming Telltale Games episodic series Minecraft: Story Mode.
The game will break away from the open-world presentation that the original Minecraft has become known for, instead focusing on a series of characters as they attempt to save the world from a diabolically evil force. Leading the pack is Jesse, a new hero that will take the place of the normal Minecraft star, Steve.
Mojang posted the story description below, and it’s definitely a change of pace from the usual Minecraft fare:
“Players will control protagonist Jesse throughout the season, as portrayed by actor Patton Oswalt. Jesse and his group of friends revere the legendary Order of the Stone; four adventurers who slayed an Ender Dragon. The Order are the very best at what they do: Warrior, Redstone Engineer, Griefer, and Architect. While at EnderCon, Jesse and his friends discover that something is wrong… something dreadful. Terror is unleashed, and they must set out on a journey to find The Order of the Stone if they are to save their world from oblivion.”
A story may be a shock to the system for some Minecraft fans, but there’s no doubt that it fits right in with what Telltale Games has been producing as of late, including other episodic titles like Tales From the Borderlands, Game of Thrones (based on the HBO series) and The Walking Dead, among others.
Plus, Telltale has gone to great lengths to give Minecraft: Story Mode distinctive voices, hiring on a number of popular actors to fill the roles. Jesse will be played by comedian/actor Patton Oswalt, while others, like Brian Poeshn, Ashley Johnson, Martha Plimpton, Corey Feldman, Billy West and Paul Reubens will be included as well – a far cry from the usual speechless Minecraft setting.
“We’ve worked closely with the amazing team at Mojang to ensure this story is a natural fit for the Minecraft world fans already know and love,” said Kevin Bruner, CEO and co-founder of Telltale Games. “As Jesse, players will steer their own path through a tale of adventure and survival; all brought to life by an all-star cast. Through Telltale’s choice-based gameplay and a story spanning from the Nether to the Farlands, the End, and beyond, we can’t wait for fans to experience this new take on the beloved world of Minecraft.”
“The interactive storytellers at Telltale are giving players the chance to explore their own unique interpretation of the Minecraft universe,” said Owen Hill, Chief Word Officer at Mojang. “They’ve crafted a story that follows the logic of Minecraft, but still manages to feel original. It’s actually pretty funny too. And the pig is adorable. We’re super excited about players digging deeper into the world of Minecraft: Story Mode later this year.”
Whether the game will be a success is unknown, as it will definitely take more of a Telltale “choose your own adventure” style of approach instead of the open-world “build your own world” mantra that Minecraft has become known for. However, it should be an entertaining little jaunt into the series universe, with the superb storytelling style that Telltale has become known for over the years.
The game will release later this year for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, and mobile devices. The debut trailer is below, and really sets the tone for just how different – but fun – this new adventure will be.
