The Minecraft Xbox One release date is still to be determined, and Microsoft can only guarantee that it's "really close." The release of the Xbox One port is closer than ever, but it's up to third-party developers 4J studios and Mojang to seal the date.

Games ported between platforms are never rushed, and the Minecraft Xbox One version will have plenty of nifty surprises even the Xbox 360 fans will salivate on. The Minecraft world is huge on its own, and developers are taking their time with it; the game should allow fans to create something that can "go from device to device." Whether this means that saved creations will work across Xbox and (gasp!) competing consoles is anybody's guess, but Mojang founder Markus Persson is excited about the development.

Larger maps and additional multiplayer features are to be expected, and the technology of the Xbox One platform will be maximized. In the meantime, there's a buzz around how the game is fully utilized with the Kinect, a default accessory bundled with every purchase of the Xbox One. Minecraft is a customized, virtual world at its core, and the ability to record and use custom sound effects adds to the experience. Developers should consider this and several other features before they finalize the Minecraft Xbox One release date.

A remote, but doable feature is the option to scan and port images into the game. This has been tested in a previous Kinect generation, although the complexity of the Minecraft world makes scanned avatars and objects virtually impossible (pun intended). Edwin Evans of totalxbox.com also proposes an app that let users snap a recording of the creation process. Gamers are often so involved in spontaneous creation that the actual process of creating complex terrain and objects are forgotten.

The Minecraft Xbox One release date is still pending and the development progress is still under wraps, and users would have to settle for the Xbox 360 version in the meantime.