Hey hey!
We've received a bunch of questions about Minecraft Realms. Here's an attempt to answer most of them :)
A select group of players now have access to the Minecraft Realms limited alpha test. Minecraft Realms is a service designed to let players play on a server together with minimal setup, and will be available to the public later this year.
Will this change the way I play Minecraft?
Nothing will change regarding how you create, setup, or host servers today. Minecraft Realms is an additional service of hosting servers for those who want it. Nothing is mandatory.
How can I get into the Realms closed Alpha?
You can't yet sorry. It's a private, invite-only thing. Keep an eye on this blog for more info!
How much does it cost?
We're not sure yet. It will be a subscription service. One subscription = one server. Only the host needs to pay. The host can invite (whitelist) friends to play on his/her server.
How many players can play together?
This is not confirmed yet. During the closed alpha we have set a limit of ten players to test out our systems.
What is Minecraft Pocket Realms?
It is the mobile version of our Realms service.
How much will Pocket Realms cost?
We're not sure yet. It will be a subscription service. One subscription = one server. Only the host needs to pay. The host can invite (whitelist) friends to play on his/her server.
How do I buy a Pocket Realms subscription?
Realms subscriptions will be available via an in-app purchase within Minecraft - Pocket Edition. You'll need to log in with your Mojang Account to use the service. If you don't have an account you'll be asked to create one.
This is all the info we have right now. We'll keep you updated as things develop!
Have a nice day!
/Daniel @kappische