| Cult of Mac

Sonic the Hedgehog speeds onto Minecraft to celebrate 30th birthday

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Minecraft
Thirty years speeds by, too fast for the naked eye.
Photo: Minecraft

It’s somehow been 30 years since Sega’s rapid blue hedgehog mascot, Sonic, first speeded his way onto the Genesis and into video game history on June 23, 1991.

To celebrate the occasion, Minecraft has released an official DLC pack that lets you play through recreations of some of Sonic’s most iconic levels from the original Sonic the Hedgehog inside, well, Minecraft. It even includes blocky rings to collect.

If you’re a fan of Sega’s iconic spiky mammal, it looks like it’s well worth checking out. This 3D endless runner is all yours for 1,340 coins — or, approximately, $8 in real world terms. Check out the trailer below.

Build your own Jurassic Park in latest Minecraft DLC

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Jurassic Park DLC Minecraft
DLC... uh... finds a way.
Photo: Minecraft

No expense has been spared in the latest update for Minecraft, which just added a whole lot of Jurassic World-themed DLC to the mix.

If you’ve ever fancied using the popular sandbox video game to build your own prehistoric amusement park, train dinosaurs, and go on Jurassic expeditions, this is the update for you. Heck, there’s even Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm recreated in awesome pixel-art detail!

These are the best games for reducing stress during lockdown

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Sims-4
Sims, available on Mac and iOS, is rated the best stress reliever.
Photo: EA

A good video game is a great way to escape the COVID-19 pandemic and forget, just for a little while, about the nasty impact it’s having on the world. But which video games should you play? Which titles are proven to help?

A new study reveals the best games to play for reducing stress — and those that should be avoided if your primary goal is a positive, calming experience. We’ll highlight those you can enjoy on Mac and iOS.

Fortnite will get an exciting new Creative Mode in season 7

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Fortnite Fly Explosives game mode
It’s your turn to make the rules.
Photo: Epic Games

We’re just a day away from the launch of Fortnite season seven and players have plenty to look forward to. One thing we really weren’t expecting was just revealed in a brand new leak.

Fortnite is getting a new Creative Mode that will give fans the opportunity to build their own islands and run their own servers for private Battle Royale matches with custom rules.

Minecraft for Apple TV is dead because no one plays it

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Minecraft
You'll have to get your Minecraft fix elsewhere.
Image: Mojang

Minecraft for Apple TV has been scrapped. Users can no longer download the game from the tvOS App Store, while existing players have been informed that the title will no longer receive updates or support.

The game’s removal is being blamed on a lack of players. Developer Mojang explains that it needs to “reallocate resources to the platforms that our players use the most.”

The wait is over for iPad version of Minecraft: Education Edition

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Minecraft: Education Edition can teach math, science, history, and more.
Students can now download Minecraft: Education Edition for their trusty iPads.
Photo: Microsoft

Kids love Minecraft and iPad. Teachers love applications that turning learning into a game. All of these come together with an iPad version of Minecraft: Education Edition. 

After being announced last month, this application just debuted in the iOS App Store.

Minecraft: Education Edition brings brainy gameplay to iPad

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Minecraft: Education Edition can teach math, science, history, and more.
Minecraft: Education Edition can teach math, science, history, and more.
Photo: Microsoft

Minecraft: Education Edition is one of the best-known applications to gamify learning. After launching back 2016, an iPad version will finally debut next month.

The Minecraft game is hugely popular, and the version created for schools also has millions of users learning math, science, history, and more.

App Store redesign gives (some) downloads a big boost

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bookmark wish list
The App Store looks all-new in iOS 11.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The redesigned App Store has been a boon for developers, based on new third-party data that shows getting a little promotion goes a long way when it comes to downloads.

With the launch of iOS 11, Apple made some big changes to how iPhone and iPad users browse apps in the App Store. App Store shoppers are now greeted by big promotions for the App of the Day and Game of the Day which has become worth a lot of money to developers if you’re lucky enough to be selected.