'Minecraft' will bring cross-platform play to the Nintendo Switch next year.

Minecraft screenshot

Minecraft screenshot

The popular sandbox video game came to the Nintendo hybrid console earlier this year, and it seems as though the wait is finally over for players who wish to play the online multiplayer mode with users of other consoles.

So far, cross platform play is only available between PC and Xbox One users, but in a "new version" of the game launching for the Switch next year, that ability will be available across all platforms except for the PlayStation 4.

Writing in a post on their website, developers Mojang said: "Separately, the Nintendo Switch community will still be getting the new version of Minecraft with cross-platform multiplayer, but not until 2018. Nintendo has been a great partner and we're really excited to fully bring Switch players into the fold, however, we need to make sure we deliver the best experience possible. So the new version of Minecraft will now be coming to Nintendo Switch next year. Xbox One, PC, mobile and Nintendo Switch, all playing multiplayer Minecraft together in 2018 - I'm getting emotional just thinking about it."

Meanwhile, Sony recently claimed they would not be taking part in cross platform play, due to the safety of their users - particularly when it comes to the young demographic of 'Minecraft' users - as they cannot control "external influences" from other platforms.

PlayStation executive Jim Ryan said: "We've got to be mindful of our responsibility to our install base. 'Minecraft' - the demographic playing that, you know as well as I do, it's all ages but it's also very young. We have a contract with the people who go online with us, that we look after them and they are within the PlayStation curated universe. Exposing what in many cases are children to external influences we have no ability to manage or look after, it's something we have to think about very carefully."