In October 2011, Microsoft said the release was planned for Spring 2012. On March 22nd the official release date was posted by Larry Hryb, the Director of Programming for Xbox Live, as May 9th.

The cost of the XBOX version of Minecraft is 1600 Microsoft Points. Besides the XBOX version of Minecraft there are also Minecraft-themed avatar items available. Among these include Minecraft shirts, pets, items, props, and headwear, all of which range from 80 to 240 Microsoft Points in price.

This version of the game will be identical to the PC version, but will also have exclusive features :
The player will optionally be able to make use of Xbox Kinect functionality to assist in their gameplay, although Kinect functionality will not be available at launch.

The Xbox version won't make use of the standard crafting interface as in the original version, but will still have similarities to the PC's 2x2 and 3x3 crafting grids.
The interface won't require you to place items in the correct place in a crafting menu, but will simply ask what it is that you want to craft, tell you the blocks required to craft it, andif you have those blocksgive you the item.

A split-screen function will be featured. 4 players in split screen, as well as the possibility to play 8-person online multiplayer (will be released later) gamemodes in split-screen. This split screen functionality is shown working in this video.

Mods, Texture Packs and extra player skins will be available much later.

The Xbox version includes a tutorial mode not included in the PC version of the game. This tutorial leads the player through the basics of mining and placing blocks, crafting as well as building their first house to survive a night (video).

This Version will begin in the update 1.6.6 and will later catch up to the PC version in terms of updates.

Getting Wood: Obtain your first piece of wood (10G)
Benchmarking: Make A Workbench (10G)
Time To Strike: Craft A Wooden Sword (10G)
Time To Mine: Craft A Wooden Pickaxe (10G)
Hot Topic: Craft A Furnace (15G)
Aquire Hardware: Smelt A Iron Ingot (15G)
Time To Farm: Make A Wooden Ho (10G)
Bake Bread: Make A Loaf of Bread (20G)
The Lie: Craft A Cake (Wheat, Sugar, Milk, and Eggs) (40G)
Getting An Upgrade: Make A Better Pickaxe (15G)
Delicious Fish: Catch And Cook A Fish (15G)
On A Rail: Travel 500 Meters On A Minecart (40G)
Monster Hunter: Kill A Monster (20G)
Cow Tipper: Harvest Leather (15G)
When Pigs Fly: Ride A Pig With A Saddle And Have The Pig Take Fall Damage (40G)
Leader Of The Pack: Befriend 5 Wolves (30G)
MOAR Tools: Craft One Of Each Type Of Tool (15G)
Dispence With This: Craft A Dispencer (20G)
Into The Nether: Make A Portal To The Nether (40G)