Minecraft fans have long clamored for Mojang and Microsoft to implement custom skins in the game’s console versions. These let you change Alex or Steve to look like pretty much whatever you want, from skeletons to zombies, blobs, or myriad other things. But what’s the deal with custom skins on Xbox One?
Minecraft Java lets you customize Alex and Steve, but how can you do it in the Bedrock version on Xbox One?
Well, you can’t.
Despite fans having asked for it repeatedly, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, the version currently on consoles, still won’t let you make custom skins or upload them — legally, at least.
There’s always the option to hack your system and upload mods you’ve created or downloaded on PC, but doing that voids your console’s warranty and isn’t really recommended.
That leads to the reason why custom skins can’t be used in Minecraft for Xbox One or other consoles. Like most PC games, Minecraft Java lets you have control over your game’s files and basically everything associated with it. There’s no tampering or hacking required to modify certain things, hence the fact there’s a lively PC modding scene.
Accessing those files on a console requires hacking the system, which gives access to the entire operating system and opens the door to piracy, code manipulation, and a number of other potential issues and legal headaches for companies.
The easiest way to deal with such issues is to just not allow it. That being said, it shouldn’t be too difficult to provide a skin replacement feature like Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition has, so it’s a bit baffling why Microsoft hasn’t implemented something similar yet.
But you can customize everything else in your console Minecraft world. If you’re aching to scratch that creative itch, check out our July edition of the best Minecraft seeds.
