7 features Minecraft Bedrock needs from Java in 2024

The most interesting parts of Minecraft's development are the two distinct, but similar, versions of the game that Mojang consistently updates. The original version of the game is known as Java Edition, while the more recently created, Microsoft-funded version of the game is Bedrock. While these two editions might both technically be the same, there are a plethora of differences.

And unfortunately, it tends to be Bedrock that's lacking the best features. Seven examples of amazing Java Edition features that Bedrock desperately needs can be found below.

Note: This article solely relies on the writer's opinion

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7 features Minecraft Bedrock should take from Java Edition in 2024

1) Quasi-connectivity

A simple example of QC (Image via Mojang)

Quasi-connectivity, commonly referred to as QC, is one of the most iconic parts of Minecraft redstone on Java Edition. It allows dispensers, droppers, and pistons to get activated by anything that would power the block above them, no matter what is actually in that space.

This is due to these items reusing the redstone detection code from doors. These blocks all have an invisible second block above them able to detect signals. This simple bug-turned feature is the backbone of most Java Edition redstone and is the reason why it's so different across versions. Adding QC to Bedrock would revolutionize redstone and allow for more creative builds.

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2) Full offhand support

Being able to use the offhand for anything is quite convenient (Image via Mojang)

One of the most frustrating differences between Java and Bedrock is how they handle the offhand. In the Bedrock Edition, only a handful of items can be put in the players offhand, such as shields, maps, and Minecraft totems of undying. Java Edition dual-wielding is much more useful, allowing players to put any item into and use it from the offhand.

Bringing full offhand support to Bedrock would be a huge step towards making survival both easier and more convenient. Not being able to place torches while mining, for example, is very strange, especially when Java players can.

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3) Better observers

Java observers have much more utility (Image via Mojang)

Minecraft's useful observers are another huge redstone parity issue. Java observers detect block state changes rather than block updates. This allows them to see and output a signal due to way more things, such as shulk boxes opening, crops aging, and more.

This means that observers are more powerful on Java when compared to Bedrock. Changing this should also be a huge step towards parity redstone, which would make it much easier to switch between versions of the game and would also make several new Minecraft farms possible on Bedrock.

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4) A buildable Nether roof

Being able to build on the roof of the Nether is incredibly powerful (Image via Mojang)

The ability to build on Java Edition's Nether is similar to QC in that it's also the result of a bug that Mojang has since embraced as a feature. When world heights were first doubled from 64 blocks to 128, the change was accidentally applied to both Minecraft's Nether as well as the Overworld.

Since Bedrock was made long after this bug's introduction, it was coded properly. This makes the Nether much less useful for farming and fast travel on the Bedrock Edition, which is why increasing the build limit in the dimension would be a welcome change.

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5) A true debug screen

Java's debug screen is so useful that modders have made it easier to read (Image via Mojang)

Minecraft's debug screen is incredible for gaining important information. Players can get their current coordinates, biome, local difficulty and light levels, directional facing, and more from this screen. This makes the lack of a debug screen on Bedrock so noticeable. There's an option in-game for coordinates, but that's it. The rest of this handy information is next to impossible to see on Bedrock.

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6) Entity cramming

Cow crushers are incredibly convenient survival farms (Image via Mojang)

Entity cramming is a strange quirk of how Java Edition handles large numbers of mobs being in a small space. Rather than allowing hundreds of Minecraft mobs to all exist in a single space, any mobs past a certain point will take massive damage until they die. This makes certain types of farms, such as cow crushers, possible. Having access to these simple farms in Bedrock would be wonderful.

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7) The /tick command

The /tick command can be used to freeze time (Image via Mojang)

One of Minecraft's most powerful commands is also one of its newest. The /tick command was first added in 1.20.3 and has given players an unprecedented amount of control over their worlds. The command can be used to speed up, slow down, or even completely stop the processing of game ticks. However, the /tick command is totally missing from Bedrock.

Game ticks are how most things in the game process, essentially giving players total control over the flow of in-game time. This makes getting beautiful screenshots or testing advanced farms much easier and more convenient. Not having this in Bedrock doesn't make much sense.