What Minecraft fans need to know about new frequent updates

Recently, Mojang Studios announced that they will be altering the schedule for when new features and updates for Minecraft are released in the days ahead. It is a welcome change since the developers will now include more intriguing features in smaller updates rather than adding loads of new content in big updates only. This will not only alter how previous Minecraft updates were distributed, but it may also help keep the players interested in the game.

This article presents all the information about the shift in update frequency and what to expect from them.

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Mojang Studios plans to release Minecraft features in smaller but frequent updates

Mojang Studios recently laid out their plans to restructure their current update cycle in a recent blog post on the game's official website. A Minecraft update is often announced in the second half of the year by the developers in their annual live event. Then, it was released in June of the following year.

Now, however, updates that usually bring features to the game will be more frequent and have different sizes. This means that players can expect several more updates rather than one or two per year. These frequent content updates are referred to as "game drops" by the creators.

In essence, all the major updates will now be broken down into bite-sized incremental updates that will be released throughout the year. Mojang Studios has not yet given any information on whether they will also release major updates like 1.20 and 1.21 or not.

In recent times, the Swedish game company has tried this approach of releasing meaningful features in incremental updates. Back in December 2023, they released an update that added an overhauled bat model and functionality changes to the decorated pot, among other things.

Most recently, they also brought the 1.20.5 Armored Paws update, which introduced the Armadillo mob and wolf armor. These two were initially part of the 1.21 update but were released early in a smaller update.

These kinds of compact updates with new and interesting features will be more frequent in the future. Along with them, Mojang Studios stated that they will also be working on the overarching future of the popular sandbox game.

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Minecraft beta and snapshot versions will continue

With every single update Mojang Studios releases, they first create snapshots and beta and preview versions of it for both Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition. These versions are open for any fan to play and check out new features and also report bugs back to the developers.

Even with the new update cycle, Mojang Studios will continue to release these snapshots and beta preview versions. In their blog post, they appreciated the playerbase for giving valuable feedback on the features and how it made significant changes to the final product.

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Check out other Minecraft update-related articles:

• Minecraft fans can now expect regular new content updates
• What are Minecraft feature drops? All you need to know
• 5 fun features Mojang Studios should add in the next Minecraft update