Why hardcore mode wasn't added in Minecraft 1.21 Bedrock update

First announced on October 15, 2023, the Minecraft 1.21 Tricky Trials update was finally released on June 13, 2024, for both Bedrock and Java Edition players. The update boasts numerous new features, including a new weapon for the first time in six years. One of the highlighted features announced and made available for Bedrock Edition players in the Beta and Preview updates was the much-desired hardcore mode.

However, it was unexpectedly removed from the official 1.21 update due to bugs and glitches that could negatively affect the gameplay experience. In this article, we delve into the details of Minecraft 1.21 hardcore mode in Bedrock Edition and cover everything there is to know about it.

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Minecraft 1.21 update delays the addition of hardcore to Bedrock Edition

Hardcore mode death screen in Bedrock beta (Image via Mojang Studios)

Hardcore in Minecraft is a game mode similar to survival mode but with higher stakes. In it, the player's death is permanent, and the only options available after dying are to delete the world or to continue playing in spectator mode, where no further progress can be made in the traditional sense.

Hardcore mode has been a part of Java Edition since the game's early days. As it has been a highly desired feature by many veteran Minecraft Bedrock players, it is heartbreaking for many not to see it make it to the 1.21 update.

Hardcore mode bugs reported by beta players (Image via Mojang Studios)

The reason behind the decision not to add hardcore mode with the Minecraft 1.21 update was stated by the developers in their official hardcore for Bedrock announcement article. They explained that since the stakes are high with hardcore mode, they cannot release a version of the game with hardcore that has so many bugs.

Looking into the bug reports made for the hardcore mode in the 1.21 betas, the developers' statement starts to make sense, as there are numerous bugs, some of which will kill the player for no real reason.

With the current state of things, the gameplay would be severely compromised in hardcore mode, and it is better for a feature to be delayed than to be released with major issues.

When will hardcore come to Bedrock Edition?

In the official Minecraft article that was mentioned earlier, the developers indicated that they will release the hardcore mode to the retail edition of the Minecraft Bedrock Edition once they are confident that the experience will be smooth.

With no specific game version or release date announced, players should watch for hardcore-related bug fixes in future beta and preview releases, as these could indicate an upcoming release of the hardcore mode.

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How to play hardcore in Bedrock Edition right now

Enabling hardcore mode in the Bedrock beta version (Image via Mojang Studios)

Although the anticipated mode did not make it to the game with the Minecraft 1.21 Tricky Trials update, the beta versions still offer the option to play it. Players can install the 1.21.10.24 beta update to access the hardcore mode feature, as it is the latest version with hardcore mode at the time of publishing.

It is recommended that players stick to a fairly recent beta update, as newer versions tend to be more stable than older ones. With the beta installed, players can create a new world and enable hardcore mode in the world creation screen.

Important note: Bedrock Beta players should refrain from accessing worlds created in any other version, as this could lead to the corruption of the existing world and the loss of data and progress.