Minecraft Preview 1.19.50.21 tests Minecraft 1.20 features and new default characters
What you need to know About
- Minecraft 1.20 is the next major content update for the game, with four of its features already revealed.
- On Wednesday, Mojang Studios began rolling out Minecraft Preview 1.19.50.21 to begin testing these features.
- The pre-release build also includes Minecraft's seven new default characters for players to enjoy.
- Minecraft: Java Edition players can also test Minecraft 1.20 features in a snapshot released earlier today.
Minecraft Live 2022 was resplendent with news and announcements for the entire Minecraft franchise, but many players were only there to witness the first reveal of Minecraft's highly-anticipated 1.20 update. Mojang Studios delivered the first look, along with a promise that players would only have to wait mere days to get their hands on the initial feature set. On Wednesday, the studio made good on its promise.
Following a Minecraft: Java Edition snapshot released earlier today, a new Minecraft Preview build rolling out to players on all platforms includes an experimental toggle to enable the first four features revealed as a part of Minecraft 1.20. Players will be able to test these features and submit feedback, giving Mojang Studios plenty of time to iterate and make changes before the full update arrives sometime in 2023.
This change to how Minecraft updates are handled as part of Mojang Studios' renewed commitment to transparency announced during Minecraft Live 2022. From now on, the company is intent on only announcing features when they're far along in development and ready to be in the hands of players — not when they're only conceptual and in the early design phases. This means smaller reveals and fewer big features at a time, but it does mean that updates should more closely align with expectations and should be more closely developed with the community.
Minecraft Preview players can now begin testing the latest pre-release build, which tests a host of new features, changes, and fixes for one of Xbox's best games. Alongside the new Minecraft 1.20 additions, players will also be able to test and play as Minecraft's seven new default characters for the very first time.