Minecraft:Better Together Update

The Better Together Update is the name of the update for Template:El 1.2.0, a major update released on September 20, 2017, that unified the cross-compatible Minecraft:Pocket Edition, Minecraft:Windows 10 Edition, Minecraft:Gear VR Edition, and Minecraft:Fire TV Edition under the simple name Minecraft:Minecraft. It also marked the debut of Minecraft:Bedrock Edition on Xbox One, replacing the previous Minecraft:Xbox One Edition.

Better Together

This update extended crossplay (short for cross-platform gameplay, the ability of players on different platforms to play interactively in the same world) to virtually all of the newest-generation gaming platforms. Previously, the Pocket Edition had supported cross-play between mobile, Windows 10, and VR platforms. This update added support for the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, drastically increasing the number of devices that could participate.

The updated game was also designed to work with the Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 4; however, both platforms did not initially receive the update. The Nintendo Switch deployment was delayed due to problems with cross-device connectivity and upgrading of old worlds<ref name="BESwitch">Template:Tweet</ref> and Minecraft:Mojang Studios was still in ongoing talks with Sony about a possible future agreement as the latter had previously declined to participate.

• June 21, 2018, Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.4.1 was released on the Nintendo Switch.
• On December 10, 2019, Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.14.0 was released on the PlayStation 4. Mojang Studios also stated that it would consider porting Bedrock Edition to macOS, Linux, or any other platform with sufficiently strong demand, further expanding the crossplay concept.<ref name="faq">Template:Mcnet</ref>

With the unification of so many different platforms under one version of the game, the nickname Pocket Edition became increasingly outdated. From 1.2.0 onwards, Mojang referred to this version as the Bedrock Engine or Bedrock Edition when distinguishing it from either the game as a whole or other versions of Minecraft. The name "Bedrock" came from the internal name for its source code database. To emphasize the broad range of supported devices, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition became known simply as Minecraft. The original Java version of Minecraft, which had formerly held that designation, was officially renamed Minecraft: Minecraft:Java Edition to avoid confusion.<ref name="faq"/>

Technical details

Even though the name changed, the update was a normal update for Pocket Edition, Windows 10 Edition, Gear VR Edition, and Fire TV Edition. On Xbox One, the update was released as a new game, requiring the user to install it separately. Bedrock Edition on Xbox One is free for players who own a digital copy of Xbox One Edition, have played the disc copy of Xbox One Edition for at least 5 hours in the past 12 months, or have bought at least one DLC for Xbox One Edition.

Beta testing for the update for Android and Windows 10 began on July 31, 2017, and for Xbox One on August 24, 2017.<ref name="how-to-beta">Template:Mcnet</ref> The update was submitted to certification for 9 of the 10 platforms on September 15, 2017.

With the release of the Better Together Update, the original PC version of Minecraft was renamed to Minecraft: Java Edition in 1.12.2 to distinguish it from Bedrock Edition.

Notable features

New Minecraft:blocks

• Template:Animate Minecraft:Banner
  • Crafted using six pieces of Minecraft:wool and a Minecraft:stick.
  • Can be customized with patterns and dyes.
  • Supports up to six layers of customization.
  • Can be placed on the wall or on the ground.
• File:Coarse Dirt JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Coarse Dirt
  • Can also be crafted using two Minecraft:dirt and two Minecraft:gravel in a checkerboard pattern.
  • Will not allow grass and mycelium to spread on to it.
• File:Jukebox JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Jukebox
  • Crafted using a Minecraft:diamond surrounded by eight wooden Minecraft:planks.
  • Used to play Minecraft:music discs.
• Template:Animate Minecraft:Stained Glass
  • Crafted using eight Minecraft:glass surrounding a matching Minecraft:dye.
  • Template:Animate Minecraft:Stained Glass Panes

New Minecraft:items

• File:Book and Quill JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Book and Quill and File:Written Book JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Written Book
  • Book and quill can be crafted using a Minecraft:book, Minecraft:ink sac, and a Minecraft:feather.
  • Can be used to write up to 256 characters on 50 pages.
  • When signed, the player can set their title and convert it to a written book, after which the contents cannot be edited.
• File:Firework Star JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Firework Star
  • Crafted using Minecraft:gunpowder and any other ingredients, including Minecraft:dyes, a Minecraft:mob head, a Minecraft:gold nugget, a Minecraft:feather, a Minecraft:fire charge, a Minecraft:diamond, or a Minecraft:glowstone dust.
    • The mob head, gold nugget, feather, and fire charge are mutually exclusive when crafting.
  • Can be crafted into a Minecraft:firework rocket to shape the effect of the firework.
    • A firework rocket crafted with a firework star when used for Minecraft:elytra flying causes damage to the player.
• File:Firework Rocket JE1 BE1.png Minecraft:Firework Rocket
  • Crafted using a Minecraft:paper and Minecraft:gunpowder.
    • The amount of gunpowder (up to three) can affect the flight time of the firework rocket.
    • A Minecraft:firework star can also be added to give the firework an effect.
  • When used or shot from a Minecraft:dispenser, the firework rocket shoots up to the sky.
    • If a firework star was used in the crafting recipe, a firework explosion with the desired effect is shown.
  • Can also be used to propel Minecraft:elytra flying.
• New Minecraft:music disc items, which can be used on a Minecraft:jukebox to play a song.
  • All but "11" can be obtained by Minecraft:creepers killed by Minecraft:skeletons.
  • File:Music Disc 13 JE1 BE1.png C418 - 13
    • Can also be found in Minecraft:dungeon and Minecraft:woodland mansion chests.
  • File:Music Disc Cat JE1 BE1.png C418 - cat
    • Can also be found in Minecraft:dungeon and Minecraft:woodland mansion chests.
  • File:Music Disc Blocks JE1 BE1.png C418 - blocks
  • File:Music Disc Chirp JE1 BE1.png C418 - chirp
  • File:Music Disc Far JE1 BE1.png C418 - far
  • File:Music Disc Mall JE1 BE1.png C418 - mall
  • File:Music Disc Mellohi JE1 BE1.png C418 - mellohi
  • File:Music Disc Stal JE1 BE1.png C418 - stal
  • File:Music Disc Strad JE1 BE1.png C418 - strad
  • File:Music Disc Ward JE1 BE1.png C418 - ward
  • File:Music Disc 11 JE1 BE1.png C418 - 11
  • File:Music Disc Wait JE1 BE1.png C418 - wait
• Minecraft:Spawn eggs:
  • File:Parrot Spawn Egg JE1 BE1.png Parrot Spawn Egg
  • File:Zombie Villager Spawn Egg JE1 BE1.png Zombie Villager Spawn Egg

New Minecraft:mobs

• Template:Animate Minecraft:Parrot
  • Spawns in Minecraft:jungles.
  • Flies around but sits when tired.
  • Can be tamed using Minecraft:seeds.
  • Can imitate sounds of nearby hostile mobs.
  • Will dance when music is being played in a Minecraft:jukebox.
  • Comes in five different colors: Red, Blue, Green, Cyan, and Gray.
  • Drops Minecraft:feathers when killed.
    • Using a Minecraft:cookie on the parrot will instantly kill them.

New non-mob entities

• File:Armor Stand BE1.png Minecraft:Armor Stand
  • Crafted using a stone slab and six Minecraft:sticks.
  • Used to display armor, including pumpkins and mob heads.

New generated structures

• Minecraft:Ravines
  • Huge and tall cracks in the Minecraft:Overworld that exposes the underground from above.

New Minecraft:gameplay

• New world preferences:
  • Minecraft:Bonus Chest
    • A Minecraft:chest generates with various materials and foods to get started, alongside four Minecraft:torches on its sides.
  • Minecraft:Starting Map
    • Players will spawn in with a Minecraft:map in their inventory that scaled 1:8.
  • Trust Players
    • Sets what other players that join the world can or cannot do.
• Minecraft:Recipe book
  • Shows a list of recipes that can be done through a Minecraft:crafting table.
  • Can be activated by clicking on the green-colored book.
  • When a recipe is tapped on, the materials required is placed on the crafting table.
• Minecraft:Splitscreen
  • Allows up to four players on one screen at the same time.
  • Only available on Xbox One.
• Minecraft:Featured servers
  • Accessible via Servers section in Play menu.
  • Shows a selection of partnered servers.
• Minecraft:How to Play
  • A built-in guide accessible through settings designed to help players in Minecraft.

Other additions

• Custom characters.
• Ability to change player skin while playing a world
• Choice of outline instead of highlight for block selection
• In-game shortcuts for certain commands.
• The command Template:Cmd

Notable changes

• Minecraft:Brewing stands now require Minecraft:blaze powder to brew potions.
• The Minecraft:crafting system has changed, now based on the Minecraft:recipe book.

Further revisions

• 1.2.1, 1.2.2 and 1.2.3 fixed numerous bugs.
• 1.2.5 added the ability to broadcast to Mixer and other streaming services.
• 1.2.6 saw Realms being integrated with Xbox Live Clubs, and updated textures for horses, mules, and donkeys.
• 1.2.6.1 was released exclusively on Android to fix numerous bugs.
• 1.2.7 fixed even more bugs.
• 1.2.8 fixed a lone bug with the user interface on partnered servers.
• 1.2.9, 1.2.10 and 1.2.11 fixed even more bugs.
• 1.2.13 added menu screen transitions, more control options; added many Minecraft:Update Aquatic features as Experimental Gameplay, and fixed even more bugs.
• 1.2.14 was released exclusively on iOS to disable test commands.
• 1.2.15 was released exclusively on iOS to fix even more bugs.
• 1.2.16 (released as 1.2.13.60 on devices other than iOS) fixed even more bugs.