
In the Bedrock Edition, testing versions of the game are called beta releases. After that, your game will update every time a snapshot comes out – and you’ll always be one step ahead of your friends. To install snapshots, you just have to open the Minecraft Launcher and enable them in the Installations tab. They will also restrict you from playing on Realms. They’re a great way to experience new content early, but they can also corrupt your world, so you should back up your worlds before you try them.

The Java Edition periodically receives updates called snapshots, which are testing versions of the game.

Why is this important? Not only is it super cool to see new features early, but then you can also be smug about it when your friends discover them only when they’re officially released. However, there is a difference when it comes to accessing early versions of the games. Gameplay updates and early accessīoth Java and Bedrock receive the same major updates consistently. Both the Bedrock and Java Edition will be included in your subscription, and you will be able to start both from the same launcher. Not only can you run either edition, but you will be able to get them together when the Minecraft: PC Bundle launches on Xbox Game Pass for PC. Otherwise, you might as well stop wasting precious mining time with this article and just get the game, because only one of the two editions will run on your device.Īnd if you game on a Windows 10 or 11 PC, there’s even better news.

Basically, you can only run both editions if you either 1) have a PC running Windows 10 or 11, or 2) own multiple platforms, one of which is a PC or a Mac.

While the Java Edition is only available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, you can get the Bedrock Edition on Windows 10 and 11, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Fire OS/TV, Android, iOS, Windows Mobile and Samsung Gear VR. Once you’ve looked into it, it definitely becomes more straightforward. When looking at a game, the most important aspect to take into account is whether it runs on the platform(s) that you own. So you can imagine the conundrum when I first realized that not only is Minecraft available for almost every current-gen platform (and more) but it also comes in two versions: Java Edition and Bedrock Edition.īut what do these names mean? And what is the difference between them, if there are any? If you’ve been wondering the same thing, good news: I did the research so you don’t have to. My friends have stopped asking me out for ice cream because I always spend at least 30 minutes deciding which flavor I’m going to get – not to mention I always get the same one in the end anyway.
