[pridkett]

Java is the original version from Mojang/Notch. There’s always been enough of a community that killing it off to move away from Java would break so many extensions and servers would see an active revolt.

There is the non-Java version (Bedrock), but that’s not nearly as extensible.

[direwolf20]

Switching to vulkan breaks all the extensions too

[pta2002]

It doesn’t really. Server side mods don’t touch rendering code at all, and most client side mods also don’t come anywhere near it. I last did Minecraft mod development some 7 years ago but even then you would basically never reach into the raw drawing calls unless you were implementing shaders or something.

Considering the vast majority of mods are just adding some items or creatures, they don’t need to worry. This won’t be more than the regular API changes in between versions that they’re already used to, unless it’s a more graphics heavy thing like a shader mod.

Also, even with shaders, it’s fairly straight forward to port a shader from OpenGL to Vulkan (for the most part Vulkan just gives more flexibility in that regard). The stuff around it is the hard part.

[nottorp]

No, it only breaks the eye candy extensions.

There's a whole community that plays on private servers and uses extensions for stuff like access control, new game mechanics (which doesn't mean new shaders but new behaviors in game) etc.

The native windows version is not moddable as described above. And probably will never be because MS wants you to rent "servers" from them.

So most "serious" minecraft players ignore bedrock.

[throwaway27447]

Ah, I had misread "minecraft" as "microsoft". I wasn't aware minecraft java was a thing. Crazy they have their own java implementation!

[Xorlev]

Not a Java implementation, but the original game was written in Java. Later, Microsoft bought Minecraft and rewrote it (Bedrock edition) which runs on Xbox, tablets, etc. But, the community writes mods in Java.

Now both exist and get roughly the same feature set now, but the Java version remains popular given the vast variety of mods and servers.

[Freak_NL]

There is also this:

> Minecraft: Java Edition runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux; Minecraft: Bedrock Edition runs on Windows.

(From their own website. Bedrock might work with wine etc.)

For a game as popular as Minecraft, where every year a fresh cohort of young players reaches an age suitable for playing it, it would be madness to discard Linux and Mac users and possibly push the modding community to some other game.

[potwinkle]

There is an open-source launcher to run Bedrock on Mac and Linux, and it runs well. Bedrock, however, still isn't as popular because servers and mods are more of an afterthought, so not a lot of effort has been put into making it developer-friendly.

[vintermann]

As I recall the C++ reimplementation of Minecraft predates the Microsoft sale. Unless they did a complete rewrite I don't know about, Bedrock is distantly based on the old mobile/console version of Minecraft.

[muststopmyths]

It’s the Java version of the game, not a game version of Java.

There’s a native version called bedrock

[throwaway27447]

> It’s the Java version of the game, not a game version of Java.

This would be termed "Java Minecraft", not "Minecraft Java"

[thundermuffin]

No, the game's Java version's official title post-Microsoft acquisition of Mojang is Minecraft: Java Edition.

[vintermann]

They have renamed both product lines, Bedrock edition many times.

[creatonez]

Specifically:

  Minecraft Pocket Edition for Xperia Play
  -> Minecraft: Pocket Edition
  -> [Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition, Minecraft: Gear VR Edition,
      Minecraft: Apple TV Edition, Minecraft: Fire TV Edition,
      Minecraft: Pocket Edition]
  -> Minecraft
  (It is colloquially "Minecraft: Bedrock Edition" when Mojang is
   distinguishing it from other versions. Note also that despite all
   being named "Minecraft", different platforms are separate
   licenses, but the Windows 10/11 license is bundled with Java Edition)

  RubyDung
  -> Cave Game
  -> Minecraft: Order of the Stone
  -> Minecraft
  -> Minecraft: Java Edition

  Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
  -> [Minecraft: Xbox One Edition, Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition,
      Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition, Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition,
      Minecraft: Wii U Edition, Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition]
  (This was the 4J Studios version, now deprecated as some platforms
   are unsupported and on some platforms it is superseded by Bedrock.
   It is sometimes referred to as "Console Edition" but this was
   never official.)

[afavour]

You appear to be the only one confused