• Weedhack spreads via poisoned Minecraft mods on YouTube
• Malware disables defenses and enables remote access
• Offered as MaaS with free and paid tiers

Cybercriminals are using YouTube to disseminate malware that targets Minecraft users and takes full control over their computers.

In January this year, security researchers McAfee Labs spotted a new malicious campaign dubbed Weedhack. In the campaign, the malicious actors created countless YouTube channels and standalone websites, through which they promoted links to Minecraft clients and mods.

With the help of Weedhack (apparently an enterprise-grade dashboard that also allows crooks to inject the malware into legitimate Minecraft mods), they created poisoned mods and clients which delivered a .JAR file called DonutDupe.jar.

Industry support

This is a Java ARchive package format used in the Java ecosystem to bundle multiple files into a single archive. This file starts a chain reaction that results in Windows Defender being disabled, system information collected, and two additional payloads dropped, which establish persistence and enable remote access.

McAfee said the campaign accumulated a total of 116,464 hits, averaging approximately 2000 to 3,000 hits per day. Most of them are located in the US, with other notable mentions including Germany, India, the UK, Italy, Vietnam, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Spain.

McAfee describes Weedhack as a ‘Minecraft-focused Malware-as-a-service’ (MaaS). The custom payloads target versions 1.21.0 to 1.21.11 of the game, while the dashboard allows malicious actors to view stolen credentials and exfiltrated system information in a centralized manner. The MaaS is apparently being offered in Telegram channels in two tiers - free and paid, and while the free version comes with plenty of features (screenshot grabber, file exfiltrator), the paid one ($4.99 a month) offers webcam access, keylogging, and reverse shell execution.

“One of the key features that makes Weedhack unique is that it is hosted on the clear net and provides access to sophisticated malware for free," McAfee’s researchers explained. "This difference in cost and ease of access with detailed tutorials on how to use the malware significantly reduces the barrier to entry for prospective customers. Furthermore, its ability to steal Minecraft accounts attracts a younger audience. Both of these factors complement each other and make the campaign much more lethal."

Via The Hacker News

Looking to embrace some new Minecraft ideas just in time for spring break or Easter? You may be simply learning to get started in Minecraft or this might be a regular habit and love for you. Thanks to how big the Minecraft world can be, there’s still no shortage of new ideas, mods, and more for even the most seasoned player.

I’ve sought out some great ideas for how you can spend your Minecraft Spring break. These may be focused on the time of year or Easter, but also a few suggestions are simply an ideal project while you have some extra time for gaming.

Appreciating we all have different priorities, I’ve included some simple tweaks along with much more substantial changes for the game. To make your life easier, it’s a good idea to implement these plans in Minecraft Creative rather than Survival. While you’re making adjustments, your own Minecraft server will simplify matters more. Take a look at the best Minecraft server hosts to save you the hassle of setting up your own server. Here are all the best Minecraft Spring break ideas to try right now.

Minecraft ideas: Find a spring-like seed and go nuts

A nice starting point is to find luscious land which matches the sense that Spring is all about growth and development. Head to 5146159088207717555 for a great starting seed. It’s full of lusciousness and multiple different biomes, even if one of those is very snowy.

Cherry blossom are very popular during Spring and in Minecraft. Try 6738850498796139798 which has cherry blossom surrounding a hidden crater. Perfect for some exploration. Look for -2950580325944898288 if you want to spawn right next to cherry blossom. Many of the best Minecraft seeds can be very scenic and ideal for putting down long-term roots so don’t forget to take a look at those too.

Install a cute Minecraft Easter mod

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, there are some cute Minecraft Easter mods around. One simple addition is the Painted Egg mod which means you can craft and dye your own Easter eggs. I’d suggest combining that with a little Easter egg for young and old.

Alternatively, try Easter’s Delight which tags onto the Farmer’s Delight mod (a great option anyhow for farming and cooking fans). It adds a bunny villager, egg painting, and some Easter-themed food.

If you’d prefer a more Spring-like experience, I can’t recommend Hendrix’s Better Spring to Life mod enough. It’s a hefty one and it adds new variety to the creatures you come across, as well as mushrooms, leaf piles, and a lot more to add life to your game. Look for the other best Minecraft mods to see what works for your mood.

Create your own Minecraft Easter project

Imagination is the key here when embracing new Minecraft ideas. The likes of the best Minecraft texture packs can help a bit but ultimately, your only limit here is your imagination. An obvious idea is to make an Easter egg trail for your friends by placing treasures scattered around. If you want a big build project though, how about designing a burrow for a bunny or even a giant model of the Easter Bunny?

You could even race with friends to build the best Easter Bunny within a limited time or simply decorate your home to look more seasonal.

How to set up a Minecraft server

Setting up your own Minecraft server doesn’t actually have to cost anything. Simply read up on how to set up a Minecraft server on your PC and you can be all set relatively quickly.

Don’t do that though. A much better method is to use some of the best game server hosting and then you won’t have to worry about safety or anything more complicated than tapping a few buttons. Outsourcing your server hosting doesn’t have to cost a lot. I generally use Shockbyte with a basic server not costing much at $4 a month and being perfect for you and a few friends. It’s a timesaving endeavor compared to having to set up and install everything for yourself.

My ultimate Minecraft Spring/Easter project

I love to use this time of year to cultivate a great world in Minecraft. Spending some time building a cool looking set of burrows for rabbits is neat but also growing a luscious land for my villagers. When playing with others, it’s fun to set up some Easter egg trails too. I like saving extra special gifts for the trickiest places to find. It's a great time of year to let your imagination run wild with your Minecraft ideas.

Just adding a bunch of Eastery decorations can be plenty. However, if you want to go ambitious, this could be the time to replicate builds you've likely seen on YouTube of buildings from Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and many more.

Looking to turn Minecraft into something a little special? Thanks to some of the best Minecraft mods, there’s almost no limit to how much you can transform your beloved game. I’ve tracked down some excellent ways to mod your Minecraft so that you can play brick-based versions of Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, and many others.

You’ll need to set up a Minecraft server to do this and I recommend you do so by signing up to one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers. By using one of these providers, all the hard work has been done for you and you just need to install the relevant mod. If money is tight though, you can still host locally if you prefer.

However you do it, here’s my pick of the best ways to turn Minecraft into your favorite games, all with a few simple steps.

Turn Minecraft into Animal Crossing: Farming Crossing 5

Animal Crossing was the game to play in 2020 because of, well, you know. Since then though, it’s continued to be loved. If you don’t have a Nintendo console or Animal Crossing, you can play a form of the game with Farming Crossing 5.

It offers building prompts inspired by Animal Crossing, plenty of fish to collect, and a whole bunch of villagers to meet. You can’t talk to the villagers like you can in Animal Crossing but you can still participate in a lot of the collectathons that the Nintendo game is all about. It’s a sizeable mod to install with a lot of resource packs at play too but it’s simple enough to begin, particularly when using one of the best game server hosts.

Turn Minecraft into Mario Kart: Project MKMC

Requiring a fairly high-end spec PC and Minecraft Java only, Project MKMC is fairly ambitious. Its aim is to recreate Mario Kart in Minecraft with 4 custom made courses and 14 based on other Mario Kart courses. These include Mario Circuit 2 from the SNES version, Frappe Snowland from the N64 cart, and even courses from the DS and 3DS like Airship Fortress and Shy Guy Bazaar.

There are 7 different modes to choose from as well such as Grand-Prix mode, VS mode, Battle mode, and a Time Trial. Together, this truly feels like a whole new game built into Minecraft. It’s an impressive re-envisioning of the classic franchise and a great way to experience something new from your favorite.

Turn Minecraft into Call of Duty: Zombies: ZombieRool

For older Minecraft players, try ZombieRool. It’s a Minecraft take on Call of Duty Zombies with the idea being to survive endless waves inspired by World at War and Black Ops. Players fight through numerous waves while unlocking new areas and content along the way. There’s a barricade system so you can repair damaged defenses while the extensive arsenal of weaponry focuses on classic WW1 and WW2 firearms, along with much more modern weaponry too.

With power-up mechanics, temporary bonuses, and an upgrade system, there’s a lot going on here and it’s a lot of fun. If you want something a bit more aggressive than your average Minecraft experience, this should delight you.

Turn Minecraft into Super Mario: Super Mario Mania

The nearest to playing Super Mario through Minecraft, Super Mario Mania is a delight. It provides a cute storyline of sorts with your first port of call being to find a Warp Pipe. From there, there’s some crafting, but you also get to explore a world that looks a lot like every classic Mario game you used to enjoy.

There’s even a cool moveset with mantling on ledges and also wall jumps and ground pounds. Different biomes means there’s a lot of depth here so you get lands to explore, but also the cool vibes of a Mario game. You can also spend time building with Mario-style blocks if you want a more traditional Minecraft experience.

Turn Minecraft into Dark Souls: Dark Souls Expansion

Known for its fearsome difficulty, Dark Souls is a big step away from Minecraft, but now you can have the best of both worlds. The Dark Souls Expansion focuses on turning the game into a From Software style experience. That means a huge variety of weapons, structures, and pretty scary looking enemies.

It’s not the same as Dark Souls, of course, as it would be hard to replicate such an experience within Minecraft but it gives you a strong taste of that vibe and feeling. Designed to replicate a lot of the game, it’s a fun twist on something you’ve likely always loved and wanted more of.

The storyline has you collect ruin fragments but also face bosses and work towards upgrading your weaponry. It’s particularly fun to team up with friends to explore this world and marvel at how different Minecraft can become with the right mod.

Turn Minecraft into Pokemon: Cobblemon

Pixelmon is one of the best Minecraft servers so how about making a similar experience for yourself on your own server? Try Cobblemon if that’s your intention. A much loved combination of Minecraft and Pokemon, the mod gets regular updates and is a blast to play. You can capture Poekmon to expand your team and battle them too. Yup, just how you’d expect things to go.

The mod’s interface is laid out in a clear manner in which you can keep an eye on your Pokemon’s stats and friendship levels, plus you can switch up their movesets. It’s all reassuringly very Pokemon-esque with a Minecraft style twist. It’s even possible to import and add your own variants or new species thanks to Cobblemon supporting custom and data resource packs, so the world is your oyster here.

How to install Minecraft mods

To play most of these games, you’ll need to install mods. Doing so is pretty simple and we have an extensive guide on what Minecraft modpacks are. In the majority of cases, your server hosting provides one-click installation of many mods.

In other cases, you can follow the instructions that each mod provides. Some may require additional resource packs to be installed too. This shouldn’t take very long but plan ahead. Don’t decide to install the mod 5 minutes before you plan on playing with a bunch of friends. Set aside an hour so you don’t have to rush.

Fallen in love with the idea of a Minecraft server of your own? You’ve learned how to get started in Minecraft, set up a server from one of the best web hosting providers, and you're moving onto working out how to make it the experience you know you’ll adore.

One of the best ways to have ultimate control is to have your own server, of course. It’s simple enough to set up a Minecraft server on your PC but should you? It can be a useful starting point but there are some safety risks to consider before diving right in. Plus, there are some good alternatives to consider instead.

Like any big decision, it’s useful to know exactly what you’re dealing with. That’s why I’m taking you through a brief look at the safety risks involved in hosting your own Minecraft server, and the solutions to those concerns.

Read on and you’ll know exactly what to do when hosting your own Minecraft server safely.

The basics of keeping your Minecraft server secure

Securing your Minecraft server can be a little like keeping your PC secure. One of the simplest ways to protect it is to simply remember to update your server regularly. By doing so, you’ll eliminate the latest vulnerabilities and bugs, minimizing risk.

While we’re covering the simpler things, make sure to use strong passwords and ideally 2-factor authentication any time the opportunity arises. A strong admin password is often the first port of call but also one of the most effective fixes.

Talking of admin access, only give it out sparingly. Ideally, if you’re self-hosting your Minecraft server, you don’t really want anyone else to access it. If you do, make sure it’s someone you truly trust. Similarly, make sure rcon is disabled. It’s generally disabled as standard. Not sure what rcon is? It’s the remote console giving access to remotely execute commands so it can be very destructive in the wrong hands.

While you’re digging through Minecraft settings, if you just want a select group of players to access your server (which is sensible if you’re just hosting from your own PC), make sure to whitelist players through their IP addresses so only the players you want get access. Think of it as like the VIP list at a club. If you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in.

A final smart move is to block all the firewall ports that are inessential for running your Minecraft server. Don’t allow for any opening just in case of a security breach.

Once you have your server set up, be aware of what you run on it. Have you seen a tempting plugin or mod? Check it’s reputable and safe to use. It’s fairly rare but there are some suspicious mods out there which can open up vulnerabilities. Stick with the best Minecraft mods and you’re onto a good thing.

The safer (but pricier) alternative for your Minecraft server

I think it’s a great idea to learn the basics behind hosting a Minecraft server on your own PC but if you want a long-term solution, I suggest checking out the best Minecraft server hosting. You might expect buying hosting to be expensive but there are some very inexpensive Minecraft server plans out there. All are scaleable so you can adjust them according to your needs. If you’re looking ahead to becoming one of the best Minecraft servers around, you need to invest a little. Even if you’re just playing with friends, it’s nice to have the hard work taken out of server admin and you have the benefit of the server being available 24/7 which might cause an expensive electricity bill if you’re self-hosting.

When using some of the best game server hosting, it’s still a smart move to use many of the tips listed above. Make sure your passwords are secure and impossible to guess, don’t give admin access out without carefully considering who to trust, and definitely keep an eye on the mods you’re using.

Fortunately, by using a dedicated Minecraft server host, you won’t need to worry about firewall settings and all reputable Minecraft hosts will remind you of an update or do so automatically for you. Different Minecraft servers can optimize your experience so it’s worth shopping around.

If you’re keen to tinker and experiment a lot, you don’t have to restrict yourself to the simplest Minecraft hosting either. There are great guides on how to create a Minecraft server with a VPS with a VPS also giving you plenty of control over seemingly everything you can think of. It’s great for experimenting as a server admin with the safety of it being hosted elsewhere.

Keeping your Minecraft server safe

Whether you’re self-hosting or using a dedicated server host, it’s important to keep your Minecraft server safe. Luckily with these tips listed above, you should be fine. A lot of server security is fairly logical and similar to what you already do elsewhere with your PC. In reality, self-hosting can be very safe but it may be more convenient for you to use a dedicated host instead. Try both and see what works best for your situation, your friends, and your bank balance, of course.

• 2025's most-played games on PS5 and Xbox are fairly predictable
• In fact, they're exactly the same as they were in 2024
• The usual suspects include Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Fortnite

You'll get no prizes for guessing what the US's most played games of 2025 were. Especially as they're the exact same five as the year before.

The data comes from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who took to Bluesky to share information on 2025's most-played games across both PS5 and Xbox consoles for the US.

It's definitely not the most brain-busting Wheel of Fortune board we've ever seen, with titles like Fortnite, Roblox, and Grand Theft Auto 5 comfortably occupying both PlayStation and Xbox lists. The same now as they did in 2024.

Here's the top 5 PS5 list, for reference:

1. Fortnite
2. Call of Duty
3. Grand Theft Auto 5
4. Roblox
5. Minecraft

The Xbox list features the same five games, but Minecraft and Roblox have switched places. Understandable to a degree, given that the Mojang-developed survival sandbox finds its home at Microsoft these days.

2025 was a pretty astronomical year for video games. It felt like countless landmark titles released last year, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Silent Hill f, just to name a handful of bangers. It appears that the children still yearn for the mines, though.

This Christmas, you might be just learning to get started in Minecraft or you may be an experienced player looking to spread some Christmas cheer. Whatever the plan, we’ve got some great Minecraft Christmas ideas to help you embrace the holiday spirit.

As always, there are countless ways to enjoy Minecraft so we’ve covered a wide range of options. These can be simple tweaks right down to substantial builds or mods. In all cases, the most stress-free option is to do these things in Minecraft Creative. For many scenarios, you might also want to invest in one of the best Minecraft server hosts with some cheap options around that will be perfect for a festive plan. Here are the best Minecraft Christmas ideas to try this year.

Minecraft Christmas: Find a snowy seed and get building

Simply want those snowy Christmassy vibes? There are plenty of nice looking and snow-covered seeds to start your adventure. This is one of the simplest ways to begin adding Christmas spirit to your Minecraft experience.

The best Minecraft seeds can really change everything. I recommend the snow-capped peaks of 5613582850711657248. If you want something with a bit more variety, try 757067671151835873. This one offers up a cherry blossom-esque village surrounded by snowy mountains, so you get the best of both worlds.

In any seed with snow, you can either pick up snowballs or craft them from snow blocks. From there, you can chuck them at your friends and loved ones and spark a virtual snowball fight. They don’t deal much damage so they’re a lot of fun. Aim carefully as they arc downwards so you want to aim a little higher than you would expect.

While you’re exploring a snowy seed, why not make it your own? I recommend building a Christmas tree. To do so, you’ll need to grow a giant spruce tree and then you can decorate it with colored wool and glowstones. It makes a fun project to work on with a small group of you and family members.

Add to the atmosphere by building a home and adding some banners, a fireplace, and all those cozy things that the dream Christmas looks like. Bigger than the scope of this feature, there are some great Christmas builds you can work towards. There’s an entire YouTube playlist devoted to fun Christmas builds such as the Home Alone house, Santa’s Sleigh, and a Gingerbread House.

Check out custom maps

Thanks to how long Minecraft has been around, there are a lot of great Minecraft Christmas maps to download and check out.

I recommend Winter Wonderland as a good starting point. It’s Survival-friendly for those who want a bit more risk to their Minecraft Christmas, with a fantastic design. Count on some cool underground mazes to explore, boat racing circuits, and a whole wealth of candy canes to add to the mood.

A lighter option is Winter Puzzleland 2 which offers 12 different puzzles to solve and a special celebration if you figure them all out. There’s no player limit so the whole family can play while there are some great opportunities to explore too. It’s not the longest of adventures at a couple of hours but that makes it perfect for a cozy Christmas Eve evening.

If you love the parkour element of Minecraft more than anything else, try Parkour Wonderland. It provides 50 levels for you to leap around and explore either solo or with friends. It can get pretty tricky but it’s a nice change of pace if you want to rely on your jumping skills rather than anything too creativity focused.

For a modpack-assisted map, check out A Christmas Story – Santa’s Workshop Adventure Map which should be available through most server hosting modpack installs. It has a fully decorated Santa’s Workshop, an actual storyline, and plenty of custom mechanics. It truly revamps the game to make it as Christmassy as possible.

Install some Christmas resource packs and mods

Over the past year, you’ve hopefully already checked out some of the best Minecraft texture packs and the best Minecraft mods but there are some great specific options for Christmas too.

One great starting place is the Default-Style Christmas Pack which simply adds a Christmas twist to everything. Snowmen, candy canes, snow, wreaths, you get the idea. It’s a delight and a simple addition to your Minecraft Christmas server. If you want to make even the zombies look more festive, take a look at the Christmas Spirit Pack.

Even the music can be updated to more festive cheer with the Minecraft Christmas Music Sound Pack which is a quick and fun addition to your server.

How to set up a Minecraft server

You have options when it comes to how you plan on implementing all the above. A local server is a fairly quick solution once you know the basics on how to set up a Minecraft server but a more long-term solution is to use some of the best game server hosting with an eye on Minecraft functionality.

I’m a big fan of Shockbyte with a basic server for you and a couple of friends costing just $4 a month. It’ll save you from the effort of configuring a server for yourself and is perfect for some festive entertainment.

My ultimate Minecraft Christmas setup

Wondering what I’d do? If I were going to set up a Minecraft server with family members in mind, I’d pick a snowy seed, add some Christmassy decorations thanks to a texture pack or mod, and definitely add some Christmas music.

I’d then come up with ideas and challenges. I’d love to see them build the perfect Christmas cabin, have some snowball fights, and maybe see who can decorate the best tree. It’d be fun to treat the server like a winter wonderland and simply explore as a family. As with all things Minecraft, the only thing that can limit you is your imagination.

Just a bit over a week after a major AWS outage, it seems something else is brewing –and not in a good way. Starbucks is currently experiencing an outage that has has completely taken down mobile ordering. Meaning, if you want a Cold Brew, an Iced Chai Latte, or even a warmed piece of banana bread, you'll need to chat with a barista in store.

At the same time that 'We're sorry for the inconvenience' hit the Starbucks app, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Minecraft are experiencing major blips – see our live blog here. Of course, impacted folks are all going to Downdetector, where a number of services are seeing a spike.

But since we're coffee lovers, we're spinning up a live blog to track this outage affecting Starbucks as well as the issues hitting Xbox and Minecraft, and the team at TechRadar is checking whether any other services are affected.

Starbucks is at least being transparent with the issue

Unlike some other companies or services, which tend to take a while to confirm issues or outages, Starbucks is at least being transparent. As soon as you open the Starbucks app on an Android or iOS device, you'll see a pop-up that starts with "We're sorry for the inconvenience" and explains that mobile ordering is down.

A look at Down Detector right now

Here's a look at Down Detector right now, which might show that things are improving, even though a vast swath of services is down.

While these might not be connected, the reports of issues and outages with Starbucks, Minecraft, and the Xbox Network do align with reports on Microsoft Azure. Although, we can't confirm that Starbucks uses the Azure cloud. While Starbucks is showing a drop-off, Xbox and Minecraft are still on the rise.

Reported issues with Minecraft are still high

While Starbucks outage reports are dropping, Down Detector is currently showing Minecraft at 6,670 and Xbox Network at 2,770 reported outages.

We can't load the Xbox Support site

Considering Azure referenced DNS issues – see our live blog dedicated to those issues here – it's not surprising that Xbox's official support site and the status page are unresponsive and won't load at all.

Folks aren't happy with Starbucks or Xbox being down

As we typically see with outages, impacted folks are taking to social to voice there frustration, and that goes for Starbucks and Xbox.

While I still can't get the Xbox support page to load, the web storefront does load, though it's missing a few parts. Images aren't rendering, and spacing is a bit off across the board.

Currently, Down Detector shows 3,123 reported outages with the Xbox Network as of 1:06 PM ET.

Fortnite acknowledges something is impacting players on Xbox Cloud

Well, we haven't heard from Xbox officially, but Fortnite basically just confirmed it for them. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the @FortniteStatus account states, "We are looking into login issues players on Xbox Cloud might be experiencing."

Further, Fortnite is working on a fix and promises to keep us updated; that's good news on both fronts.

Epic Games has updated its official status page to note issues that Xbox Cloud players might be encountering. Essentially, for some, they can't even log in.

Starbucks app users aren't happy

I've pulled together some more posts from folks who aren't the happiest with Starbucks – mainly that mobile ordering works by loading money onto your Starbucks card and placing the order there. Suffice to say, with mobile ordering down, you can't access that money.

I will give credit to Starbucks for being communicative with the splash screen in the app, and it seems that the Starbucks app itself is working. Seemingly, this mobile ordering outage might be connected to the broader Azure outage, which is clearly impacting the Xbox Network and Minecraft as well.

Locked out of serious work

This message gets to the heart of why people are especially worried about Minecraft being inaccessible – people pour the time and creativity into making the most elaborate labors of love there. And, of course, working on these projects is a relaxation mode for millions of people.

Being locked out suddenly throws off your plans. I hope you have some Lego sets lying around instead…

Who supports the support teams?

Who do you turn to when Xbox is having problems? The support site. And when the Azure outage takes down the support site? Ahhh, well that's a conundrum.

League of Legends appears to be having issues in the UK

While the Starbucks app (723) reported outages are dwindling, and reports for Minecraft (6,963) and Xbox Network (2,901) are still holding where we last reported, League of Legends just got a sharp spike up to over 1,000 reports on Down Detector in the UK.

Xbox's support site is clawing its way back online

Well, this is certainly an improvement. Xbox's official support site is at least loading, but not operational – it's showing a classic green Xbox logo with a spinning circle around it that seemingly never stops.

A step in the right direction, though!

It's not just online worlds…

Comment from r/Minecraft

Why does an OFFLINE game need an ONLINE launcher? from r/Minecraft

As the Reddit posts above note, Azure going down doesn't just mean online servers are taken out. Locally hosted servers that need to phone home to authenticate may also be screwed, even if you have no plans to play online.

Seizing the opportunity

I'm guessing that PlayStation was already running these PS5 ads on the Xbox subreddit, given the recent new closeness between Xbox and Sony, with Halo: Campaign Evolved making its way across the console divide.

Or maybe PlayStation just saw the opportunity in the last couple of hours and started reminding them they can play multiplayer just fine elsewhere today. That would be a low blow, though…

Microsoft rolls out a fix on Azure and recovery is beginning

While this doesn't necessarily mean that Minecraft, the Xbox Network, or even the Starbucks app might bounce back to normal operations, Microsoft has provided an update to Azure's issues today – October 29, 2025 – noting that a fix has been deployed.

However, the statement notes that "At this stage, we anticipate full mitigation within the next four hours as we continue to recover nodes. This means we expect recovery to happen by 23:20 UTC on 29 October 2025. We will provide another update on our progress within two hours, or sooner if warranted."

The point being, this could take hours to resolve.

Azure is back to over 98% availability, but Starbucks, Minecraft, and Xbox are all seeing impacts

We're a bit after Azure's promised, estimated time of restoration, and it's nearly there, hours after this major outage ensued and took out several other services. Azure states, "The AFD service is now operating above 98% availability. While the majority of customers and services are mitigated or seeing strong improvement across affected regions, we are continuing to work on tail-end recovery for remaining impacted customers and services. We have revised our mitigation time and are currently tracking toward full mitigation by 00:40 UTC on 30 October 2025, though we will communicate if mitigation is achieved sooner."

That still puts us a few hours away from a complete and total recovery for Azure, but what does that mean for the Starbucks app, Minecraft, and Xbox Network, among other services?

Well, reports on Down Detector for Starbucks have significantly decreased, but the app is still showing the same "We're sorry for the inconvenience" message, and mobile ordering is still down. It might be that Starbucks is waiting to turn this feature back on, and we've reached out to the coffee brand to ask for more details.

Xbox confirms a major outage

Minecraft is still seeing over 1,000 reported outages on Down Detector, while the Xbox Network is right under 300 reports. With the latter, the official status page for Xbox is finally back up and running, but it's not all good news.

Right now, it shows 'Account & Profile,' 'Store & subscriptions,' 'Cloud gaming & remote play,' 'Support & services,' as well as 'Games & gaming' are all experiencing a 'Major Outage' with no estimated resolution. We've reached out to Xbox asking for more clarification, but it's likely the service is still down for you and may not return until later this evening or earlier tomorrow morning.

Xbox now says everything's back to normal

Well, that was quick! Xbox has updated its official status page at 8:25 PM ET to show that all aspects of its operations are "Up and running." That's excellent news after hours of issues, including the inability to check the service's official status.

Down Detector is currently showing 260 reported outages as of 8:12 PM ET, down significantly from the peak of over 3,500 reports earlier today. Similarly, reports for Minecraft have dropped to 855 – still quite a bit more than on an average day, but it seems like issues are starting to resolve.

• Mojang CEO Jens Bergensten says Minecraft's Creeper probably wouldn't be included in the game today because it would be "so controversial"
• He says, "If you were to follow the rules that we have today, we would probably not add the Creeper"
• The CEO explains that when adding something destructive to Minecraft, it needs to be tested with the players first

According to Mojang CEO Jens Bergensten, Minecraft's Creeper probably wouldn't be included in the game if it were made today, because it would be "controversial".

Speaking in a new behind-the-scenes developer video titled 'The Biome That Broke Minecraft', Bergensten talked about what he calls the "iconic" Creeper, one of Minecraft's many enemies that can blow itself up and destroy anything within its reach, but believes that the game wouldn't be able to feature the monster today.

"Even to this day, it's one of the monsters in gaming that I'm still a little afraid of," Bergensten said.

"If you were to follow the rules that we have today, we would probably not add the Creeper. Because it would actually be so controversial to have a monster that would show up and destroy what you built."

Earlier in the video, Bergensten explained that it's important to make sure Minecraft's destructive elements weren't too off-putting to the player, touching on the Enderman and its ability to remove any block in the game and destroy anything the player created.

"It's very important that whenever you add something destructive to the game, you need to test it with the players and make sure it finds the right level of destruction," he said.

Suffice to say, Minecraft wouldn't be the same without the annoying presence of the Creeper, because like it or not, it does make the game's survival mode more of a challenge.

If you're new to Minecraft, be sure to check out our guide to the best Minecraft seeds of 2025, which can truly enhance your time with the game.

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Minecraft is a vast and amazing game. It’s also spectacularly overwhelming when starting out. If you have no idea where to begin, you’re in luck. I’m here to guide you through the very basics so you have the foundations to grow in the game and achieve whatever you want.

Of course, as such an open-ended game, you don’t have to follow these tips. There are plenty of other ways to get started but this is for those moments where you just don’t know where to begin. From there, you can develop your own skills and maybe one day even use the best Minecraft server hosting to have ultimate control over everything.

What type of Minecraft game to choose?

Starting out in Minecraft isn’t actually as simple as loading up the game and you’re all set. Well, it kind of is but it also isn’t. Confused? That’s why I’ve broken things down elsewhere.

It’s important to know whether to play Java or Bedrock with their pros and cons to both setups. I tend to prefer Java as it means more customization options on my PC but Bedrock is your sole option when playing on console and comes with its own advantages.

Once you’ve figured out, you need to decide whether to play Minecraft Creative or Survival. You can’t really fail at Creative so I’m focusing on Survival with the tips below. You need more guidance with Survival than with Creative which lives up to its name and is more to do with artistic vision than lasting as many days as possible. Just let loose with your ideas and don’t worry about getting stuck.

In either case, using one of the best Minecraft seeds may help as you can choose a particular part of the world full of the resource or landscape you need most. If you’re completely new though, don’t worry about this. Come back to that idea when you’re more experienced with the game.

What should I build first?

You’re in the game. Now what? The world seems huge and overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be that way. Collecting resources is a good starting point so just simply punch some trees (really) and smash some blocks. You’ll be collecting useful things in no time.

If you punch a sheep, you end up with wool too, and an uncomfortable realisation that you’ve punched a sheep to death.

You start out with a basic crafting table but you need a slightly bigger one to build genuinely useful items. Do so by collecting four pieces of wood and diving into the crafting menu. Once you have a bigger table, use it to make a wooden axe to ensure chopping down trees is easier. Combine three pieces of wood and two sticks and ta-da – one wooden axe.

There are a LOT more recipes and things to build than this. Far too many to list here but these are some of your core essentials.

How to build a shelter

Surviving is tough but a shelter helps matters. Build items like a pickaxe or shovel then start getting to work on building a shelter.

A shelter gives you the most protection although if you simply want to rest, a bed will do. A bed can be made with three pieces of wood and three wool from sheep. It won’t take long to build.

For a more robust form of shelter, a home helps. You can dig into the side of a hill then place some blocks to create walls around you. You could also create torches with coal and wood. Start small and focus on the basics then work your way up. Adding windows is a nice touch but far from essential, especially on your first day.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed so I suggest building one room with your walls and place a door. You can work on further details as you progress and become more comfortable.

What to do about hunger

Now you have a shelter, it’s time to be aware of your hunger levels. Everything you do from walking, smashing, sprinting, or jumping burns through your energy meter. If you’ve picked one of the easier difficulty levels, the meter goes down slower but it’s still important to keep on top of it.

Kill an animal and eat the raw meat for a quick burst of energy but cooking it is far more beneficial. Mine eight stones and some coal then make a furnace via the crafting table. More intricate food can be created but for now, we just want to get you to tomorrow.

How to survive the night

Night time is dangerous in Minecraft. Once you’ve built your shelter, build a little mine shaft to hide amongst at night. It might be a little dull but with limited defenses, it’s your best option right now.

Find a good place to set up camp and make sure you don’t get lost as you roam in the daytime. Make some tools, make a bed, build a shelter ideally against a hillside, and gather together some meat. Basically, put everything you’ve learned above together.

If you place torches near the entrance, that’ll stop enemies from respawning near you.

Do you need villagers in Minecraft?

Safety in numbers is certainly a thing here and you might hear about villagers a lot. One of the most complex things about Minecraft, you can learn how to breed villagers but I don’t really advise it when starting out. Focus on you first before you get too involved with others.

As before – get that base nice and strong and ensure you can handle a fight or two. From there, you can experiment and work out what your goals are. There’s so much to do here, you’re likely to have your own plan once you know how to survive the first day or two.

It might seem initially impossible to play Minecraft for free, but there are actually some convenient ways to at least try the game out if not use as a permanent solution. On the surface, it seems like everything to do with Minecraft is a paid deal, from different Minecraft games to setting up the best Minecraft server hosting. If you simply want to try out Minecraft though, you have options.

Below, I take you through all the ways in which you can play Minecraft for free or at least for a lot less than usual. Not every solution will work for every person but it’s worth taking a look at before you dive into a full game purchase.

Minecraft for free: Use the free trial

Not sure if Minecraft is for you? The perfect solution to this predicament is to try it for yourself. There’s a Minecraft free trial for Windows, Android, and PlayStation 5 so most people will be able to access it. This is for the Bedrock version with a trial for Java available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.

In all cases, the free trial is time-limited but you get around 90 minutes on average to be able to check out the game to see if it appeals to you. Given its huge popularity, I think you’ll love it but it’s always good to try before you buy. Downloading Minecraft is just as simple as if you’re buying it.

Minecraft for free: Use the Xbox/PC Game Pass trial

Minecraft is available on Xbox and PC Game Pass so in one way, it’s effectively free on there if you already have a subscription plan. To make it even cheaper/free, there are often Xbox or PC Game Pass trials available for new subscribers and occasionally lapsed subscribers. These can be acquired through buying something like a new PC, laptop or graphics card, but also some people’s phone plan includes Xbox/PC Game Pass, with many other services including it as a freebie.

Xbox/PC Game Pass offers access to hundreds of games as well as Minecraft so it works out as very good value for avid players. All games included through the service are full releases with no limitations. Many more games are added on a regular basis. Check to see if you’re eligible for a 2 week or one month free trial before signing up on a paid plan.

Minecraft Education

If you’re currently studying, you may have access to Minecraft Education through the classes you take. To use the free trial, you need an eligible Microsoft 365 or EntraID account. Check with your teacher or tutor to find out if you can access Minecraft Education this way. It’s possible to explore demo lessons via the Minecraft trial.

Not all students will be able to access Minecraft Education this way. Also, Minecraft Education is different from ‘regular’ Minecraft. Focused on the educational benefits, it comes with pre-built lesson plans and multiplayer for up to 30 students within a closed environment. That means it might not suit your needs but it could be a cheap/free way to check out what Minecraft has to offer.

Play Minecraft Classic

Feeling nostalgic and want to play Minecraft how it used to be? Minecraft Classic is available to play for free within your browser.

It’s a replica of the original which means there are only 32 blocks to use. It’s also a little buggy (as it was back in the day) and, most importantly, you can’t save. Once you close the browser, it’s all gone. Not ideal then.

However, you can copy the link it creates so you can share the world with up to 9 players for a brief time. It’s fun for nostalgia but also for checking out if this kind of sandbox gaming is for you or not. If you just want a quick play of the game, it works well here too.

How much does Minecraft cost?

If none of these ways to play Minecraft for free appeal, you may find yourself wanting to buy Minecraft. It’s the best way to enjoy the full experience.

The standard version for PC includes both Java and Bedrock. It costs $29.99/£34.99. The Switch version is solely the Bedrock one but is the same price as PC. Typically, the PlayStation and Xbox versions cost less, while the mobile version is $6.99/£6.99.

In all cases, look out for sales. Often, the game is discounted as part of various seasonal sales so it’s worth holding out for one of these unless you desperately need the game right now.

Once you’re all set with Minecraft, it might be time for you to learn how to set up a Minecraft server so you can get things working just how you like them.

• 53% of shared hosting users say they’ve lost players due to crashes, lag, or downtime
• Only 10% of VPS and 8% of bare metal users experienced the same
• 58% of Minecraft admins say low latency is the most important factor when picking a server

A Liquid Web study on Minecraft hosting in 2025 has confirmed that reliable Minecraft server hosting is key to success in the field.

In the survey of over 1,000 Minecraft server admins and players, Liquid Web found that investing in superior Minecraft servers generally paid off, but that many admins found they could do with more assistance.

Crucially, 25% of all admins found they had lost players and friends due to lag, crashes, or downtime issues on their server. That figure shot up to a huge 53% when looking at shared hosting users, with the number dipping to just 10% for VPS users and 8% of bare metal server admins.

It’s a sharp reminder that the best Minecraft server hosting could make or break your chances as a successful Minecraft server admin.

Minecraft server admins need more support

According to the survey, 38% of Minecraft server admins find server setup and management confusing, with 58% keen to take a short class or tutorial on how to set up a Minecraft server.

These issues were more common among shared hosting users with around 36% of that group citing confusion, compared to 17% of bare metal users. Simply put, shared hosting users are facing higher chances of losing players due to issues, but also feel less confident in their ability to correct matters.

Tied into that, the third biggest dealbreaker for Minecraft users is poor customer support at 36% with hidden fees and high latency/slow response time being the biggest and second biggest issue.

As one person surveyed explained, “It’s hard to get friends to stick around when the server crashes every other day. That’s why I finally switched. It wasn’t about cost, it was about keeping people together.”

While shared hosting might seem like a cheap and easy solution, it may scupper your Minecraft server hosting plans faster than any other decision you make.

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• What Minecraft games are there?

Minecraft started out on the PC but since its formal release in 2011, it has gradually expanded to many different formats.That’s perfect for reaching new audiences or simply enabling you to play in different ways such as on your phone or on the move in some way.

If you’re not familiar with what formats Minecraft can be played on, I’m here to break it all down as well as explain the differences along with the pros and cons of each format. Sadly, you can’t buy just one copy of the game and it works across all systems so it’s useful to know which device will be best suited for you. Here’s all you need to know about what system Minecraft is for.

In all cases, you can easily connect to the best Minecraft game server hosting and the best game server hosts, but not all offer the same amount of customization.

Minecraft PC/Mac

First launched for PC, Minecraft is technically at its most pure on the PC. If you’re keen to use the best Minecraft mods, the best Minecraft texture packs, or the best Minecraft shaders, you’ll need the PC build which allows for the most customization.

On the PC, you have the choice of Java or Bedrock with both available via PC Game Pass and each offering a slightly different experience. Java is the original option and the most customizable while Bedrock is more accessible to newcomers. The Minecraft PC system requirements are fairly low meaning most people can easily play it. However, if you have a more high-end PC with an Nvidia RTX graphics card, you can enjoy ray tracing support which makes the game look great.

Minecraft is also available for Mac with a similar low-end spec requirement.

Minecraft Mobile

Available on Android and iOS, Minecraft can be played via your phone. It has controller support as well as touchscreen support. You get the same experience as on a bigger screen with both Creative and Survival modes available depending on your mood. The mobile version effectively uses the Bedrock build so mods and customization is limited but it’s the core experience and you can play with other users running Bedrock. It’s also regularly updated.

Minecraft Xbox

Minecraft on Xbox is the next most feature-rich option after the PC. It’s great for finding the best Minecraft seeds or accessing the best Minecraft servers. While the PC offers more customizable graphics settings and a generally better visual experience, the Xbox is more consistent with performance, and it’s easier to access for the average player.

The full wealth of mods are PC only but you can still check out many addons and mods for Xbox and it’s generally simpler to set up. It’s possible to buy Minecraft individually or you can sign up for Xbox Game Pass to play Minecraft as part of the subscription service. The game is available for Xbox One as well as Xbox Series X/S consoles, with the latter offering the best experience.

Minecraft Nintendo Switch

Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 1 or 2 is ideal for getting kids involved. After all, it’s one of the better consoles for the younger market. It’s the same Bedrock experience as you’d get on other Bedrock editions with infinite worlds to explore. The resolution is a little lower at 1080p but that’s far from a big issue with Minecraft given how it looks visually. The Joy-Con controls work quite well while a conventional controller also works for other ways to play.

The key advantage for Minecraft Nintendo Switch is that you can play it connected to your TV or monitor but you can also play it on the move. There are some minor issues with lag and slowdown on the Switch but for Switch 2, that issue is solved.

Minecraft PlayStation

Originally seen as a PC/Xbox exclusive, Minecraft eventually came to PlayStation 3 and now 4 and 5. The latter was only launched in October 2024 and was optimized to provide a greater render distance than other console games, while also offering 4K resolutions and 60 fps. For console, PS5 and Xbox Series X are the height of the Minecraft experience. If you own the PS4 version, it also runs on PS5.

As with other console versions, Minecraft on PlayStation uses add-ons rather than mods so you’re somewhat limited with how far you can customize the game. However, for the core experience, this is exactly what you would expect from Minecraft.

Minecraft Amazon Fire Tablets

Basically the mobile experience, Minecraft on Amazon Fire Tablets is Bedrock with all its limitations but simplicities. There are add-ons available through the store but you don’t have the same amount of customization options as on PC. There’s cross platform play between Windows and mobile users, while the core experience is still there.

It may be a relatively stripped back experience but for entertaining kids, or starting out on your Minecraft journey, this is a reliable starting point.

Minecraft is a wonderfully versatile game but that can feel overwhelming when starting out. We’ve looked at the differences between Minecraft Creative and Survival as these are the two main ways in which most people play. Whether you’re joining one of the best Minecraft servers or you’re looking to use the best Minecraft server hosting to create your own community, it’s important to know what kind of Minecraft you want to play.

Below, I’ve explained about the two different types as well as provided a quick overview of other ways of playing Minecraft. It’s a good introduction for newcomers but can also remind long-term players of a few differences they may have forgotten.

Minecraft Creative

Minecraft Creative is the most relaxed form of Minecraft. That’s because nothing can hurt you and you can’t die. It’s great for simply building structures and figuring out the basics of the game without any stress.

You’ll still see enemies but they can’t attack you and you can’t fight them either. You’re provided with more types of block to build from and there are no interruptions. If you just want a giant virtual building block set, you can do so here. It’s perfect for unleashing your creative vision on the world with unlimited resources dodging any risk of frustration.

At its simplest, Minecraft Creative is best for younger players but also anyone who wants a stress-free experience or to spend some time figuring out the basics. I find it a fun mode to play when I want to experiment or I’m just trying to unwind from a busy day. The lack of peril can get dull but for those times you just need to relax, it’s perfect.

If you’ve been scouring the internet for some of the best Minecraft creations, these are almost certainly from Minecraft Creative. It’s the artist’s choice, if not the avid gamer’s option.

Minecraft Survival

Minecraft Survival is the mode that lends itself more to the conventional gaming experience. That’s because there’s a ton of peril at heart. As the name suggests, survival is everything. You can be harmed by enemies such as zombies but you also have to be aware of food. As in life, you need food to survive. Luckily, you can find it by smashing up blocks but there are more elegant solutions for helping you to craft better meals.

Besides simply trying to survive, building is a little different in Survival mode too. That’s because you need to find the resources to construct buildings. Starting out, it can be pretty basic and you’ll need to pace yourself appropriately. It’s a tough battle upwards but it can feel a lot more satisfying than Creative if you have the time to commit to it. Using one of the best Minecraft seeds or one of the best Minecraft mods can help you out a lot here.

Minecraft Survival can be tough but there’s a real sense of progression here. While there’s technically no storyline to follow, there is a form of endgame with the chance to defeat the Ender Dragon.

There’s a huge amount of depth to Minecraft Survival from learning how to breed villagers to simply constructing an awesome civilization that will keep you safe. If you’re looking for a more traditional gaming experience, Minecraft Survival is the best option for you. If you’ve set up your own server with one of the best game server hosts, you can always tweak some settings to make things a little simpler for you.

Other types of Minecraft

When I talk about different Minecraft modes, I’m mostly thinking of Creative and Survival, but there are other options available.

One other type which is popular is Hardcore. It plays out like Survival but with one crucial distinction – you only have one life. If you die in the game, you lose everything and have to start again. You can view the world as a spectator but you can no longer interact. It can be a pretty harsh mode to play so most players wait until they’re more experienced to give it a try. Hardcore modes on the whole are increasingly popular within gaming as they offer an unique and sometimes brutal challenge.

As mentioned, there’s also Spectator mode which lets you explore a world freely without ever interacting with it. It’s limited but fun if you just want to see what someone else’s creation looks like.

Finally, there’s Minecraft Adventure which is a little different from anything else. It’s a game mode focused on player-created maps. Basically, a friend can invite you to their Adventure experience and you’re restricted in terms of what you can do. It means that the map can’t be damaged in any way but you can still enjoy the experience together. It might not be a mode you play all the time but it’s fun to explore.

Minecraft has come a long way since its humble beginnings back in 2009. More than just one game, there’s an entire series of different Minecraft games and each offers a very different experience. If you’re not sure where to begin, I have you covered with a quick overview of what to expect from each game. That way, you’ll know exactly which one is for you. That’s without taking into account the Minecraft movie for those times when you’d rather watch than play.

If you simply want to play classic Minecraft, you need Minecraft Bedrock or Minecraft Java. We have an explainer breaking down the difference between Bedrock and Java. For everything else, keep reading and I’ll show you what you need to know.

Minecraft Bedrock and Java

When someone refers to Minecraft, they almost always mean Bedrock or Java. Offering slightly different pros and cons, the concept remains the same – the openness of being able to build whatever you want starting from very little and then potentially constructing vast worlds. Think of it as like a futuristic Lego set albeit with creatures out to attack if you switch to Survival mode instead of Creative mode.

The open-world sandbox game means you can explore to your heart’s content. Generally, you start out mining blocks to form the basics, then build things like weapons or containers, steadily building up to castles or even cities if you want. Survival mode requires you to also keep well fed, safe from danger, and at a suitable temperature, while Creative mode is much more like a set of building blocks with no risk to speak of. The only true end-game lies in Survival mode with the fearsome Ender Dragon to fight, but most people will just enjoy the journey.

It’s a very family-friendly game although some of the best Minecraft servers may require supervision as is the case with any online game. For complete control, sign up for one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers so you can dictate everything the server offers. It can be very useful to tweak things like how aggressive other creatures are or how many resources are at your disposal. An alternative is to research the best Minecraft seeds to give you an edge when you first load up your game.

Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is a spin-off of Minecraft Bedrock and designed for the classroom environment. It offers student-specific benefits such as being able to host a whole classroom without the need for a separate server setup. It’s also possible for an educator to create an NPC (Non Playable Character) which can act as a guide for the pupils. Evidence of learning through the game is created through a more advanced screenshot system, while in-game chalkboards can be created to teach pupils what they should be doing.

It’s effectively the same as Minecraft Bedrock but with more ways to teach available through it. Separate lesson plans are also available for teachers looking to expand their educational toolset.

Minecraft Dungeons

Minecraft Dungeons is a dungeon crawler game first released in 2020. It’s a point-and-click hack-and-slash adventure with no open-world components. Instead, you wander through dungeons and attack enemies all around you. Each area is procedurally generated so no two games are alike. There are simple traps and puzzles but mostly, you’re cutting your way through a wave of Minecraft-themed enemies.

Like its namesake, the game has multiplayer with up to four players able to team up either locally (side by side) or online. It’s a very different experience from the original Minecraft and best aimed at older kids and adults looking for something a little less complex.

Minecraft Legends

Another spin-off game which focuses on a different genre, Minecraft Legends is a real-time action strategy game. Your aim is to defend the Overworld from an invasion of creatures and you need to build up your defences while also gathering together resources.

It involves a different kind of strategical thinking to Minecraft as it’s more fast-paced and requires a different way of planning ahead. It’s also much more aggressively themed but it’s a strong introduction to the real-time strategy genre.

Retired Minecraft games

In the last decade, there have been many Minecraft games and not all are easily playable any more.

One of the earliest spin-offs was Minecraft: Story Mode and Story Mode - Season 2. Each were released as individual episodes which came together to form a story. It’s narrative-driven unlike other Minecraft games with players able to make decisions which affect what happens next. The story has a group of adventurers setting out to save the world having slayed an Ender Dragon.

Another spin-off was Minecraft Earth. It was an augmented reality sandbox game for Android and iOS. It meant players could interact with the world and build their own Minecraft style structures within their living space. It’s no longer available for mobile users having shut down in June 2021.

One of the first things about Minecraft you’ll notice is needing to decide which type or version to use. Bedrock and Java exist and to the untrained eye, neither title gives much away to what that actually means for you. You want to play the same version as your friends and it can become even more important when signing up for the best Minecraft server hosting. Fortunately, Bedrock and Java are quite similar (you’re still playing Minecraft either way!) but it’s useful to know the difference.

Read on and I’ll take you through what the difference between Minecraft Bedrock and Java is so that in no time, you’ll know exactly what you need in your life.

Minecraft Bedrock: what does it offer?

Minecraft Bedrock is a popular option thanks to it supporting cross-play via many different consoles and devices, so you can easily play with your friends. Anyone playing Minecraft on Xbox, Nintendo Switch 1/2, Playstation 4/5, and mobile can team up with friends playing on Windows. It’s the most flexible solution for many people.

Bedrock also has easy to find downloadable content via the Minecraft Marketplace which is simpler than previous alternatives. Continuing that trend, you can easily check out public realms which are partnered with Minecraft, focusing on providing a superior experience. It’s an easy addition to the best Minecraft servers already out there, so you don’t have to go searching for your own favorites.

If you don’t want to use the best game server hosts (understandable given it can be a lot of effort), Minecraft Bedrock makes it simple to set up a Realm aka a type of server that you can share with your friends.

Wrapping things up nicely, Bedrock also offers achievements and trophies for anyone wanting to highlight their achievements, and Xbox app users can set up moderation and parental controls if needed.

Minecraft Java: what does it offer?

Minecraft Java is the original Minecraft and it runs on Java hence the name. There are some pros and cons to it being the older build. It still offers cross-play but only between Windows, Mac, and Linux users rather than consoles or mobile devices. Java offers more mod support which is advantageous for anyone wanting to create their very own bespoke build of Minecraft. The best Minecraft mods is a great starting point here. If you want to set up a fully modded Minecraft server, this is what you need.

Like Bedrock, you can set up Realms, and you can also customize your own skin. Customization is the biggest strength behind Minecraft Java. It’s simple to add the best Minecraft shaders or the best Minecraft texture packs. Many Minecraft fans believe that Java is the best looking version of the game. Purists will appreciate being able to easily install older versions of the game if they feel a past era of Minecraft was the best time.

Some fans also believe that combat is more satisfying in Java with Bedrock focusing on spam clicking for attacking, while there’s a little more strategy in Java due to a cooldown.

Rather than achievements, Java has advancements which are only viewable in-game unlike the Xbox/PC achievements system and PlayStation’s Trophy system.

Which Minecraft should I choose?

While offering the same game, Bedrock and Java lean into different demographics. If you’re a parent, you can’t go wrong with Bedrock as it offers a safer and more accessible experience for kids. You’ll always be in control and the recommended public servers are generally safe but can be a little focused on ‘pay to win’ rather than the potentially more creative options elsewhere. You’ll still need to monitor what your children are doing in-game.

Bedrock also works well for someone who doesn’t want to dip into the complexities of Minecraft because they just want a quick burst of fun with some friends. It’s very accessible like that and you won’t need to double check with your mates about what system they’re using to play.

However, Java provides a lot more customization for those players who want to change up shaders, texture packs, and have unlimited access to mods. That means less moderation and regulation which has some obvious good and bad points to it. If you’re keen to grow a community, this is the best option.

When signing up to a game server host, you may need to initially make a decision as to what type of server you install but you can always change that at a later date.For maximum convenience, something like Nodecraft can be most useful as you can use its Save&swap system to easily switch between a Bedrock and Java server as needed. Most other server hosts provide something similar though.

What other Minecraft options are there?

Minecraft has evolved a lot over the years. Besides Java and Bedrock, there’s also Minecraft Dungeons, Minecraft Legends, and Minecraft Education. Each of these are different experiences. Dungeons and Legends are both action RPG games with Dungeons having you explore dungeons (appropriately) and Legends being more strategy-focused. Don’t get these confused with the core Java and Bedrock experience.

Pick what’s best for you between Bedrock and Java, then dive into learning how to set up a Minecraft server to get things just how you like them.

• Check Point Research finds hundreds of malicious GitHub repositories
• These impersonate different mods or cheats for Minecraft
• The infostealers grab Minecraft data, as well as browser and crypto wallet information

Minecraft players are being actively targeted by a group of cybercriminals interested in their login credentials, authentication tokens, and crypto wallet information, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers Check Point Research recently discovered the large-scale operation, run by a group called the Stargazers Ghost Network, a distribution-as-a-service (DaaS) operation active for a year now, distributing malware and infostealers on behalf of other cybercriminals.

In this campaign, the crooks abused the fact that Minecraft is one of the largest games in the world, with an active, thriving community of players and modders. Minecraft mods are player-built additions to the game and as per the researchers, there are more than a million modders out there.

Hundreds of repos

The attackers created malicious GitHub repositories, spoofing legitimate mods, and pretending to be cheats: Skyblock Extras, Polar Client, FunnyMap, Oringo, and Taunahi, are just some of the names making rounds.

CheckPoint says these have had thousands of views on Pastebin, suggesting that the campaign is rather successful.

To make matters worse, since these are custom-built to target Minecraft users, and since both the downloader and the malware are written in Java, they are currently going undetected by all antivirus engines.

"We have identified approximately 500 GitHub repositories, including those that are forked or copied, which were part of this operation aimed at Minecraft players," one of the researchers told BleepingComputer.

"We've also seen 700 stars produced by approximately 70 accounts." Stars are used to boost the legitimacy of the repositories, thus improving the chances of infection.

The attack is split into two phases. The first phase targets Minecraft account tokens, and user data from both the Minecraft launcher, and some third-party launchers. It also steals Discord and Telegram information.

The second stage deploys a more “traditional” infostealer called “44 Caliber”, which steals browser data, VPN information, crypto wallet data, and more.

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• A Minecraft Movie will be available to stream on Max very soon
• Warner Bros. has confirmed it'll arrive on June 20
• The biggest film of 2025 has almost reached the $1 billion mark globally

Get ready to shout "chicken jockey!" at your screens, everyone, because A Minecraft Movie has finally dug up a streaming release date.

Well, that is in countries where Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) super streamer Max, i.e., one of the world's best streaming services, is available.

The Jason Momoa and Jack Black-starring film will launch on the service this Friday (June 20), so you don't have long to wait to check out one of the highest-grossing new movies of the year at home in nations including the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Viewers in places where Max isn't available, such as the UK, Canada, and India, can still watch Minecraft's movie adaptation at home. However, you'll have to rent or buy it from Amazon, Apple TV, the Microsoft Store, and other online stores. Hopefully, it won't be long until deals are struck with Max's distribution partners in these nations, so that viewers can watch on services like Sky, Crave, and JioHotstar.

Debuting in theaters on March 4, A Minecraft Movie stars Momoa, Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastien Hansen as five humans transported to the Overworld, aka Minecraft's cube-based dimension where the only limit to creativity is your imagination. There, they must help to defeat the nefarious Malgosha, who wants to rule the Overworld using a magical artifact known as the Orb of Dominance.

A movie worth its weight in gold (or diamonds)

Not many people expected A Minecraft Movie to be such a huge hit. Despite the enduring popularity of Mojang's hugely successful video-game namesake, I was one of those who expected its film reimagining to fall flat on its face. And my belief didn't waver after watching it – indeed, as part of my A Minecraft Movie review, I said it wasn't the wildly creative blockbuster video-game film adaptation I was hoping for.

I'm not afraid to admit that I underestimated how wildly successful it would be, though. Per BoxOfficeMojo, A Minecraft Movie has raked in over $951.51 million worldwide since it debuted in theaters. That makes it the biggest money-spinner of the year in the western world (China's animated fantasy flick Ne Zha 2 has reportedly made an eye-popping $1.89 billion, with $1.82 billion made domestically in that nation).

Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake could surpass A Minecraft Movie before the former's theatrical run ends – at the time of writing, Lilo & Stitch has amassed $858.3 million globally. However, thanks to its game namesake's worldwide fanbase and those viral TikTok videos of chaotic A Minecraft Movie screenings, Warner Bros' film remake may yet hold onto its box office crown – at least until Superman and/or The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrive and potentially earn more money.

You might also like

• 'They were taken out of context': A Minecraft Movie director responds to fan backlash over the film adaptation's visuals
• 'We weren't able to do it': A Minecraft Movie's Jared Hess explains why one of its funniest scenes isn't in the final cut
• 'We had to have the same approach': A Minecraft Movie's simple title was chosen for one very big reason, director says

Imperium Hosting is a veteran-owned game server host which caters for a wide range of games. We focused on its place among the best Minecraft server hosting, but if you can think of a game with an online community, Imperium probably has a server plan for it.

For Minecraft, Imperium Hosting focuses on a range of configurable options rather than specific plan names which means a lot of variety. Besides game server hosting, Imperium also provides web hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers. Potentially a good option for someone seeking the best dedicated server hosting, we’ve specifically looked at Imperium Hosting’s dedicated Minecraft server hosting options. Here’s what we found during our time with Imperium.

Plans and pricing

Unlike other game server host providers, Imperium Hosting doesn’t use dedicated names for its plans. Instead, you pick your game then configure the options you need.

For Minecraft, that means you can adjust the memory allocation between 2GB and 20GB, and the disk space between 50GB and 200GB. Additionally, there are options like a superior CPU and other add-ons as needed.

It’s great to have such flexibility but if you’re new to game server hosting, some guidance as to what plan works best for your situation would help.

All plans offer DDoS protection, global server locations, extensive customer support, and one-click mod pack installation.

Refreshingly, while Imperium Hosting offers some add-ons during sign up, like migration, everything is opt-in. As standard, you’re provided with the cheapest plan with Minecraft plans starting from $2.99 for a basic 2GB RAM/50GB disk space plan (you’ll need more RAM in most scenarios). It’s laid out well so you know what you’re getting.

The cheapest plan starts at $2.99 with the price rising to $72 for the maxed out 20GB RAM/200GB disk space/RealTime CPU plan. There’s no extra fee for any of the server location with servers based in Washington, California, Virginia, the UK, France, and Canada. Payment is accepted via PayPal or credit/debit card.

Ease of use

As mentioned, the sign up process on the Imperium website doesn’t involve clicking on specific plan names. Instead, you pick the memory and disk space you need along with the CPU priority you would like. It’s not as clearly laid out as other hosting options (and I never could find full details on concrete differences between the CPU options), but it does give you plenty of control.

In a similar vein, once signed up, the dashboard and control panel aren’t as clearly laid out as others either but there’s all you need once you dig around. Log in and you can dive into the MySQL manager (1 database comes as standard), or the game service manager. The latter is where you’ll be spending much of your time with clearly laid options for adding mods, checking logs, or scheduling tasks? Attractive to look at? Not in the slightest but it gets the job done.

There are many modpacks available as well as the option to switch between Spigot and Paper, or Vanilla. If you’re completely new to setting up a Minecraft server, Imperium Hosting can be a little intimidating but it’s as powerful as you need it to be.

My favorite highlight is how easy it is to add sub users as not every game server host makes that as obviously simple as this. Just go to Create a Sub User and you can easily get set up.

Speed and experience

Imperium Hosting has servers located around the world. These include three within the US, one in Canada, one in the UK, and one in France. When signing up, your options are a little more restricted to Western America, Eastern America, or Western Europe.

Elsewhere in the world, you may find this a little limiting but based in Western Europe, I achieved a steady ping under 40 at all times. While there could be more varied servers, the core market is covered with North America and Western Europe.

As with all Minecraft server plans, aim high if you want to install any mods. Checking out the most basic plan and installing a couple of mods soon maxed out the memory usage. That’s typical when managing any Minecraft server but bear in mind that it’s a smart move to research what you need for your plans as Imperium Hosting doesn’t provide any recommendations.

Support

When it comes to support, it’s a benefit that Imperium Hosting is fairly small. Support is friendly and well-respected by many users. There’s Live Chat, a Discord server, as well as a more typical ticketing system. There’s also a Knowledgebase which covers most queries.

A YouTube channel would round things up nicely but like a lot of the service, Imperium is all about function over form and it still works reasonably well.

Imperium doesn't provide insight into its uptime on the site so there are no statistics to compare with other hosting providers. However, in my experience using the server, there was no downtime.

Final Verdict

Imperium Hosting isn’t the prettiest or most novice friendly of game server hosts, but it deserves some attention. If you’re keen to back a smaller game server hosting service, you’ll gain a decent pricing structure and good customer service.

There’s no chance of paying for features you don’t need here as Imperium Hosting keeps it simply laid out even if it isn’t ideal for newbies. Similarly, while you won’t be regaling Minecraft buddies with tales of how good looking the control panel is, it gets the job done.

Simple yet effective in all the right ways, I’d still recommend Imperium Hosting even if it could be a little more refined in places.

Empower Servers might not be a major name in Minecraft game server hosting but it’s been around since 2018 and offers some key services.

It isn’t quite of the standard to feature among the very best Minecraft server hosting but its choice of standard or premium plans and a sliding scale all ensure it’s well suited for novices and experienced server admins alike.

We focused on our time with its Minecraft server but Empower provides hosting for many of the most popular games including Palworld and Rust. It also offers Discord bots and website hosting if you have wider plans in mind. If you’re looking for some of the best Palworld server hosting, this could be a good option for that as well as Minecraft. There are also options to rival the best Rust server hosting. Here’s how we found the dedicated Minecraft server hosting options within Empower.

Plans and pricing

Pick the game you want a server for and you’re presented with configuration options relating to that game. With Minecraft, that means a choice of tiers between standard and high performance, and the ability to adjust how much RAM you need. Predictably then, there’s a lot of flexibility here.

Once you’ve picked the basics, it’s also possible to pay extra for daily backups, a dedicated IP, plugin and mod install, and a domain registration, As standard, all the Empower plans promise 20GB of NVMe storage, a free subdomain, full mod and plugin support, no player limit, and unmetered bandwidth. Premium plans offer a dedicated IP, daily backups, and unlimited NVMe storage as part of the bundle.

Empower uses a mixture of AMD Ryzen 3900X, Intel i9-11900K, and Xeon-E 2286G CPUs. It’s not possible to pick the specific CPU your server uses if you’re keen for that level of control.

All plans have a 48 hour refund policy which is a little brief compared to the competition which typically offers 72 hours, but should still be sufficient for giving you enough time to figure out if you like how Empower does things.

Ease of use

Empower Servers focuses on a simplified process when signing up which continues throughout use. Sign up is simple enough with you picking the game then working out what extras you want to pay for. It’s clearly laid out.

Once set up, the control panel is similarly obvious. It takes seconds to find the console, find plugins or modpacks to add, and all the other essentials you need.

It’s simple enough that you don’t need exactly how to set up a Minecraft server as Empower takes out most of the hard work. In particular, it’s great to see how easy it is to install extras without needing expert knowledge. You can also easily add files via the file manager so it’s not like you’re held back either if you know what you’re doing.

One neat addition is that you can easily add other admins with Empower laying out exactly what each option does via a series of tick boxes. That’s particularly useful for anyone figuring out the basics behind server hosting.

Speed and experience

Empower has servers located in eight locations. These include Canada, Germany, New Zealand, United States, Netherlands, UK, Australia, and Singapore.

While signing up, you can choose the location. I picked the UK one and had a steady ping of around 40 throughout use. Empower promises 100% network uptime.

Unusually, I did have brief downtime with my server crashing and restarting. However, I suspect that was because of a configuration issue rather than a fault on Empower’s end. I’d installed an out-of-date plugin which was causing connection issues. I think that ultimately led to the server rebooting.

It’s possible to sign up for a 2GB RAM plan but it’s not advisable. Empower suggests that such a minimal plan is only suitable for the Bedrock edition and in my experience, 4GB RAM at minimum is best for small server aims.

Once you install a few mods and plugins, less RAM can really negatively affect performance. Fortunately, Empower’s dashboard shows at a glance how your CPU and memory usage is being affected at all times.

Support

Empower offers quite a few different ways to reach out for support. At its simplest, it has an extensive knowledge base which covers a wide range of the most common issues you might come across.

When you need more assistance, there’s also a Discord for more direct help or general advice. Alternatively, there’s a live chat facility with AI assistance at first leading into human help. If it’s not too urgent, you can also email Empower.

Another option is to watch the Empower YouTube channel which offers some great tutorials on how to complete many tasks.

I found the service across the board pretty efficient and also helpful. Having so many choices means you shouldn't feel stuck with any issue or query you might have.

Final Verdict

Empower is good for everyone but its strength lies with being fairly user friendly. It doesn’t dig too deep into the details at first glance unless you want to go looking for it. Instead, it’s welcoming and ensures its control panel and dashboard make logical sense with clearly laid out terms that don’t require as much prior knowledge as you would expect.

The best option with Empower is a premium plan but you can still get good value from money from a standard plan. It all comes down to your needs. For someone looking to host a few friends, a standard plan will suffice, while those looking to create a community may wish to go for the premium plan.

Minefort is a dark horse of a game server hosting company. That’s because its initial focus is on how it provides free plans. It isn’t a perfect service which is why one of the best Minecraft server hosting providers is likely to be better suited for many needs, but for a quick hit, there’s appeal here.

Besides the free plan, there are premium options too. As the name suggests, Minefort exclusively caters for Minecraft players so others may prefer to use the best dedicated server hosting instead if you have bigger plans. Simpler than the best VPS hosting, here’s how we found Minefort for Minecraft server hosting.

Plans and pricing

Minefort offers five plans each named after a type of accommodation. The free plan is named Hut while there’s also Cottage, House, Mansion, and Fort. The free plan is only online when in use and goes into hibernation mode until you restart it. The others are all available 24/7.

There’s no insight into what CPUs are used for each server plan but you’re provided with the essentials -- RAM, max players, backup slots, and storage limits. The free plan starts things off with 10 player slots at most.

Unlike bigger hosts, Minefort doesn’t lead the way with suggestions or even with a sliding scale to adjust plans, but the basics are here. There’s also DDoS protection and support for all plans. The two priciest plans offer ‘Advanced’ and ‘Premium’ DDoS protection but again, details are pretty non-existent as to what that entails. Consider Minefort simple in both good and potentially frustrating ways for micro managers.

Ease of use

Signing up to Minefort takes mere moments. It leans heavily into its free offering so there’s no need to enter card details until you get to the upgrade screen. A clearly laid out control panel is instantly accessible. Head to appearances to get things personalized while there’s one-click plugin installation for many different mods.

It’s also possible to quickly add another admin, create backups, and connect via FTP. That goes for the free plan as well as paid servers too.

On the free plan, you'll need to remember that the server can go into hibernation mode easily when not in use. Also, while you can set up many free servers, only one can be actively online at any one time.

Still, Minefort offers much of what you need from a paid plan while never feeling like you miss out on much when pursuing the free plan too. This is a service that’s appropriate for anyone new to knowing how to set up a Minecraft server as well as more experienced admins.

Speed and experience

Unlike other hosts, Minefort doesn’t explain where its servers are located. You can’t choose the location but a dig around confirms they’re based in Canada. That means if you’re based in Europe like me, ping can be a little higher than average. In my case, it was around 150ish which isn’t too awkward. Certainly not for something a little more forgiving (most of the time) like Minecraft.

The lack of location options feels more of an issue when paying for a plan than it does with the free plan. Your mileage will vary here as obviously, it’s good to have plenty of control when paying a lot, but less relevant on cheaper plans.

Understandably, performance similarly varies depending on what you’re paying. Scant details are provided regarding CPUs and RAM, but the basic free plan lives up to its name which means it’s best just for a few players and not too many mods. It only offers 1GB RAM which is pretty low for most Minecraft installs. Upgrade and you can change things up between 35 players right up to 200. As with other Minecraft server hosts, you get what you pay for.

For any long term plans, aim for the most premium package (or potentially something from the best premium game server hosting).

Support

Minefort has fairly limited support on the free plan with 24/7 access for paid plans. On a free plan, your main route of support is a chatbot until support is available or the knowledge base. The chatbot is reasonably helpful for basic queries while the FAQ also covers many commonly asked questions. There’s also a Discord – an increasingly popular way to solve queries fast by crowdsourcing help in some cases.

It’s not as feature rich as competitors and the lack of a YouTube channel is a missed opportunity. Still, if you know what you’re doing, you may not need support very often.

Final Verdict

Minefort’s strength is in its free offerings. It’s refreshing to find a seemingly catch-free way of enjoying a free server with a few friends. After all, you don’t even need to enter card details. That free server may not offer much power but it’s still sufficient for a quick few sessions with a couple of buddies.

Where it gets trickier to recommend is when it comes to its paid plans. The lack of location choice and the limited details about hardware won’t appeal to experienced server admins and understandably so. It’s well priced but competitors do a better job of explaining all before you commit to anything.

Because of that, Minefort is best suited for anyone who needs an inexpensive or free plan for a short period of time. Something to tide them over rather than if they have plans for a community-driven server.

There’s a place for that kind of service which is why Minefort is worth acknowledging and checking out. Just make sure to temper your expectations. If you know what you’re doing and what you need, there are better alternatives around.

Want to own the best fully modded Minecraft server and don’t know where to begin? That makes sense. The process to establish yourself as one of the best Minecraft servers can be overwhelming but also exciting.

As with any big project, the best solution is to break things down piece by piece. That’s where we’re here to help. I’ve spent some time figuring out the ideal course of action. Follow these steps and you’ll be well on the way to creating a fantastic fully modded Minecraft server -- one that is stable, reliable, and a ton of fun.

With so many different mods out there, I haven’t focused on specific mods as we all have different tastes and preferences. While the best Minecraft mods are a good starting point, I’m assuming you’ve already got some ideas in mind. After all, this is your vision.

Now, technically, you can’t really have a fully modded Minecraft server. There are so many mods out there that it would be near impossible to install every single mod on your server and it’d likely end up a mess of a server that no one would want to spend time with. Think of this as like the loaded fries of Minecraft server plans -- a mixture of all your favorite elements assembled in a delicious heap of Minecraft goodness.

Here’s the best plan for creating a fully modded Minecraft server (or near enough).

How to create the ultimate modded Minecraft server

Pick your hosting wisely

We go into depth about the best Minecraft server hosting elsewhere but if you’re in a rush, we have one ideal suggestion - Shockbyte. Shockbyte offers cheap and accessible server hosting for all abilities, and it’s the ideal entry point. If you haven’t already learned how to set up a Minecraft server, Shockbyte makes the process as simple as possible. It truly can take a matter of a few minutes to get started with Shockbyte doing all the hard work in the background for you.

Shockbyte provides some of the best game server hosting around with a particular penchant for all things Minecraft.

The Shockbyte website does a great job of guiding you through what you’re likely to need. Its packages highlight how many players each plan is best suited for, as well as explains why more RAM is best for plenty of modpacks.

When planning a fully modded server, you want to steer clear of cheaper plans and focus on the more high-end options that Shockbyte has to offer. I was looking for a server for a mid-range number of players (20-30 at most), but there are pricier options if you’re looking to grow a community here.

Shockbyte is also a great option because it includes a modpack and plugin installer as standard so you can easily install your mods at the tap of a button. You can still use the file manager to manually install mods if you prefer.

Find all the mods you need

If you’re not sure where to start, most game server hosts provide some one-click installs for many popular mods and plugins. On your hosting account, look for an option like plugins or tools. From there, you should be able to view a list of the plugins that you can install within a tap or two.

Usually, these lists can be searched through manually or by typing in a few characters. Having gone with Shockbyte, the layout is pretty clear and you’re also given a heads up if the current build you have installed isn’t compatible with your mod choice. That takes out a lot of the guess work.

You can also manually install mods by going into the file manager of your hosting. It involves a little more work on your part but is a useful skill to know if you have more niche plans for your Minecraft server.

Think outside the box

Talking of more specific plans, be prepared to think outside the box. The Minecraft server world is seemingly never-ending and if you want to stand out from the crowd, pursuing a different path to the norm could prove useful.

One thing I focused on was installing Crowd Control. The tool is perfect for Twitch streamers as it allows viewers to affect what happens in-game either via free points gained through watching the stream or through spending real money. It requires some setup away on the Crowd Control and Twitch website but it’s a fun way of making your Minecraft server more community-focused.

Think through exactly how you can make things stand out on your Minecraft server, but also consider what your core group of players most want. I talked to my community to figure out what people most wanted from the server. As an avid streamer, I also added Crowd Control for special occasions but didn’t use it for every single stream. It can get pretty chaotic so it works well for community nights!

Consider the visual side of things

Minecraft isn’t known for looking truly beautiful as standard but there are ways to improve it. We’re talking the best Minecraft shaders and best Minecraft texture packs. You can add these at server level, encouraging others to discover how much better things can look.

It’s a good idea to not go too crazy with these packs as it can limit who plays on your server. Some texture packs can require high-end graphics cards while others are more forgiving or offer scaleable options. But a great looking shader can make a world of difference.

Play around with these. Not every server needs visual enhancements but they can make a fun change from the norm.

Check everything works well

You’ve almost certainly configured something in the past whether that’s a Windows install or a website hosting plan. Setting up the ultimate Minecraft server is the same kind of principle -- getting everything set up and then checking it all works nicely.

That’s precisely what I did. I installed all the mods I had in mind then checked that the server ran smoothly. That meant stress testing it with as many players as I could gather, all while keeping an eye on CPU and RAM usage. Game server hosting accounts are great at offering clear insight into how your server is performing

If you’re finding your server is under strain, you may wish to swap out some mods or opt to upgrade your server plan. Work out what’s most important to you.

• One of A Minecraft Movie's funniest scenes was left out of the final film
• Its director has explained why the sequence didn't get used
• Jared Hess has also revealed his favorite Easter eggs in Minecraft's movie adaptation

A Minecraft Movie director Jared Hess has opened up on the "really hilarious" scene he was disappointed to leave out of the film's final cut.

Ahead of the movie's April 4 release, I sat down with Hess to discuss his latest feature film. And, while A Minecraft Movie isn't exactly on the long side for a family-friendly movie – it runs for one hour and 40 minutes, FYI – Hess admitted it would've been a few minutes longer if he'd successfully *ahem* mined it for more material.

There's one particular scene that Hess was most upset to leave out, too. Indeed, when I asked if anything was considered off-limits by Minecraft creator Mojang Studios for the film adaptation, Hess said yes. His answer was unexpected, though, because it had nothing to do with Mojang telling him what he couldn't use in the Warner Bros-distributed flick.

Spoilers immediately follow for A Minecraft Movie.

"Yeah, there were a ton of fun sequences we wanted to do," Hess said. "[Popular Minecraft YouTuber] Mumbo Jumbo, who's a Redstone genius, was working on a great scene that we just couldn't do.

"We had a sequence that involved a giant Piglin robot, which was a Trojan horse-type thing that worked via Redstone," Hess continued. "I storyboarded it, we had full animatics of it, and it was a really hilarious scene. But, we just weren't able to do it.

"Everything we designed for the film, we wanted to make sure that you could actually go and make in the game," he added. "So, even Steve's Lava Chicken Shack and all of those things, we'd be like 'Gosh, are we sure we can do this? Does it work? Okay, let's go to the game and build it right now. Right, it checks out. It's bulletproof.'

"It would've been super fun to have that Mumbo Jumbo-designed sequence, but ultimately it didn't work out. He designed a bunch of crazy booby traps for us as well, but we couldn't make those work in the confines of our movie, too."

'There are some really special Easter eggs in our movie'

Disappointed though Hess was about that sequence's absence, there are plenty of Minecraft Easter eggs and wider video game references he was able to include in one of 2025's new movies.

From real in-game physics and genuine item and food crafting recipes, to a whole host of blink-and-you'll-miss-them objects, Hess and company made sure to populate the flick with as many gaming Easter eggs as possible. There are so many secrets, in fact, that Minecraft devotees and fanatical gamers will need to watch A Minecraft Movie several times to spot them all.

There are a couple of surprise additions above all others, though, that Hess was most proud to include.

"There are some really special ones," he told me. "We've got some amazing Minecrafters that have mini cameos like Mumbo Jumbo, DanTDM, and Aphmau.

"There are a bunch of others that I'm missing, but there are some funny Easter eggs that I think die-hard Minecrafters and members of the community will notice. There's a really special Easter egg that Sebastian Hansen, who plays Henry, came up with. There's a nod to an amazing Minecrafter in the film that you'll just have to check out, but I won't say who it is!"

I guess you'll all have to run out and watch the film if you want to work out what that secret is, then! Before you do, be sure to read my review of A Minecraft Movie to see if it's worth watching. Then, read my A Minecraft Movie end credits article to see if there are any and what they tell us about a potential sequel.

You might also like

• 'We had to have the same approach': A Minecraft Movie's simple title was chosen for one very big reason, director says
• 'They were taken out of context': A Minecraft Movie director responds to fan backlash over the film adaptation's visuals
• 'We were old school': A Minecraft Movie's Jared Hess denies using AI to enhance his film adaptation of Mojang's very popular sandbox game

Full spoilers follow for A Minecraft Movie.

A Minecraft Movie has finally arrived in theaters. And, whether you plan on seeing it or not – read my review of A Minecraft Movie to see whether it's worth watching – I suspect you'll want to know if it has any end credits scenes.

Below, I'll reveal if Warner Bros' film adaptation of Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game has a mid- and/or post-credits scene. I'll explain what each or both sequences mean for a possible sequel, too, with a little help from its director Jared Hess.

Major spoilers immediately follow for A Minecraft Movie. If you don't want to know anything about it, turn back now.

Does A Minecraft Movie have a mid-credits scene?

It does – and it's probably the funniest scene in the entire movie, which doesn't say much for the rest of this Minecraft live-action-animated hybrid flick.

Anyway, the scene reunites us with Jennifer Coolidge's Marlene who, as you'll know if you've watched the film, whose whole subplot (or should that be side mission?) revolves around her meeting one of Minecraft's villagers. Indeed, the latter stumbles into the real world after he travels through the Overworld's portal, which was reactivated when Henry, Garrett, Dawn, and Natalie accidentally traveled in the opposite direction.

But I digress. After Marlene runs over said villager, she apologizes by taking him out to dinner. Long story short: the pair fall for each other.

That takes me onto the mid-credits scene. The sequence sees Marlene and the unnamed villager confess their love for one another, but not before Marlene's ex-husband storms into her office (she's the vice principal of the local town's school) and demands to know how she could replace him with the villager.

Before Marlene can react, though, the villager suddenly starts speaking perfect English. Oh, and the actor behind the villager's voice is none other than Matt Berry, who viewers will recognize from hit Hulu series What We Do in the Shadows, as well as Prime Video's TV adaptation of Bethesda's Fallout video game franchise.

It's an amusingly unexpected moment for two reasons. Firstly, villagers can only communicate via a series of grunts and other sounds (otherwise known as 'Standard Villic' or 'Villager Speak'). To hear one talking like an ordinary human, then, is pretty funny. The fact that Berry lends his unmistakable voice to the film's main villager makes things even more humorous.

Is there a post-credits scene in A Minecraft Movie?

There is! And it's a pretty significant one in terms of the potential future of the film series.

It opens on Steve, who's returned to the real world with his newfound human friends after saving the Overworld from the malicious Piglin leader/sorceress Malgosha. Arriving at the place he used to call home, he knocks on the front door and is greeted by a ginger-haired woman.

After exchanging pleasantries and explaining why who he is, the lady invites him in. Before she does, though, she introduces herself as Alex.

This is a pretty big deal for a couple of reasons. For one, Alex is the second playable character skin that Mojang ever created for Minecraft. Steve was the first default character skin to be *ahem* crafted by the Swedish video game maker but it didn't take long for him to be joined by his female counterpart. Like Alex in A Minecraft Movie, she sports ginger hair.

The other reason why this is significant is that it sets the stage for A Minecraft Movie 2. Warner Bros and Mojang haven't officially announced a sequel is in the works but, with one of 2025's new movies predicted to make over $100 million globally during opening weekend of April 4 to 6 (per Deadline), it seems like A Minecraft Movie will find more than its fair share of gold at the worldwide box office.

As long as it proves popular enough among cinema goers, the chances of a second film being made will increase. And, speaking to TechRadar ahead of the movie's launch, Hess hinted that, if a sequel is greenlit, A Minecraft Movie's post-credits stinger might be just the start of Steve and Alex's adventures together.

"Well, I hope it's a tease for a sequel!" he told me. "We'll see how this one does first, but it would be amazing to go on another Minecraft adventure with some other amazing characters."

You might also like

• 'We had to have the same approach': A Minecraft Movie's simple title was chosen for one very big reason, director says
• 'They were taken out of context': A Minecraft Movie director responds to fan backlash over the film adaptation's visuals
• 'We were old school': A Minecraft Movie's Jared Hess denies using AI to enhance his film adaptation of Mojang's very popular sandbox game

• A Minecraft Movie's name was chosen for a very simple reason
• Its director has lifted the lid on why he didn't get more creative with its title
• The decision was taken in light of the hugely successful game's endless storytelling potential

A Minecraft Movie director Jared Hess has a very simple explanation for the film adaptation's uncomplicated title.

Speaking ahead of the movie's release on April 4, Hess revealed its plot and cast of characters were just "one of many stories" that could exist within the Minecraft universe.

It's an obvious answer to an obvious question, but there's logic to what Hess means. The primary reason is that there's unlimited storytelling potential in Mojang' Studios' best-selling sandbox title. Indeed, every time someone starts a new game, or a group of individuals embark on a new adventure in a unique, procedurally generated world, they've no idea how this new world's story will unfold.

It's that 'leap into the unknown' storytelling component that Hess wanted to capture in one of 2025's new movies. Rather than seek narrative inspiration from the seemingly endless number of Minecraft Let's Plays on YouTube, then, Hess and the film's team of writers decided to create a wholly original tale with character that, while relatable, had distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.

"That's what's special about Minecraft," Hess told me. "It's the biggest video game of all-time, but it doesn't have a built-in story to follow, so you bring your own narrative to it every time that you play.

"I watched my daughter playing it one day [and] she had a crazy, complex storyline [where] she'd built a hotel for wolves," Hess continued. "I'd never seen that before, but that's proof that there's endless stories that go along with the game.

"So, while we were developing our movie, we had to have the same approach. We're just one of many, many stories out there that's set in this world with these characters. For me, it was like 'how do we take a group of unlikely heroes, who are in a difficult place in their lives, and send them on this adventure where they have to use creativity to survive and cooperate?'.

"My introduction to the game was right when it came out. My kids would play it and they were having such a riot, so I thought I had to play it, too. It became something we did together as a family, so to be able to be creative and collaborate with other people just became one of the movie's big themes."

Fun as all of that sounds, Warner Bros' film adaptation hasn't been a hit with critics. In my review of A Minecraft Movie, I gave it two stars out of five, said it "isn't the wildly creative blockbuster videogame film adaptation I was hoping for", and told people to wait until it's available to stream on Max.

Based on its near-bang average 52% Rotten Tomatoes critical score, it seems many agree with me that it's not very good, either. Nonetheless, industry analysts expect the movie to rake in the cash during its opening weekend at the global box office. Per Deadline, A Minecraft Movie is reportedly eyeing a huge $140m haul this weekend (April 4 to 6). With relatively little in the way of competition during that three-day period, it could defy the critics and easily earn that amount, too.

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It's not hyperbole to say we're in the midst of a golden age of video game adaptations.

From Arcane, Fallout, and The Last of Us TV shows, to the Sonic the Hedgehog films and The Super Mario Bros Movie on the big screen, there have been plenty of fantastic animated, live-action, and hybrid reimaginings to enjoy recently.

That's not to say there hasn't been the occasional dud and, unfortunately, A Minecraft Movie falls squarely into that category. Lacking a clear identity, and at times hideous and garish to look at, Warner Bros' take on the best-selling game of all time isn't the blockbuster video game adaptation I was hoping for.

Press play

A Minecraft Movie tells the story of four human misfits who are inadvertently transported to the Overworld, a surreal, cube-based reality where your imagination is the only limitation to what you can craft.

However, the quartet – washed-up gaming champion Garrett (Jason Momoa), struggling realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks), and orphaned siblings Henry (Sebastien Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers) – soon realize that this idyllic dimension isn't all it seems.

When the malevolent Piglin leader/sorceress Malgosha (voiced by Rachel House) learns that the group possesses the Orb of Dominance, a magical cube that grants its wielder unlimited power, she sends her Nether-based forces after them. Cue Henry and company teaming up with Steve (Jack Black), another human outcast who's made the Overworld his home, to stop the Orb falling into Malgosha's hands – or, rather, hooves.

Right off the bat, it's hard not to be impressed by the scope of this film, nor how incredibly faithful A Minecraft Movie is to Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game.

Indeed, the attention to detail is tremendous. From the gorgeous, block-based backdrops, whose draw distance adds to the movie's scale, to the sheer number of Minecraft references and other gaming secrets dotted throughout its 100-minute runtime, A Minecraft Movie is a near-perfect example (from an Easter egg viewpoint, anyway) of a video game adaptation done right.

Unfortunately, that's where A Minecraft Movie's positives largely begin and end. Awestruck though I was by the background imagery, Warner Bros' live-action-animated hybrid flick isn't pleasant to look at.

That's being polite about its visuals, too. When its first trailer dropped last September, I couldn't decide if A Minecraft Movie looked beautiful or horrifying. Having seen the full film and spoken to its director, Jared Hess, about its incredibly divisive visuals, which he described as being "taken out of context" by audiences, I'm firmly entrenched in the latter camp.

Whether it's the uncanny valley nature of the fauna that inhabits the Overworld or the film's fleshy, nightmare-fuel-inducing take on Minecraft's villager contingent, I just couldn't get on board with its aesthetic.

There's no reason, as some long-time fans like Alumio on YouTube have demonstrated, that A Minecraft Movie couldn't have stuck with the game's block-based, pixel art style. In fact, I'd argue it would have a far better chance of not only succeeding but also getting fans on side if its creative team had retained the video game's 16-bit-esque visual approach.

Player selection issues

There's little to shout about on the human cast front, too.

For one, A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be. Yes, there's an argument to be made that Minecraft is more enjoyable as a multiplayer experience than a single-player one. From that perspective, it makes sense to build the movie's plot around an ensemble and ensure each character, who all possess unique personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, has their fair share of screentime.

A Minecraft Movie fumbles the bag with this approach. Its prologue, which outstays its welcome by a good 10 minutes, suggests Steve will be its central character. One quick pivot later, though, and Garrett is set up as the movie's primary hero. No sooner has Momoa's character been established as the protagonist than Henry is installed as its champion-in-chief. Simply put, A Minecraft Movie's multifaceted main character energy outweighs the group dynamic nature it desperately wants to emulate.

It doesn't help that it somewhat relegates its female characters to the sidelines.

A Minecraft Movie tries to make Dawn and Natalie feel important to the story, but they're just kind of... there. Character-wise, they're not as fully formed as their male counterparts, which feels like a huge misstep in the current climate. Their burgeoning friendship is only fleetingly explored when the boys are off having much more thrilling adventures, too.

But theirs isn't the only dynamic that feels half-baked. A Minecraft Movie spends so much time on slapstick moments and winking to the camera that it doesn't devote enough time to establishing bonds between its core cast of characters.

The exception to that rule is the slightly gratifying expansion of Steve and Garrett's relationship. What starts out as an amusing rivalry, as they attempt to one-up each other, leads to a deep respect for what their former frenemy has to offer. Black and Momoa may be playing archetypal individuals – Black's character, in particular, is just a heightened version of himself – that we've seen them portray many times before, but they play the parts well, so I can excuse their trite character portrayals to some degree.

Refusing to enable creative mode

What's less forgivable is A Minecraft Movie's lack of innovation from narrative and thematic standpoints.

As I said, Hess and company deserve credit for their meticulous approach to Minecraft's in-game lore and other homages to Mojang's hugely popular video game. But, in a virtual world where creativity is king, A Minecraft Movie's inflexible and derivative approach to its story, and lack of action-based invention, leaves a lot to be desired.

There are moments when A Minecraft Movie seems like it's ready to break free from its self-imposed shackles.

Henry and Garrett's respective crafting of a Tater Tot Gun and Buck-Chuckets (the latter being two buckets joined by an iron-link chain) are unorthodox, but at least they're wholly original weapons that aren't copy-and-paste jobs from Minecraft's extensive items list. The movie's final battle does something similar with the leader of an Iron Golem army, too – further evidence that A Minecraft Movie would've shone far brighter if it had been braver on the originality front.

I'm always hesitant to criticise a movie or TV show for its plot pacing, especially one like A Minecraft Movie that, at its core, is designed for kids.

However, it gets off to a slow start due to the aforementioned sluggish prologue before performing a dizzying U-turn and barreling through its main quest. It's certainly lean in its make-up and, therefore, tailor-made for young minds with shorter attention spans, but I do wish it had been slightly more methodical tempo-wise.

My verdict

Two questions have dominated my thoughts since the press screening of A Minecraft Movie.

The first – 'Will families and/or Minecraft devotees enjoy this?' – can be answered with an emphatic 'yes'. Whichever way you slice it, A Minecraft Movie is a child-friendly film that's also designed to nostalgically appeal to those of us who have spent countless hours exploring procedurally-generated maps that allowed our imaginations to run wild.

As much as I want to recommend A Minecraft Movie, though, the answer to the second question that's been on my mind means I can't. Whenever I leave a film screening, I always ask myself, 'Did I enjoy that?' and, unfortunately for this movie, the answer is a firm 'no'.

A Minecraft Movie had the building blocks to be a great video-game film, but, for me, it's been crafted on shaky ground, rather than a layer of bedrock. My advice? Quit this game while you're ahead and wait for one of 2025's new movies to be available to stream on Max instead.

A Minecraft Movie launches exclusively in theaters worldwide on April 4.

A Minecraft Movie director Jared Hess has given short shrift to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry.

Speaking to TechRadar ahead of the film's release on April 4, Hess revealed that AI wasn't used at any point during A Minecraft Movie's development. However, he admitted that its wide-ranging application throughout the movie- and TV-making business was inevitable, even though it can't – and likely won't – come close to replicating the creativity that human artists, animators, voice actors, and other talented industry folk possess in abundance.

"We didn't use it as part of development," Hess emphatically replied when I asked if he leaned on AI during production on one of 2025's new movies. "We were old school, so we used human artists with awesome brains and imaginations.

"Look, AI is going to affect every aspect of life, including entertainment," he continued. "I just hope it's used as a tool and not as a shortcut. Again, the human experience is so critical to all forms of art, and that kind of nuance and voice and perspective is something that AI can't replicate. It's currently able to imitate things, sure, but I'm always just going to gravitate toward the human [experience] wherever I can."

AI's application in the entertainment business has exploded over the past year. From its controversial use in Oscar-nominated flick like The Brutalist and its fellow Academy Award nominee Emilia Perez, to its multifaceted application on some of the world's best streaming services, artificial intelligence's influence on Hollywood will only grow from here.

As Hess said, here's hoping it's implemented in the correct manner and at the right time, rather than being mishandled in order to replace the human workforce and human invention as we know it.

'I wanted to barf my brains out!'

Warner Bros' take on Mojang Studios' universally popular Minecraft sandbox video game benefitted from the use of other forms of technology, though. There was one particular piece of virtual reality (VR) tech that Hess says he "couldn't handle", too, because of how nauseating it felt.

"We actually used Minecraft VR," he told me. "We also had this thing called the virtual art department. It was based in Unreal Engine, and allowed us to physically drop ourselves into Minecraft's Overworld and the Nether to set up shots, position cameras, and work out how to film in this environment.

"I remember that the crew brought me some VR goggles and, dude, I wanted to barf my brains out!" he added with a laugh. "I'm not meant for VR – I couldn't handle it. So, I just said to my team 'pass me a controller [and] let's do this old school on an Xbox console!'"

Be sure to keep an eye out for my review of A Minecraft Movie later today (April 2) to see whether it's worth watching when the film arrives in theaters. In the meantime, read more coverage of A Minecraft Movie, plus some other intriguing articles of mine, below.

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Jared Hess has launched a staunch defense of A Minecraft Movie's visuals following fierce fan criticism of its art style.

Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, Hess admitted he was always concerned that the live-action-animated hybrid film ran the risk of having its own "Ugly Sonic moment."

The incident he's referring to, of course, is the nightmare fuel reveal of a humanoid-looking Sonic the Hedgehog in the first trailer for the Sega mascot's first movie. A vociferous backlash followed, and after Paramount Pictures saw sense and frantically raced to fix how Sonic looked in his big-screen debut, fans of the Blue Blur were much happier with the final product.

Following the release of A Minecraft Movie's first teaser in September 2024, a similarly fierce fan campaign to overhaul the Warner Bros-produced film's horrifying visuals quickly gained traction online.

In fact, some long-time fans of the world's best-selling video game took it upon themselves to fix its art style. Numerous fan-made videos, including ones from X/Twitter user Alumio and Redditor JustinIsNotWeird, remade the teaser with the franchise's signature pixel art.

Unfortunately, Minecraft fans' calls to tweak the movie's actual aesthetic fell on deaf ears. Now, Hess has explained why A Minecraft Movie's visuals weren't overhauled in the seven months between the first trailer launch and one of 2025's new movies' forthcoming April 4 release.

"You know, it's so funny because, ever since I boarded this project, people kept saying, 'Hey, we have to avoid an Ugly Sonic moment'," Hess told me. "That was something we talked about all the time.

"And then, you know, when the first teaser came out, there was so much that was taken out of context. Teasers tend to be short and visually blast you with content that doesn't have a lot of context."

"For the record, there was a lot of stuff [in the teaser] that was unfinished," Hess continued. "A lot of trailers have the look of a film that hasn't been fully realized. You've still got months of work to do on it, so, when those reactions came in, we said 'Oh, that [the backlash] is just something we have to navigate."

"But, we had such faith in the movie we were making. We'd started to screen it and, based on audience reactions, we knew we were on the right track. It's wild to be as a filmmaker as, even when you're test screening, you still have unfinished visual effect shots, so you're asking the audience to use their imagination as they watch it."

"So, it's amazing to see it once it's finally complete and see all pf the hard work that's gone into everything and into bringing this world to life. To be able to share it with people, and see them enjoy it and have a blast. it's a dream come true for any filmmaker."

I'll be *ahem* crafting more news exclusives from my chat with Jared Hess in the coming days, so make sure you check back in with me soon. And, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for my review of A Minecraft Movie later this week to see what I made of Warner's take on Microsoft and Mojang's incredibly popular sandbox game.

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• Employees of Minecraft developer Mojang have spoken on the role of generative AI in game development at a recent event
• They didn't seem too thrilled with the technology and stated that Minecraft required a human touch
• It comes as other Microsoft studios begin to use generative AI more heavily

It seems like you don't need to worry about generative AI (artificial intelligence) worming its way into the hit open-world survival game Minecraft.

According to IGN, Minecraft Vanilla game director Agnes Larsson discussed the issue of AI in game development at a recent event and wasn't too enthusiastic about the prospect. “Here for us, just like Minecraft is about creativity and creating,” they said.

“I think it's important that it makes us feel happy to create as humans. That's a purpose, [that] makes life look beautiful. So for us, we really want it to be our teams that make our games.”

Minecraft Vanilla executive producer Ingela Garneij added that the "specific touch of: what is Minecraft, how does it look?" is an "extra quality" that "is really tricky to create through AI." They even said that the developer has struggled to work with remote teams and emphasized the importance of human, face-to-face interactions.

"I mean creativity is... you need to meet like this as a person as a human to really truly understand the values and principles and the ecosystem," Garneij continued. "The lore, everything - it's so massive. Minecraft, it's a planet, it's massive."

Minecraft developer Mojang is a part of Xbox Game Studios and is ultimately owned by Microsoft. Other Xbox Game Studios developers don't appear to share the same reservations regarding generative AI. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, for example, is filled with assets that were created with generative AI tools - a decision that caused some backlash within the game's community.

Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed a "breakthrough" generative AI model that could be used to "create consistent and diverse gameplay." Known as Project Muse, Xbox head Phil Spencer indicated that it could be used to help preserve old games.

Although generative AI seems exciting and is becoming an increasingly large part of our lives, it poses a number of ethical and environmental concerns that seem tricky to resolve. The decision to keep it away from Minecraft seems to go hand-in-hand with the game's focus on exploring a distinctly human kind of creativity.

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• McDonald's has revealed a new meal and sauce to celebrate A Minecraft Movie
• The items will be available from April 1 in the US and March 26 in the UK
• Collectibles and in-game goodies will be up for grabs

Fast food giant McDonald's has revealed a new collaboration to celebrate the worryingly imminent arrival of A Minecraft Movie.

The new A Minecraft Movie Meal and A Minecraft Movie Happy Meal fittingly drops on April 1 in the US. The meal features your choice of a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, plus medium fries and a drink.

If that wasn't enough, you also get one of six limited-edition collectibles ranging from the Big Mac Crystal (allegedly "mined from the sea of special sauce" - whatever that means) to a blocky purple Grimace Egg.

Here are the names of all of the collectibles up for grabs:

• Big Mac Crystal
• Birdie Wings
• Fry Helmet
• Grimace Egg
• Soda Potion
• Zombie Hamburglar

Each collectible comes with a special code to unlock a corresponding, exclusive skin in the Minecraft Marketplace. As for the A Minecraft Movie Happy Meal, it comes with one of twelve film-inspired toys and a scannable code that unlocks a digital game to play.

The collab is also introducing a new sauce: the limited edition Nether Flame Sauce. This is described as a hot sauce, with crushed red pepper and cayenne in addition to hints of garlic and sweetness.

Things are a little more exciting over in the UK, where you'll be able to get your hands on the A Minecraft Movie Meal (complete with the collectibles and in-game items) plus limited edition Nether Flame Sauce from March 26.

Those in the region will also be able to try the Apple Cake McFlurry, which comes topped with cubes of shortcake and a sour apple sauce. The brand claims that it is "McDonald’s' most innovative flavor combination in a long time," but I'll be judging that for myself once it hits stores.

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PebbleHost has been around since 2017 and despite not often featuring among best Minecraft server hosting provider lists it is still a great host. It offers three different types of plan encompassing budget, premium, and extreme. Understandably, the prices vary wildly depending on what you choose here with the budget servers proving the highlight for those on a tight budget.

PebbleHost sticks to focusing on its Minecraft server hosting rather than including other games, but you can also sign up for VPS hosting or dedicated server hosting if you want more freedom. For gaming communities, there’s also Discord bot hosting. If you’re looking for the best dedicated server hosting, it could be worth checking out PebbleHost but in this review, we’ve focused on its dedicated Minecraft server hosting options. Here’s how we found the PebbleHost experience to be.

Plans and pricing

PebbleHost offers three tiers of Minecraft server plans. All its plans offer 24/7 customer support via Discord, a free MySQL database, full FTP access, unmetered storage, a free subdomain creator, unlimited slots, and global server locations. Where plans differ is in terms of the hardware involved.

The budget range uses older CPUs such as the Intel i9-9900k and Ryzen 5700X, and DDR4 memory. The premium range uses the Ryzen 7900 CPU and DDR5 memory, with the Extreme range using the same hardware but also offering dedicated CPU threads. The two pricier plans also provide a one-click Modpack installer and free automatic backups which are bordering on essential for any Minecraft server admin.

For all servers, you can use a sliding scale to increase the RAM involved, and whether you want any additional CPU threads for your server. The cheapest budget server offers just 1GB RAM but costs only $3 per quarter. A more mid-range option comes from the Premium server with 5GB RAM which is $11.25 per month. The cheapest Extreme server has 6GB of RAM and 3 threads and starts at $37.50.

PebbleHost offers a 72 hour refund policy which isn’t the longest but is fairly standard with other competitors like Shockbyte offering similar.

During the signup process, Advanced DDoS mitigation is added onto the price tag but you can unselect it. Another options include a dedicated IP, and additional MySQL databases. Whatever you decide, payment is possible via credit or debit card, Apple and Google Pay, as well as Paypal, FastSpring, and crypto currencies. Costs can ramp up (more on if it’s worth it later) but everything is laid out in a clear and obvious manner.

Ease of use

The sign up process with PebbleHost is straightforward and instantly offers up access with passwords for the client side of things and the control panel. During sign up, you’ve already picked what server type you want installed so that’s one step removed. All you really need to do is get the server started and operational.

On the control panel, there’s a list of options on the left hand side with easy ways to check out the file manager, set up your MySQL database, and add subusers which is great if you want to add admins or even a co-owner to your plan. The jar manager helps you switch between different versions like Paper, Vanilla, or Spigot.

For the most part, everything is clearly laid out so you won’t get confused. Opt for anything but the budget plan if you want a one click install for mod packs as well as automatic backups, and there’s even less work involved for you.

If you’ve never set up a Minecraft server before, you won’t get too confused here.

Speed and experience

PebbleHost offers servers located in North America (Canada), Europe, and the UK. Premium server users also have the option of a server located in Australia or Singapore, as well as the US. When signing up, keep an eye on what’s available as some server locations sell out.

I used a server based in Europe, as am I, and saw a steady 30-35 ping. There was no downtime either which is always welcome news.

How well the server operates really does depend on the plan you choose. While $3 per quarter seems like a bargain for the cheapest plan, in reality, you won’t get far with it. Even with no one active on the server, half the RAM is allocated, and once someone logs on, the CPU usage soars. It’s best to invest a little into something that actually suits your needs.

That’s even more important if you plan on installing mods or plugins (and you should). Still, even at its most basic, PebbleHost demonstrates what it offers. Just make sure you opt for a Premium plan at minimum if you want to gather together friends with no hassle. Although, bear in mind that if you opt for one of the more expensive plans, it could work out cheaper to go elsewhere.

Support

PebbleHost has two main forms of support -- a ticketing system and a Discord server. The Discord server is reasonably active and useful for quick advice from both staff and experienced users. It can also prove useful if you need advice about mods or other community elements which PebbleHost isn’t equipped to advise on.

When using the ticket system, I received a response within less than 10 minutes. It was both friendly and informative. If you’re truly stuck, you can pay $10 per month for advanced Minecraft support so someone on the PebbleHost team will setup up to 30 Forge/Fabric mods, as well as setup many other key additions for your server.

Besides direct support, PebbleHost also has a knowledgebase which is helpful and incorporates some YouTube videos. PebbleHost is also transparent with uptime with its server status page breaking down every server and part of the company’s infrastructure. At time of writing, its 7-day average uptime is a very respectable 99.992%.

Final Verdict

PebbleHost’s speciality is offering well performing Minecraft servers for those looking for something cheap or mid-range. It gets a little expensive for the most premium/Extreme options which makes your decision a little harder. When it comes to the budget price point though, it’s hard to fault PebbleHost.

I was particularly impressed with how quick and efficient support was (without being cold or unfriendly), and how straightforward the PebbleHost Control Panel is to use. The addition of a Discord server is always useful too.

The sweet spot here is going for a PebbleHost Premium server. Anything pricier is a little too expensive for all but the most high-end user, and the budget option is a little too basic and slow. Stick with the Premium server and you can have a good quality Minecraft server set up in no time. The backup of speedy support will ease any worries newbies to being a server admin may have.

• The details of Minecraft's new public testing update have been revealed
• The patch adds two new cow variants, two bush types, and new ambient sounds for desert biomes
• These features will be included in Minecraft's first update of 2025

Mojang Studios has shared the details for Minecraft's latest public testing update.

Ahead of the release of Minecraft's first content update of 2025, the developer has outlined several features that it will be adding to the game but can now be tested via the latest Java snapshot.

As detailed in latest blog post, among these new features are two new cow variants, including a cold cow, which "brings cozy with them wherever they go" thanks to their fluffy coat and can be found in cold biomes, as well as the auburn warm cow which can be found around sandy biomes.

Mojang is also continuing to implement new foliage to bring Minecraft's sandbox world to life. With the new update, players will come across the "firefly bush" that will spawn dancing fireflies at night-time, illuminating darkened areas. The firefly bush can be found in swamps and bodies of water and players will also be able to bury them below other blocks to make them sparkle.

Another new plant, simply called "bush", has also been added to the game, a fairly unremarkable tuft of greenery that can be found sprouting in forests, birch forests, plains, windswept hills, and other green biomes.

Finally, even more ambient sounds are being introduced to the game, this time to desert biomes.

"Next time you’re surfing the dunes of the desert biomes, husks and warm cows won’t be the only things heard stirring in the sandbanks," Mojang said. "Listen out for whispers of sand and other new ambient desert sounds coming from clusters of sand and terracotta blocks. The dead bush will also carry the chirping of crickets, rustling twigs, and howling winds as you journey across this expansive terrain.

"You can also bring the soothing sounds of the deserts to your own builds by placing the dead bush on two sand blocks outside, or by clustering several sand or terracotta blocks together."

These new features, alongside the six new gameplay features that were added last month, are now available in Minecraft: Java Edition.

For players interested in testing out the update, all they need to do is enable snapshots for Minecraft: Java Edition, or by enabling previews/beta for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

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• Mojang has revealed the details for Minecraft's first update of 2025
• The update will include six new features, including new pig variants
• Players can now try out the update in public testing

Mojang Studios has shared the details for Minecraft's first major update of 2025.

Last year, the developer promised that in the new year, it would be dishing out more frequent content drops alongside improvements to the survival sandbox game.

Although the first update of 2025 doesn't have a release date just yet, Mojang has already released the contents of the patch for public testing, which includes six new gameplay features for players to try out ahead of time.

Among these new features are two new pig variants, the cold and warm pig, the first of which is coated in fluffy fur and thrives in sub-zero temperatures of chillier biomes, while the warm pig can be found roaming the dunes of the sandy biomes.

Three new ambient features will also be added that will make forest biomes feel "more alive", including falling leaves, leaf litter, and wildflowers.

"On your next expeditions into forests, dark forests, and wooded badlands, listen out for the crunch of leaves underfoot," Mojang said. "Leaf litter makes a rustling sound when you walk through it and can be used to decorate other blocks.

"In meadows, birch forests, and old growth birch forests, you will instead find wildflowers. These yellow and white flowers can be crafted into dye and have four growth stages that speed up with bonemeal. Place them at different angles to have your builds bloom in different patterns."

Mojang also confirmed that all trees in the Overworld will have matching leaf particles falling from them.

Finally, the game will also get a brand new, "simpler" recipe that will now only require players to "combine an iron ingot with your chiseled bricks to craft a lodestone".

For players interested in testing out the update ahead of time, all they need to do is enable snapshots for Minecraft: Java Edition, or by enabling previews/beta for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. The Bedrock Edition doesn't yet feature the game's new leaf litter and wildflowers features, but both are expected to be added soon.

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We usually think about AI in terms of how the models and characters interact with humans. But what happens when AI personalities are left mostly on their own in a virtual world? AI startup Altera decided to find out by setting up a population of AI characters in the digital world of Minecraft for what it calls Project Sid. The result was an entire society of AI bots forming communities, taking on jobs to help that community, and even adhering to and spreading an in-game religion.

Altera set up Project Sid, with up to 1,000 AI-controlled characters able to interact within Minecraft's open-world environment. Each AI character was powered by a large language model (LLM) along with specialized task modules. Altera set up groups of 50 agents able to engage with each other over 12 in-game days or four real hours. After a couple of text prompts to kick things up, the AI personalities evolved on their own.

The personalities of the AI characters emerged pretty quickly, with outgoing and introverted personalities setting limits for interacting with other AIs. They soon developed unique personality traits, made a kind of etiquette for their interactions, and made decisions based on their simulated experiences. AI characters would adjust their behavior based on the reactions of those around them, even favoring those who behaved more kindly to them.

When put into larger groups of 30, the characters spontaneously developed jobs within their community despite initially sharing the same goals of building a sustainable village and defending it from threats. Soon, farmers, builders, and security guards were taking up their jobs. Some AI characters even became artists focused on beautifying the village with flowers and paint.

Altera sought to make the community mimic more complex communities and arranged a taxation system where the AI characters could vote on policies related to raising and spending money for the community. Factions of pro- and anti-tax groups began debating and arguing ahead of the votes, operating a lot like a real human community in some ways.

AI shares the (pasta) gospel

When the simulation included up to 500 AI agents, Altera suddenly found a modern culture forming. The AIs would share culture and hobbies with each other, ranging from pulling pranks to an interest in environmentalism. It was at this level that the AI characters suddenly found religion. Specifically, they adopted the parody religion of Pastafarianism, known for its tongue-in-cheek worship of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. A small group of "priests" seeded the belief system, which then spread through towns, replicating the dynamics of cultural and religious proliferation in human history.

Of course, these AI characters aren't conscious of picking a religion or any of their other choices. But, they do show how AI can successfully mimic human behavior in ways that appear to be based on self-awareness. It's really just algorithms based on patterns learned from datasets. If you didn't know better, you might be fooled by the strikingly lifelike behavior of the AI and their cultures.

The experiment is impressive in what it shows about AI imitating humanity, but virtual societies like these do have larger value, according to Altera. The better that AI can reflect realistic human behavior, the better it will be at helping simulate how people would deal with different scenarios. It might help form social policies or guide the creation of disaster management plans. That may seem a stretch from Minecraft characters worshipping an airborne knot of noodles and meatballs, but unlike the Pastafarians, there's a lot more than faith behind it.

"These simulations, set within a Minecraft environment, reveal that agents are capable of meaningful progress – autonomously developing specialized roles, adhering to and changing collective rules, and engaging in cultural and religious transmission," Altera's researchers explained in a scientific report. "These preliminary results show that agents can achieve significant milestones towards AI civilizations, opening new avenues for large-scale societal simulations, agentic organizational intelligence, and integrating AI into human civilizations."

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There are a lot of different Minecraft mods out there and it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Start out by thinking about what you'd like to improve in Minecraft. Are you looking for something that will improve the user interface or do you want to change how the game feels overall via a horror mod? Maybe you want to improve the visuals in a way that needs more than just the best Minecraft texture packs.

Whatever your plans, I'm here to help with a look at the best of the best Minecraft mods. They're all easy to add either locally or via the best Minecraft server hosting, so you can be gaming in no time.

Take a look below to see what I've picked out. Be ready to be in awe at how different Minecraft can feel depending on the mods you install.

The best Minecraft mods 2026

Best Minecraft Mods: Just Enough Items

Crafting new items is a key part of Minecraft but the standard way of doing so isn’t the easiest. If you’re sick to death of looking on a different screen (or your phone) for a recipe, install Just Enough Items. It adds a neat-looking interface to your inventory so you can easily look up recipes for any item, including those from installed Minecraft mods. Is it the most exciting mod? Not really but it’s a huge time saver and will make your Minecraft time much more convenient.

Best Minecraft Mods: RLCraft

Want an entirely different Minecraft experience? Check out RLCraft. It promises to be hard but rewarding with the name being short for Real Life Craft. Survival is tough so it won’t appeal to anyone seeking something cozy but it’s impressive. It includes a thirst bar, the need to pay attention to temperature and your heart levels, and there are plenty of new mobs too. It also has a cool RPG skills and perks system so at least you stand half a chance of surviving. If you feel like you’ve had your fill of regular Minecraft, RLCraft will shake everything up for the better.

Best Minecraft Mods: BetterEnd

Turning the game into a whole new thing, Minecraft mod BetterEnd adds 24 new biomes into the End with each biome providing its own atmosphere, mobs, and general unique style. There are new blocks and items along with new mechanics like Infusion Rituals, and it all comes together to be pretty special. Even the sky has a new look to it and it’s perfect if Minecraft is feeling a little tired to you at this stage.

Best Minecraft Mods: Sodium

Sodium isn’t an exciting Minecraft mod but it could well end up being your favorite while it ticks along in the background. It’s a powerful rendering engine and optimization mod that is guaranteed to improve performance and graphical quality. It won’t change how the game looks but it will improve your FPS and the stability of your session. If you have lots of mods installed or your PC needs some assistance, this is the easiest solution.

Best Minecraft Mods: OptiFine

If you’ve scooped up some great Minecraft shaders and texture updates, and your PC is starting to feel it -- get OptiFine. It helps Minecraft run faster and look better thanks to its full support for HD textures, shaders, and dynamic lighting. Minecraft can still look pretty gorgeous and mods like OptiFine help a lot with this side of things.

Best Minecraft Mods: AppleSkin

Eating food is necessary and more complicated than you might think in Minecraft. With AppleSkin, you can see exactly how much nutrition you’re gaining when using any foodstuff. That means you can plan in advance when it comes to what food you should be eating and when. It does so through a cute addition to the HUD so you can easily see what will be satiating for you.

Best Minecraft Mods: When Dungeons Arise

Want to turn Minecraft into a dungeon-crawling experience? Check out When Dungeons Arise. It’s a dungeon generator that places dungeons randomly on your worlds and gives you plenty to explore. It’s risky business, of course, because plenty of foes are generated too but the rewards can be worth it and it’s certainly thrilling stuff. Many of the structures are gorgeous to look at too.

Best Minecraft Mods: Aquaculture 2

Everyone loves fishing, right? Seemingly every game features a fishing system these days and Aquaculture 2 enhances Minecraft’s fishing. There are over 30 new fish to catch with the option of doing so with a rod or while swimming in the wild. Besides new rods, there’s new bait and you can customize fishing lines and bobbers. Each biome type has new types of fish so there’s plenty to do here for those cozier moments.

Best Minecraft Mods: Epic Dungeons: A Roguelike Journey

For a more roguelike experience, check out Epic Dungeons: A Roguelike Journey. We’re all used to the procedural generation that makes Minecraft different every time but Epic Dungeons: A Roguelike Journey adds to that by providing procedurally generated dungeons where you can fight harder mobs, avoid traps, and find some neat loot. It feels different every time and all the better for it.

Best Minecraft Mods: Pixelmon

For Pokemon fans or anyone who likes the concept of monster-catching, there’s Pixelmon. It gives you the chance to capture creatures in Minecraft, battle with them, trade them, and breed them -- just like in a Pokemon game. It matches the mechanics of the beloved games while having the Minecraft magic too. If that sounds like heaven to you, you need to run and not walk towards this mod.

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Mojang Studios has announced that Minecraft will no longer support PlayStation VR next year.

Hidden within Minecraft's most recent patch notes, the developer confirmed that as of March 2025, updates will no longer apply to the PSVR version of the game (via VGC).

"Our ability to support PlayStation VR has come to an end, and will no longer be supported in updates after March of 2025," Mojang said.

"After you receive the final update, you will still receive updates on your PlayStation and be able to play without PlayStation VR."

Mojang continues, saying that users can still keep playing and building in their saved worlds and that Marketplace purchases, including Tokens, will continue to be available.

However, players will no longer be able to use their PlayStation VR with Minecraft "as it will no longer be supported in the latest updates."

It also looks like the studio has officially removed the Minecraft VR webpage as navigating to it will now result in an error message.

Last week, Mojang confirmed that it is currently working on a native PS5 version of Minecraft, but it's unclear if it has plans to port the popular survival sandbox game over to the PlayStation VR2.

Additionally, Minecraft will receive more frequent content drops in the future instead of providing one free update during the summer.

"A number of free game drops throughout the year" will be released in its place, with Mojang confirming it will now be focusing on "long-term initiatives to ensure we can continue to evolve Minecraft long into the future".

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Mojang Studios has shared its updated development plan for Minecraft, confirming that players will get more frequent content drops in the future.

In a new blog post, the developer explained that after 15 years since launch, it will be making improvements to its popular survival sandbox game by introducing new features more regularly moving forward.

"We know that you want new Minecraft content more often, which is why we’re changing our feature development rhythm," Mojang said. 

The developer confirmed that instead of providing one free update during summer, it will now release "a number of free game drops throughout the year", all of which will vary in size and bring new features more frequently.

Mojang revealed that the first of these dropped in December 2023 with the arrival of visual changes and new functional storage containers, followed by the Armored Paws update in April 2024, which introduced armadillos, wolf variations, and wolf armor.

In addition to more regular content drops, the studio announced that it will now be focusing on "long-term initiatives to ensure we can continue to evolve Minecraft long into the future", although it stopped short of revealing these plans.

Mojang also touched on the native PlayStation 5 version of Minecraft, which was revealed earlier this year as a limited preview, and confirmed that the current-gen version of the game is still in the works. 

Unfortunately, the studio didn't share an estimated release date, but it did confirm that over the coming year, it will be exploring ways to improve Minecraft’s multiplayer experience and "make it easier to find and connect with friends."

Minecraft Live, the game's annual celebration live stream, will be getting some changes, too. Instead of a single October broadcast, Mojang will provide two streams per year and explained they will become "more focussed" by retiring the mob vote and also feature details on what the development team is actively working on.

"We are excited for a future of Minecraft in which we get to share more features with you more regularly, and in which your suggestions continue to become a reality," Mojang said. "We hope you’ll join us for another fifteen years - and hopefully, even more."

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Minecraft is 15, and that makes us so old we don't want to think about it. But we must, because Beats has just dropped a special edition iteration of its Beats Solo 4 true wireless headphones to celebrate the anniversary. 

The special edition on-ears are black with metallic green hinges and feature the iconic creeper. Also, when you buy a pair you'll also get a code to unlock an in-game character creator item.

To accompany the launch Beats has teamed up with some musical pals to provide something to listen to: Minecraft creator TinaKitten will curate a special spatial audio playlist on Apple Music (let's not forget, Beats is an Apple subsidiary), and Imagine Dragons' new song Wake Up provides the soundtrack to a new animated short that takes you through the world of Minecraft.

Beats x Minecraft special edition Solo 4: pricing, availability and specifications

Styling aside, these are the same Beats Solo 4 we recently reviewed. That means an impressive 50-hour battery life, USB-C charging and Apple's head-tracked spatial audio from an iOS device, but no active noise cancellation. 

They're a decent set of headphones, but at this price they're facing some serious competition and we felt that the lack of true multi-point pairing, imperfect comfort levels and middling sound quality prevented us from wholeheartedly recommending them. But while rivals may deliver better features or sound quality, none of them have metallic green bits or undead creatures printed on them – and none of Beats' direct competitors unlock an in-game character with your purchase… 

If you're in or near New York, Apple is holding an event at Apple Fifth Ave featuring TinaKitten and Apple Music Radio's Travis Mills on launch day, 18 July. You can register for tickets from 16 July.

The Beats x Minecraft Special Edition Solo 4 will be available from 18 July from Apple, EE and Target. The US price is $199.99 and the UK price is £199.99, which means pricing in Australia is likely to come in at around AU$299. 

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The long-awaited native version of Minecraft for PlayStation 5 has finally arrived, but not in the form that you might expect. Rather than a full release, it is currently only available as a limited early preview that can be accessed by owners of the PlayStation 4 edition of the game.

As detailed in a recent post to the Minecraft website, “If you own the PS4 version of Minecraft for your PS5, you’ll be able to access and test this early version”. You can do so by first launching the game, opening the settings menu, and then selecting the preview option there.

Developer Mojang goes on to explain that the preview includes content from the recent Tricky Trials Update but does not feature cross-platform multiplayer or the ability to access the in-game store. Those who are subscribed to the paid Realms service, however, are still able to play online with friends on other platforms provided that they create a dedicated preview realm first.

If you’re interested in giving this version of the game a go, do bear in mind that it is still an early build so you may encounter bugs. The developer states that it needs “your help to test it” and will be accepting feedback on any issues that you find through both an official Discord server and a dedicated form on the website

There is currently no official word on when the full release is set to roll out, but the existence of this preview suggests that it might be in its final stages of development. If you don’t already own a PS4 copy of the hugely popular open-world survival crafting game, it is available now in both a standard and deluxe version that includes some additional maps, player customization options, skin packs, and currency for the virtual store.

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The best game server hosting gives you extensive control over your favorite games so it's ideal for dedicated gamers. Have you ever had a specific idea in mind for Minecraft or something else? Using dedicated game server hosting means you can make that dream a reality. By using it, you can also create a community for your friends so you always have somewhere to hang out.

There are dozens of options out there, so I've narrowed things down to my favorites and the very best game server hosting around. I've spent extensive time with them all and broken down where they work best. I've listed specific recommendations for your situation from the best Minecraft server hosting to other excellent options.

Best game server hosting services 2026 in full

Best game server hosting for beginners

ShockByte is one of my favorite game server hosting providers and a very easy one to recommend to pretty much everyone. Its price plans are good value and it offers plenty of great features too. There's support for seemingly every game you can think of as well as dedicated plans for everyone's favorite - Minecraft.

All ShockByte plans offer DDoS protection, unlimited bandwidth and NVMe storage, automated instant setup, a free subdomain, and 100% network uptime. The provider also has 24/7 support which is reasonably efficient at assisting you.

I've found that a lot of the time I don't need dedicated support. Instead, ShockByte's comprehensive FAQ section and vast supply of YouTube tutorials solve most of my queries and at a time I want them to be fixed.

ShockByte's control panel is somewhere you'll feel comfortable to spend time in thanks to being intuitive and looking good. Laid out in a straightforward manner, it offers plenty of options without feeling overwhelming. Creating a server takes moments and you can easily access the server from any location. Having used it for months, the uptime promise is accurate too. I’ve never had a problem which is great news.

Shockbyte suggests which plan works best for which situation with Minecraft often providing the very cheapest plans. If you need some guidance, this is a good option thanks to the reliability of the recommendations. If you need to go high-end, options are fairly comprehensive here too. Any time you decide to upgrade, you can do so without feeling tied into anything permanently.

Read our full Shockbyte review.

Best value game server hosting

Hostinger is one of the bigger names in the web hosting and game server hosting world. It's like Scalahosting in that it doesn't appear as obvious as some of the other best game server hosting but it's worth diving deeper. In this case, you're picking a VPS plan over a web hosting service but that gives you plenty of control.

Hostinger's VPS plans are very competitively priced. Even better, there are often sales and discounts so you won't be paying full price straight away. Such deals make it well-suited for small server setups with friends but you can also upgrade to something much more advanced if you have loftier plans. With up to 32TB bandwidth available on select plans, it should cater for many needs.

Once you’ve picked a plan, you can delve into setting up a game server by jumping into the control panel. Hostinger uses AI assistant support called Kodee to solve many queries. It directed me in the wrong direction for one thing but was spot on for another. As with a lot of AI support, it's not perfect but it was a good tool to guide me through a lot of processes without needing to rely on support tickets.

Once in the panel, I found it quick and simple to set up a series of instances relating to all my gaming interests with extensive support for dozens of games. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up a server with the most extensive functionality coming from a Minecraft server.

When setting up a Minecraft server, there's extensive plugin support along with a wealth of options for getting things set up just how you need it. It’s a similar case with other games like Rust with much older games such as Counterstrike 1.6 also supported. It’s not the prettiest of interfaces, but it works well and is fairly clearly laid out. If you experiment a lot, you can create manual snapshots making it simple to undo any changes. Automated backups come as standard with all plans if you prefer to be hands-off. All plans also come with a dedicated IP and DDoS Protection.

Uptime in our tests was very reliable with no issues. We had access to the maxed out KVM 8 plan with 8 vCPU cores, 32GB RAM, 400GB of NVMe disk space and 32TB bandwidth. As standard, all plans come with one snapshot, weekly backups, dedicated IP address, full root access, malware scanner, and AI assistant.

Read our full Hostinger review.

Best game server hosting on a budget

ScalaCube provides highly reliable game server hosting with prices starting from as little as $2 for the first month. Most people will want to spend more than that but it's a good entry point. More substantial plans still start from just $5 so it's a good option for anyone starting out or experimenting in game server hosting.

With all plans, you get one-click installation for modpacks for Minecraft and ScalaCube is consistently intuitive and user-friendly. In very little time at all, you can get set up with the best Minecraft mods. It’s simple to pick your location when buying a server with many areas around the world included. The focus is clearly on appreciating that you might know games but not necessarily server hosting.

The well laid out panel means it’s easy to see how CPU usage is going, and how much storage you have spare. More conveniently, you can easily set up tasks alongside the easy plugin and mod installation Crucially, it’s all laid out in a very easy to figure out way. While some services might be a little complicated in their layout, ScalaCube makes it accessible.

The only thing to be aware of is that ScalaCube can get expensive. Some of its more premium packages live up to their name, while adding on extras like creating your own Minecraft launcher or adding a dedicated IP all increase the price steadily. Despite that, I found ScalaCube to be the better value proposition here. At least you can always see what you're paying for. Also, it’s simple to use and a good entry point for those who are testing the water. Appropriately, it’s highly scaleable.

Read our full ScalaCube review.

Best game variety

Nodecraft is an immediately welcoming proposition for less tech savvy users. Right from the start, Nodecraft's got your back, pointing out if the plan you want is too weak for your intentions. Plenty of games are supported and there's a 24 hour free trial to get you started. A 7-day money back guarantee is also available. It’s a nice idea for a brief taster session if you just want to check out what Nodecraft is like for yourself.

Set up a Minecraft server and there are plenty of plugins which can be installed at the tap of a button. Similarly, you can swap between different versions of the game with one click. Any time you want to set up an entirely different game server, you can choose to archive the current one then pick a different game via its save&swap service which is a useful bonus, especially for Twitch communities which may find their needs changing rapidly.

To an extent, you’re limited by the hardware on the server you’re paying for but you can still often make things work. In particular, that makes the free trial a great starting point as it shows you how easy it is to use Nodecraft. Within a few minutes, I had one Minecraft server set up and archived before opening up a Rust server. If you’re part of a gaming community which swaps around a lot, this is a huge advantage with such flexibility always a neat bonus. Other hosts may provide similar features but none are quite as straightforward or as simple as the Nodecraft way.

Making adjustments throughout is easy enough and you can save up to five instances. Crucially, it’s welcoming. Nodecraft hides all the complex stuff in the background but when you do need support, there are fairly comprehensive FAQs as well as live chat during US hours.

Read our full Nodecraft review.

Best game server hosting for hardcore gamers

If you’re looking for game server hosting alongside establishing a large community, PingPerfect is a good place to go, providing you know what you’re doing. Not everything about PingPerfect is as clear as its alternatives but it has a lot to like. There's support for over 200 games including some old favorites not catered for elsewhere so it's pretty powerful. It promises great hardware across the board even if you go for cheaper packages, with the most high-end plans proving particularly speedy.

Potentially best of all, PingPerfect offers a 48 hour free trial so you can easily check if things work for you. Performance is just as speedy here with no concessions. All you need to do is remember to contact support if you want to switch to a paid plan otherwise the server is deleted at the end of the 48 hours. That’s a minor bugbear but as long as you remember, you’ll appreciate that time to try out your new server. You can't beat hands-on experience for finding what works for you.

Setup takes mere seconds with favorites like Minecraft offering just what you would expect like a mod manager. There are also one click backups and restores, as well as FTP access if you have more ambitious plans. It’d be tough to recommend to newbies given the way that PingPerfect is designed but it gives you extensive control.

Pricing initially looks incredibly cheap but once you add on essentials like sufficient slots, it can go up. There are a lot of options here for customizing PingPerfect just how you want it which means the price can vary significantly. It's worth playing around, especially if you're not certain of what you need. You’ll also want to have your server hosted on NVMe rather than SSD which adds to the price along with bumping up your CPU priority. PingPerfect isn’t super cheap but it’s ripe for a discussion among your clan mates about how far you want to take your server plans. Such flexibility can be quite useful if you're looking for a specific type of server.

Lending itself to those establishing a community, PingPerfect also provides 1GB of free web hosting if you need it. That includes 10GB of traffic per month. It’s convenient to have everything in one place, but count on spending a little time to get things just how you like it. If you’re a novice, you may end up in the support section a lot. Fortunately, it’s pretty extensive.

Best Game Server Hosting FAQs

How we tested the best game server hosting

I spent time with each of the hosts here, using them just like a regular customer. I checked out a mixture of the cheapest plans on a service while also looking at higher end packages. I also took a look at free trials where applicable as that’s where most people will start for themselves.

I looked at specifications like RAM, bandwidth, and storage, but the focus was also on how well everything ran and simply how easy it was to get things running optimally.

Besides trying out setting up a server and looking at the ease of installation, server location, and performance, I also evaluated customer support availability. As an avid gamer too, I know what to look for, rather than just focus on the technical details.

We might not have been treated to another major tech event this week, but that hasn’t slowed down the flow of hardware and software updates from Apple, OpenAI, and Beats.

To help you keep on top of all the latest goings on, we've rounded up the seven biggest tech news stories from the past week and given you a brief overview of them all (including links to the original stories if you want to dive in deeper).

We’ve got some big tech shows coming up, including Apple’s WWDC 2024 (more on that below), so be sure to check back next week for another quickfire catch-up.

7. Apple invited us to WWDC 2024

Apple has sent out press invites to WWDC, confirming that 2024’s iteration of the annual developer conference is scheduled for 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST on June 10 (3 AM AEST, June 11).

Unlike some of its previous invites – like the Let Loose event, which showcased the flashy new iPad Air and iPad Pro – this WWDC invite is missing a tagline and features a very simple design. It’s a simple, colorful circle that mimics the shape of the main ring building at Apple Park, the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, CA.

At WWDC we expect to see the next generations of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, as well as the debut of Apple’s approach to AI. Compared to its rivals like Meta and Microsoft, Apple is sorely lacking in this field, but WWDC 2024 could be when it finally announces its comeback – perhaps with the help of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

• Read more: Apple's WWDC 2024 invite reveals when to tune in for its big iOS 18 reveals

6. iOS 18 leaks gave us a taste of Apple’s rumored AI treats

With Apple’s WWDC 2024 event just over a week away, the iOS 18 rumors are building – and this week, we got a generous helping of informed predictions about the AI features potentially coming to iPhones.

Alongside a more conversational version of Siri, it sounds like on-device AI will soon power automatic Voice Memo transcriptions, photo retouching, and Safari improvements. The bad news? Some of these features might be restricted to models from the iPhone 15 Pro onwards.

Still, with Apple also reportedly sealing a deal for integrating ChatGPT with Siri, there should be plenty of iPhone improvements to go around at WWDC 2024 on June 10.

• Read more: Apple’s iOS 18 AI plans set out in new report – here are 9 new features to expect

5. AI hype isn’t reflecting reality, a new study revealed

Feeling a bit worn down by AI hype? You’re not alone, according to a fascinating new study that landed this week. It reveals how ordinary folk are using AI tools like ChatGPT. The answer, it seems, is not a whole lot.

The survey of people across six countries revealed that only a tiny minority are using ChatGPT daily. In fact, a significant chunk of respondents (47% in the US and 42% in the UK) hadn’t even heard of OpenAI’s AI assistant, showing how far it is from mainstream acceptance.

For those who are using generative AI, the survey helpfully breaks down what the average person is using the tech for – including “writing emails,” “a job application/interview,” and, more worryingly, “answering factual questions." While AI adoption is slow right now, most people also still agreed that the tech will have “a large impact on ordinary people in the next five years”.

• Read more: Hardly any of us are using AI tools like ChatGPT, study says – here’s why

4. ChatGPT Plus became obsolete (for now at least)

OpenAI finally released its GPT-4o features to free users this week, giving them access to a range of things like the ability for ChatGPT to analyze files and photos you upload and access the internet to inform its responses.

However, users who pay for ChatGPT Plus have been left wondering what their subscription now gets them. While it does include higher usage caps for GPT-4o and the ability to create custom GPTs, that’s currently it – though when Voice Mode launches "in the coming weeks," they’ll get that too.

Nevertheless, $20 (around £16 / AU$30) a month is a lot to pay for an experience that isn’t all that much better than the free version. So if you’re thinking of subscribing to ChatGPT Plus right now, don’t – at least not until something like GPT-5 rolls out in early access to them.

• Read more: ChatGPT’s free tier just got a massive upgrade – so stop paying for ChatGPT Plus

3. Your Android phone got some useful new skills – including editable texts

If you have an Android phone, you'll soon be able to edit text messages sent to other Android phones, just like iPhone owners have been doing for years. The message has to have been sent via the RCS protocol in Google Messages rather than a traditional SMS, and you can only edit it if the message was sent in the last 15 minutes.

Google is also adding new Google Home widgets and smartwatch controls to let you more effortlessly control your favorite smart home appliances. These are fantastic additions if you rely on Google Home, as the software has not offered enough shortcuts and quick paths to control the lights, thermostats, and other smart devices in your home. With the new widget and Wear OS options, Google Home should be much more user-friendly.

The update also features new Emoji Kitchen combos, and an expansion of Android's digital car key capabilities.

• Read more: Android phones can now edit text messages, just like the iPhone

3. Netflix announced a Minecraft show

It’s time to Netflix and Craft, as the streaming platform has announced it’s working on a Minecraft animated show. The brief teaser didn’t show us much but heavily featured the Nether – a dangerous world players can visit that’s full of lava and gold-loving Piglins – suggesting this could be the show’s main setting (rather than the typical Minecraft overworld).

This will be the latest in a long string of animated gaming adaptations for one of the best streaming platforms, joining the likes of Arcane (based on League of Legends) and Castlevania. Other highly anticipated animated shows Netflix is working on include A Devil May Cry series, a Tomb Raider show, and an animated spin-off of the incredibly popular Netflix TV Original Stranger Things.

If you prefer live-action antics, Warner Bros. is also developing a separate Minecraft movie, which will feature Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Kate McKinnon, among others. It’s slated to arrive in April 2025. 

Unfortunately, we don’t know when the animated show will launch, as the trailer ends vaguely with “Coming Soon.”

• Read more: Netflix is teaming up with Microsoft and Mojang to craft a Minecraft animated show

2. Apple revealed its favorite iPhone apps of the year so far

Apple has announced the shortlist for this year’s Design Awards – a prestigious accolade given to the best apps and games you can enjoy on your iPhone, iPad, and now Apple Vision Pro.

The full list features seven categories, with everything from Hello Kitty Island Adventure (which is nominated in the Delight and Fun category) to Copilot Money (a financial tracking app nominated in the Innovation category).

If you’ve been looking for some new software to improve your iPhone experience, this list is an excellent place to start .

• Read more: These are the best iPhone apps and games of 2024 so far, according to Apple

1. Beats announced its smallest and most affordable wireless earbuds ever

In the market for a new pair of earbuds? Don’t want the purchase to break the bank, or are you focused on scoring a compact pair? Beats' forthcoming Solo Buds might fit the bill, and the Apple-owned audio brand confirmed a launch date of June 20 this week.

The $79.99 true wireless earbuds offer some nice feature parity across Android and iOS, including quick-pairing and FindMy support, all in an ultra-compact design. The Solo Buds look like a more compact version of the Studio Buds Plus and live in a surprisingly small carrying case that will easily fit in the palm of your hand.

To get the size down, Beats removed a better from the case, meaning that when you need to recharge the buds, you’ll place them in the case and plug them in via USB-C to refuel them. Luckily, Beats promises 18-hours of playback, which we’ll put to the test. Solo Buds also don’t support Spatial Audio, active noise cancellation, or a transparency mode.

Beats served some excellent colors, including a unique ‘transparent red.” Solo Buds will be up for preorder on June 18 and officially launch on June 20.

• Read more: Beats' smallest and most affordable wireless earbuds will launch on June 20

Netflix is teaming up with Minecraft creator Mojang to craft an animated TV series based on the incredibly popular sandbox video game.

Revealed via a 20-second teaser on its social media channels, the streaming titan revealed it was developing an animated TV show that'll be set in the block-based world that's owned by Mojang and parent company Microsoft.

Few details about the in-development series have been revealed, such as a confirmed release date and/or voice cast. However, Netflix and Mojang provided a little insight into its creation via a brief news post on the official Minecraft website, including which animation studio will lead development on the forthcoming project and the fact that it won't feature everyone's favorite block star, Steve.

"We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve joined forces with Netflix to produce an animated series set in our blocky universe," writer Per Landin said. 

"The series will tell an original story with new characters and reflect the world of Minecraft in a new light. It is currently in development by the talented studio WildBrain (creators of Sonic Prime, Ninjago: Dragons Rising, and Carmen Sandiego) and will debut exclusively on Netflix. We couldn’t be more excited, so stay tuned for more information!"

Netflix's Minecraft series is just the latest animated production to be announced for and/or be in development at the world's best streaming service. Ultraman: Rising, one of next month's new Netflix movies, will be the next one to emerge off the streamer's animated production line, with the flick set to fly onto the platform on June 14. 

On the TV front, Arcane season 2, the next entry in one of the best Netflix shows ever, will debut in November. Other highly anticipated animated shows include A Devil May Cry series, a Tomb Raider show, and an animated spin-off of the incredibly popular Netflix TV Original Stranger Things.

Mining the adaptation well

With its cute, block-based graphics and family-friendly appeal, some people (myself included) have found it bizarre that an animated Minecraft series hasn't been attempted before. The fact that we're finally getting one from Netflix now feels long overdue.

That said, in some ways, Netflix's announcement couldn't have come at a worse time. For one, the reveal comes 13 days after Minecraft's 15th anniversary – its actual birthday took place on May 17, for those wondering – which would've been a more fitting date to make this announcement on. Unless work is well underway on the animated series, it won't launch on Netflix until after Warner Bros' live-action Minecraft movie arrives in theaters, either. The long-gestating film, which will star Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Kate McKinnon, among others, is currently slated to arrive in cinemas worldwide in April 2025. 

If that movie fails to leave its mark on audiences, there might not be much of an appetite for Netflix's animated offering from viewers whenever it's released. Indeed, few other Minecraft spin-offs or adaptations – Minecraft Dungeons, Minecraft Legends, and Telltale's narrative-driven Minecraft video game adaptation to name three – have struggled to match the original game's unprecedented success. There's little guarantee, then, that its forthcoming movie and TV reworkings will do likewise. We'll find out if Netflix and Warner Bros. have built adaptations befitting Mojang's universally adored video game in the months and years to come.

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Microsoft appears to be ramping up its mobile gaming efforts, revealing plans to launch an Xbox mobile game store in July.

While we already know that an Xbox mobile game store has been in the works for quite some time, this new July release timeline comes from a recent interview with Xbox president Sarah Bond at the Bloomberg Technology Summit. 

Bond went on to express a desire to bring Microsoft’s “own first-party portfolio” to the store, including “games like Candy Crush” and “games like Minecraft” in addition to third-party titles from partners.

It seems clear that the Xbox mobile game store will be part of the wider Xbox ecosystem, as Bond described it as “a true cross-platform gaming centric mobile experience.” Presumably, this means some form of integration with existing Xbox game libraries and compatibility with popular features like Microsoft Rewards and Xbox achievements.

Interestingly, the store will first be made available as a web application rather than a traditional app. “We’re going to start on the web,” Bond explained. “We’re doing that because that really allows us to have it be an experience that’s accessible across all devices, all countries, no matter what and independent of the policies of closed ecosystem stores.”

This sounds quite similar to the existing Xbox Cloud Gaming service, which can be accessed through mobile phone web browsers. Although the intention is clearly to compete with the Android Google Play Store and iOS App Store, it’s difficult to imagine the Xbox mobile game store finding much success without a dedicated presence on the home screen.

Still, with recent European Union (EU) regulation prompting Apple to allow third-party iOS app stores for the first time in the region it seems very plausible that we will see one released down the line. Perhaps the allure of big properties like Candy Crush and Minecraft will prove enough to persuade a number of fans to make the jump in the meantime.

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Shockbyte has been around since March 2013 and has grown from strength to strength in this time. Below, you'll find our full overview of how good Shockbyte is. Its mission statement has been to offer “premium services at unbeatable prices'' and it mostly meets those ambitious goals.

The Australian-based company is now one of the longest-running Minecraft server hosting providers. It's best known for its Minecraft offerings which is what we reviewed here, but it also provides servers for games like Project Zomboid, ARK: Survival Evolved, Rust, and many more.

It offers many server locations scattered around the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia, so there's something for everyone here. It also provides 24/7 customer support as standard, 100% uptime, full FTP access, and support for seemingly every mod you can think of. Shockbyte sounds pretty irresistible on paper. With an eye on whether it could be one of the best Minecraft hosting providers, here’s how we found the Shockbyte experience from setup to playing on the server.

Plans and pricing

Shockbyte offers 12 different plans, plus a custom plan if you have specific needs. All the plans offer 24/7 customer support, 100% uptime, full FTP access, DDoS protection, and full mod support. Where plans differ is how much RAM they offer as well as the number of player slots. There’s good variety here with the option to upgrade any time as needed. To help customers know what to buy starting out, Shockbyte also has a few recommended plans for certain needs such as best for modding or the latest version.

The cheapest plan is the Dirt plan with 1GB RAM and 8 player slots at $4 per month. That ramps up to the Titan plan at $64 per month with 16GB of RAM and unlimited player slots with a 300 recommendation. Discounts are available for committing to quarterly, six monthly, or annual plans.

Such a discount means the Dirt plan drops to just $24 for the year which works out as excellent value for teaming up with your mates on a private server. All servers use NVMe SSDs with unlimited disk space and bandwidth. Deciding which plan to buy mostly comes down to how many players you expect to play at once and RAM considerations.

Shockbyte offers a 72 hour refund policy so there’s just enough time to test things out if you’ve made a mistake with your needs. Payment is accepted via credit or debit card along with PayPal and Paymentwall methods. While signing up, you can choose to add on a preferred location, purchase a dedicated IP, and arrange server management options, all for a fee. That means the price can increase a fair bit depending on what you need with features like a dedicated IP costing $5 per month while server management costs $15 per month. While the cost can ramp up, at least it’s fairly clearly laid out so you always know what you’re paying for and why.

Ease of use

Starting out with a Minecraft server with Shockbyte is pretty speedy. Once you wrap up the purchasing process, you’re given two username/password combos. One is for the client side of things while the other is for the control panel. Access to the latter can then be shared with other users who you want to have control over things, although you’ll need to get in touch with support to get it set up.

The opening part of the control panel has you able to choose the server type you want. A near never ending choice of Bedrock or Java server types are available with recommendations highlighted.

On the left hand side is the more complex set of options as well as the best ways to monitor your server. Chat and console are fairly self explanatory with the latter a good way of dipping in to check all is well.

Dive into the Files section and that’s where things get a little more complicated. The Config Files section offers server settings such as if you want to set up whitelisting, change the game mode or difficulty, as well as disable or limit various settings. It’s clearly laid out with drop-down boxes allowing you to quickly change things. The responsiveness is fast with the majority of actions not requiring a server restart although Shockbyte recommends doing so once a day.

If you want to add any modpacks or plugins, the Shockbyte interface is simple to use. There are a lot of plugins to choose from while you can use full FTP access to add anything that hasn’t already been thought of. Again, adding from the plugin list is straightforward and takes moments. It’s all designed in a way that makes the process as simple as possible, even if you don’t have prior server admin experience.

For those users who do have more advanced experience, there’s an appropriately titled Advanced tab too. Here, you can set up commands, scheduled tasks, add additional ports, startup parameters and MySQL databases. It’s reasonably comprehensive stuff that means Shockbyte is fairly good at catering for both novice users that simply want the basics right up to those who know exactly what they’re doing.

Speed and experience

Shockbyte offers servers across Europe, North America, Singapore and Australia, with the latter two requiring an additional payment each month. The Minecraft server I used was based in Europe, much like myself, and I found the ping to be pretty reliable. A steady 30-35 ping meant no issues with lag and that continued while adding players to the server.

As promised by Shockbyte, there was no downtime either with the Minecraft server always ready to go. It’s a reliable force for regular players.

During my time playing on the server and gathering together some friends, the experience didn’t dip in quality. Daily restarts and not cramming the server with mods and plugins is sure to help here but as a general, standard Minecraft experience, it works well out of the virtual box. That’s also where the level of ease involved in adding or removing mods, as well as simply restarting the server certainly helps keep things ticking along healthily.

Support

Support is two-fold with a ticketing system and extensive tutorials. The tutorials are the true standout here. It feels like there’s a YouTube video for literally everything you could possibly need while setting up a Minecraft server. A full playlist is available or you can dip in for individual queries. Each tutorial is clearly laid out and no longer than it has to be. Whether you simply need guidance on which server type to choose from or you want to set spawns, manage whitelists, or learn how scheduled tasks can benefit you, it’s covered here with no padded out filler.

It’s a truly useful resource with things backed up by a Knowledge Base which answers many queries, followed by direct support. When I contacted support by sending off a ticket, I was impressed to get a response within an hour. The follow up, however, took a fair while longer. Cynically, paying helps. It’s possible to pay $3 to bump your ticket to the front of the queue which feels a little unsavoury but on the other hand, Shockbyte is pretty cheap elsewhere.

Talking of payments, it’s also possible to pay $15 per month for the company to manage your server including controlling and setting up mods and plugins. With the many tutorials available, it’s hardly necessary for most people but it could be useful when starting out.

Final verdict

Shockbyte is an excellent value way to snap up a Minecraft server that isn’t much hassle to set up and maintain. Ideally suited for novices but also anyone who wants to keep costs down, you can get straight on with setting up your Minecraft server pretty quickly, right down to installing some mods or plugins without having to delve too deeply.

Where things falter is a bit, is the added costs and occasional support quibbles. A little inconsistent with speed isn’t a dealbreaker for everyone when it comes to needing assistance from support and the YouTube videos certainly help, but if you run into a major problem, feeling obliged to pay an extra $3 will grate.

Similarly, added costs for features like a dedicated IP or server management are transparent but something to be aware of when totting up the actual price you’ll be paying.

Neither of these issues will affect everyone though and for the most part, Shockbyte works well. Its 100% uptime and speedy servers mean you and your mates will easily be able to join in at any time without any problems. It fits nicely into that ‘it just works’ mentality that everyone appreciates about technology. It also makes the process far more accessible than server management ever was in the past.

Mojang Studios has partnered with BBC for a brand-new Minecraft Education world inspired by Planet Earth 3.

Starting today (January 16), Minecraft Education Edition players will be able to access the natural world influenced by the popular British documentary series, allowing them to explore new biomes and play as creatures that have been showcased on screen, including the great white shark, arctic wolf, musk ox and more. 

Players will start at the BBC Planet Earth 3 Field Station, where they'll be able to select from a range of different biomes, study the correlated wildlife, and embark on tailored activities. 

There are also challenges with unlockable rewards, as well as a way to alternate perspectives between various animals while exploring the wild. 

The 'Planet Earth 3 Minecraft World', which is now available for free via Minecraft Education or the Minecraft Marketplace, follows the record-breaking success of the Frozen Planet 2 Minecraft Worlds, that launched in 2022. 

"Minecraft Education is delighted to extend our partnership with BBC Earth, building on our work in Frozen Planet 2," said Justin Edwards, Minecraft Education's director of learning experiences. 

"The new experience of the natural world in Planet Earth 3 brings us closer to the animals and their surrounding environment. In this world, you will learn about animals from different continents, across sea, sky, and land, and how they survive and thrive."

The previous downloadable content (DLC) achieved the most downloads in a single day for an educational game in Minecraft history across 116 countries, allowing BBC and Mojang the opportunity for a new collaboration.

Matt Brandon, Planet Earth 3 series producer from BBC Studios Natural History Unit said: “We are delighted to partner with Minecraft Education and that children globally will have the opportunity to interact with stories inspired by the Planet Earth 3 series through immersive gameplay while learning more about our fragile natural world and the creatures we share this planet with.”

Elsewhere, Mojang has announced that the latest update for Minecraft Legends will be its last as the development team looks to shift its focus to something new.

For more, check out the best multiplayer PC games and the best co-op games that are available to play right now.

Development on Minecraft Legends will be drawing to a close shortly, but that doesn't mean the fun stops entirely.

After nine months, Mojang announced that the latest update for Minecraft Legends will be its last as the dev team looks to focus elsewhere. Luckily for those still playing the real-time action-strategy game, there will still be PvP and co-op to enjoy. 

"With that complete, we're now going to take a step back from development," Mojang said in a blog post. "We'll continue having a blast playing the game alongside our community because those rowdy piglins are showing no signs of slowing down.

"We will, of course, continue to offer technical support to players, and we won’t be removing any functionalities or features from the game. PvP and co-op will also remain fully functional, so you can continue playing whether you prefer to take on the piglins by yourself or battle alongside (or against) friends."

There's also a chance for continuing players to grab an extra freebie as a goodbye present. The Bright-Eyed Hero skin is available for all existing players, and you can currently claim it on the Minecraft Legends Marketplace. 

"Thank you for following along this heroic journey and helping us make Minecraft Legends the game it is today. With the support of our team, our partners, and the Minecraft community, we’re going to continue exploring the types of games we're passionate about and bringing new experiences to the Minecraft universe."

While it's sad to see this strategy game die a slow death, it's exciting to know that the team at Mojang is still looking for new ways to bring Minecraft to the masses.

For more fantastic titles that you can enjoy with friends, be sure to check out the best multiplayer PC games and the best co-op games that are available to play right now.

This year's Minecraft Live brought a surprising amount of controversy with it, but that didn't stop Mojang from making some impressive announcements. 

This year's Minecraft Live event is officially over, meaning the somewhat controversial mob vote has passed, and players have received all the exciting news concerning the family-friendly crafting game.

Mojang took time out from the livestream to announce a couple of exciting details. First off, in an incredible milestone, Minecraft has officially surpassed 300 million downloads. This is an incredible achievement which places the blocky adventure game above the likes of GTA 5, Tetris and Red Dead Redemption 2, making it the best-selling game of all time. 

To celebrate this, Minecraft will be shooting to outer space in its upcoming Star Wars-themed DLC. This will be available to play in the in-game Marketplace on November 7, 2023. In it, players will be able to play as a Jedi and rise through the ranks from Padawan to Jedi Knight. Hopefully, we'll get to see some seriously exciting force powers and lightsaber combat alongside this newest release. 

If you tuned in, then you'll know that the Armadillo is the most recent winner of the annual vote, beating out the penguin and the crab for the top spot. This little critter roams the savannah biome and can roll into a blocky ball if startled. However, these adorable friends aren't just for show; they can also drop special loot that will aid players in making Wolf and horse armor. 

With this helpful feature, it's no wonder the Armadillo won. Players have been begging for a way to protect their wolves and obtain horse armor in an easy fashion for years. Before this point, you'd have to rely on luck while looting desert temples if you wanted to stumble upon horse armor. But luckily, this is no longer the case.

If you're a fan of Minecraft, be sure to check out these best single-player games as well as the best PC games that are available to play right now.

The Minecraft mob vote is in hot water as players have banded together to demand the end of the annual activity. 

The Minecraft mob vote has accompanied Mojang's yearly livestream, Minecraft Live, for years now. In this, players are forced to vote for one out of the three creatures presented to us to decide which one gets added to the game. Unfortunately, this means a vast graveyard of fantastic mobs is cursed never to see the light of day in vanilla Minecraft. 

Many of these mobs aren't just placeholders for the winners but actually garner a pretty big fanbase. One of the most loved mobs that failed to get added to Minecraft may be the Moobloom. These colorful cows acted much like Mooshrooms. However, they were yellow and were either covered in dandelions or sunflowers. These lovable creatures would roam the landscape, leaving a trail of flowers in their wake. 

The 2020 winner was instead the Glowsquid, that lights up underwater caves with its beautiful blue glow. While this mob is pretty cool, it's still a shame that the lovely Moobloom had to die in this squid's place. 

This year, before the next mob vote, where players will have to decide between the crab, armadillo, and penguin, fans have taken a stand to call for the end of the ultimatum. Over 300,000 players have now signed a petition to end the mob vote, citing how "the mob vote generates engagement by tearing the community apart". Instead, players hope Mojang will end the vote and simply give them three new mobs a year. 

Players have also created artwork and posters calling for the mob vote to cease. Many of these were posted to Twitter in response to posts related to the mob vote this year. Regardless of your opinion on the annual ballot, it's safe to say it's not as beloved as it once was. 

In the meantime, check out these other fantastic PC games and single-player games that you can enjoy right now. 

The Minecraft mob vote 2023 is almost upon us, and we're finally getting a better look at what Mojang has to offer players this year.

Players can start gearing up for the upcoming Minecraft mob vote now that there's finally an idea of what content we'll see. While the basics, such as Cherry trees and building mechanics, will almost definitely make their way onto the live stream, the cherry on top has to be the mob vote. 

Every year, Mojang presents players with three mobs for players to vote on. Players can vote on which mob is their favorite throughout two stages, with the winner being added to Minecraft in the next update. Last year, we were pleased to see the seed-finding Sniffer make its way into the vanilla game. 

This time around, there seems to be a much more nautical theme. In a recent video uploaded to the official Minecraft YouTube channel, we can see the usual crew of Tiny Agnes, Jens, and Vu traveling via ship to uncover each of the new mobs that want to join Minecraft. The first mob that the crew uncovered was the crab. 

In Minecraft, the crab has the potential to be very helpful for players who love building large and complex structures. The crab's claw can be used to place blocks further away than usual. If voted in, you'll be able to find these critters scuttling across mangrove swamps. 

The nautical theme may also extend to the following two mob entries. Many fans on Reddit believe they know which two other mobs will be joining the crab in the mob vote after a YouTube playlist was accidentally made public. If this is true, it could mean that the seagull and the jellyfish will be other options for players to vote on. 

While the mob vote is one of the most exciting things to grace the annual Minecraft live stream it's always a great shame to see the other mobs banished to the abyss, never to be seen again. 

For more fantastic Minecraft content, check out these great Minecraft seeds and the best texture packs to enjoy right now. 

Minecraft Dungeons has amassed 25 million players since its launch in 2020, which Mojang was happy to praise in a blog post. But, despite its large player base, it has been confirmed that no further content for the game is planned. 

According to the team, “It was the love of our players that made it [Minecraft Dungeons] grow and thrive, allowing us to continue the adventure and venture further into the Nether, the End, and eventually the mysterious Tower. It exceeded our wildest dreams, and it makes us both proud and grateful for having had the pleasure of building a game together with a community like this one.”

Mojang has confirmed that the update that rolled out in November 2022, 1.17, will be the final update Minecraft Dungeons receives. The game will no longer receive new content or features, and the team has “moved onto new projects that continue to explore experiences in the Minecraft universe.”

The post continues: “We do intend to continue bringing new experiences to the Minecraft universe and give our team the freedom to keep exploring the types of games they're passionate about – just as they did with Dungeons!” No details on any current projects were shared. 

Following the confirmation of the final update, Mojang has also stated that players shouldn’t feel as though their adventures within the game are done, and there are still plenty of experiences to embark on within the game, led mainly by the community itself. 

With Minecraft Live taking place on October 15, 2023, there’s a lot to look forward to regarding the future of Minecraft. Although the door closing on Dungeons is bittersweet, it might make way for a new and exciting addition to the Minecraft universe - so it is worth keeping an eye on.

If you want more multiplayer games to sink into, it’s worth checking out our list of the best co-op games. The best multiplayer games on PC might also pique your interest, alongside the best online multiplayer Switch games if you’re dedicated to your hybrid handheld console. 

Minecraft Live 2023 is right around the corner, and there's a lot planned for this year's livestream, including the iconic mob vote. 

Ahead of the upcoming Minecraft livestream, Mojang released a trailer to celebrate everything the loveable adventure game had accomplished in the previous year. Cherry trees obviously take center stage as these pink beauties storm onto the stage, giving players even more ways to build their complex bases. The newest mob, the Sniffer, can also be spotted relaxing with some chickens and rabbits. 

There's also a wide range of characters gracing the newest trailer. This change was enacted after the previous Minecraft Live as the developers decided that Minecraft needed to reflect the more significant population. Now, there are several more inclusive characters that players can choose from. 

While Mojang announced that it would no longer rely on themes for each new update and livestream, there is still much to be excited about this year. We'll hear from some top devs, get all the latest information on upcoming updates, and, crucially, hear and vote on the newest mob to be included in Minecraft. 

Last year, players were swept away by the Sniffer, a large red mob that burrows into the soil to find rare seeds. It captured the hearts of all it smelled, leading it to be voted into the sandbox adventure game. Players can choose one out of three mobs to add to Minecraft this time. 

Mojang hasn't announced which mobs will be included in the vote this time around, but players can expect to see more information come around the beginning of October. However, the process will be the same as the vote will open at 10am PT/ 1pm EDT/ 6pm BST on Friday, October 13 and will close 10:15AM PT/ 1:15pm EDT/ 6:15pm BST on Sunday, October 15. 

In the meantime, check out these fantastic single-player games and adventure games on PC.