Minecraft's latest update 1.21.120.20, known as preview or beta patch, is now available, bringing a host of features, tweaks, and bug fixes that aim to enhance the overall gaming experience. The update, recognized on consoles as version 1.85/1.068, unfolds changes across various domains including gameplay, blocks, and user interface.
Key Gameplay Adjustments
The update introduces significant adjustments in gameplay mechanics. Players will notice that tadpoles now spawn directly in the water block beneath Frogspawn, altering the aquatic ecosystem interactions. An essential fix now ensures that the destruction of blocks in Adventure Mode behind water operates as intended, while the Damage command along with the /locate biome command has been refined for better precision.
The update also addresses longstanding issues related to world generation. Structures no longer overlap features at chunk borders, which enhances the seamless integration of new worlds and structures. Additionally, a critical bug causing the loading of sign text from very old worlds to misbehave has been resolved, enabling smoother transitions for seasoned Minecraft adventurers.
Visual and Auditory Improvements
Graphical improvements are a major part of this release. Notably, enhanced Vibrant Visuals now bring a new dimension to the weather effects with the addition of Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) upscaling. Minecraft has also reinstated Java parity for ambient occlusion on partial blocks, contributing to more realistic visual representations.
The new interaction features include Shelf interactions emitting vibrations with distinctly defined frequencies. In terms of audio, Copper chests and golems are updated with natural sound attenuation, adding to the immersive experience. Furthermore, suspicious stews now make their appearance in Creative mode, adding variety to crafting endeavors.
User Interface and Technical Advancements
UI enhancements focus on optimizing user experience especially for mobile devices where Pocket UI's move bug from creative-to-inventory has been rectified. Visibility of keyboard buttons in touch controls and proper cursor placement in scrolled text fields denote direct usability improvements. The update introduces enhancements to the sleep text and modifies Vibrant Visuals slider behavior for more bespoke user adjustments.
Technical upgrades include an improved API with types and functions receiving significant updates. The newly added optional 'beta' property for module dependency selection amplifies customization possibilities for developers and API users. In terms of tools, editors can expect smoother function with fixes to lightning despawn and an overhaul of summon tool operations, thereby streamlining creative processes.
The update enriches Minecraft with new molang expressions, encompassing 21 additions like math.inverse_lerp and easing functions, which open avenues for intricate scripting and animation within the game.
