Minecraft: Java Edition/Version Differences

This is a sub-page of Minecraft: Java Edition.

PC Gamer Demo

To do: Add the rest of the differences, document and upload the demo world.

Based on Beta 1.3, the PC Gamer Demo was bundled with issue 214 of the magazine PC Gamer. It features a number of differences from the regular game.

Cow

Beta 1.3	PC Gamer Demo

Beta 1.3	PC Gamer Demo

A PC Gamer logo was added to the cow texture.

Title Screen

Beta 1.3	PC Gamer Demo

PC Gamer's logo was added above the Minecraft logo, pushing it down. All of the splash text was replaced with "PC Gamer Demo!". As the game will only allow you to play the PC Gamer Demo World, the Singleplayer and Multiplayer options were replaced with options to play and reset the demo world, and a quit game button was added. The version number was also removed.

In-game

Beta 1.3	PC Gamer Demo

Although not technically the Minecraft demo, it calls itself that. Beta 1.3 just says "Beta 1.3". However, like the offical Minecraft demo, a timer was added, lasting about five Minecraft days.

Options

Beta 1.3	PC Gamer Demo

For some unfathomable reason, the PC Gamer Demo sets the default controls to the arrow keys. Beta 1.3 and all other versions of Minecraft have them set to "WASD".

(Source: Minecraft Wiki (some images))

Pocket Edition

To do: Put more differences and their screenshots.

Cyan Flower

The rose flower was replaced by a cyan flower in Pocket Edition due to limitations. There are currently no plans to add the flower to other versions of Minecraft. It was replaced with the Poppy in Alpha 0.9.0.

Nether Reactor

The Nether Reactor, Nether Reactor Core and Glowing Obsidian were exclusive to Pocket Edition. They were added in Alpha 0.5.0. Nether Reactor Cores were used in Nether Reactors to spawn Nether Spires, which were sort of like mini chunks of the Nether in the normal dimension. This used to replace the Nether. The actual Nether was added in Alpha 0.12.0 and was accessed by jumping into a nether portal, just like in PC and console editions.

Glowing Obsidian

Glowing Obsidian was obsidian generated when the Nether Reactor Core was activated before Alpha 0.12.0. It glowed faintly, but otherwise had the same properties as regular obsidian. It dropped obsidian.

Stonecutter

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The Stonecutter

Before Alpha 0.13.0, to craft stone-related items, you would need to use a Stonecutter block, exclusive to Pocket Edition. It was similar to a crafting table, but was used for stone recipes. In Alpha 0.13.0, said stone recipes were moved back to the crafting table like in PC, and the Stonecutter was dummied out and made uncraftable.

Camera

Only obtainable via inventory hacking, the Camera allowed players to take snapshots from wherever the item is placed. It was somewhat buggy, though, and the photos taken with it tend to be obscured by the camera's own smoke particles. The texture for its tripod and item texture were replaced with the "chirp" and "blocks" discs respectively in Alpha 0.2.0. Its block ID was 456. It was made invisible with the icon changing to an egg in Alpha 0.8.0 and was removed altogether in Alpha 0.9.0. There are plans to bring the Camera back in a future version.

Crying Obsidian

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Crying Obsidian was originally going to be used in the PC version of Minecraft for setting your spawn point, but was scrapped with the introduction of beds. Its texture was present in Beta 1.3, PC Gamer Demo and 1.4, but was removed in Beta 1.5. However, the texture could still be found in Pocket Edition Alpha 0.6.x and earlier.

Update Game Block

The Update Game Block is a placeholder block added in Pocket Edition Alpha 0.1.3, which uses a modified dirt texture with "update!" written on it in a grass texture. There is also a similar placeholder block that appears to say "ate!upd" (pictured right) which has, since Alpha 0.8.0, been corrected to say "update!". Their block IDs are 248 and 249, respectively. Most of this can still be seen in Minecraft: Pi Edition.

(Source: Minecraft Wiki)

Pi Edition

Pi Edition 0.1.1 was released for the Raspberry Pi on February 11, 2013. An earlier version, 0.1, was accidentally released on December 20, 2012, two months before 0.1.1's release. Pi Edition seems to be based on Pocket Edition 0.5.0, although survival mode and mobs have been removed. Crafting tables and furnaces currently do nothing. The game can be easily modded with the official Ruby API.

Console Edition

To do: There HAS to be more.

Console Edition was released for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Playstation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and includes the following differences:

• Has splitscreen support for Multiplayer, though an HDTV with a Component or HDMI cable is required for split-screen play.
• The game includes an automatic crafting system where you do not have to place the blocks in the grid. However, there is an option to use the PC crafting.
• There is a tutorial world (and mode) included, which teaches the basics of the game.
• Old sounds are used for most blocks and items.
• Whenever you start a new world, there is a map included in your inventory.
• The world sizes are limited to 864×864 blocks for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U, and 5000×5000 blocks for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
• There is downloadable content in the form of skin packs, texture packs, mash-up packs, and minigames.
• Tamed Wolves and Snow Golems are limited to 16 at a time.
• Creative mode flying does not keep momentum.
• The Ender Dragon has a different fighting style (which was added in PC version 1.9) and when at low health will hover above the ground spewing out acid.
• Two ender crystals in the End are protected by iron bars.
• When building a portal to the Nether in a superflat world, the Nether will also be flat.
• Nether Wart randomly spawns on Soul Sand in the Nether, while in the PC version, Nether Wart can only spawn in Nether Fortresses.
• The Nether has bedrock walls at the world's borders.
• The PlayStation Vita Edition has Ad-Hoc support like an offline multiplayer service. It can be toggled on or off (Online or Ad-Hoc), and is also similar to LAN servers but without internet connection.
• The Wii U version currently does not support leaderboards.