Exploring the Reasons: Why Minecraft Servers Avoid 1.13

Sat Dec 10. 2022

Minecraft has undoubtedly become a gaming phenomenon, capturing the hearts of millions of players around the world. This sandbox game allows players to build, explore, and create their virtual worlds using blocks. One of the most intriguing aspects of Minecraft is the ability to join multiplayer servers, where players can interact, collaborate, and compete with others. However, when Minecraft version 1.13 was released, many server owners and administrators chose to avoid updating to this version. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this decision and shed light on the impact it had on the Minecraft server community.

Minecraft version 1.13, also known as the "Update Aquatic," was released on July 18, 2018. It introduced significant changes to the game, primarily focusing on underwater content and improving the aquatic environment. While the update brought exciting new features, such as new blocks, mobs, and gameplay mechanics, it also introduced several technical changes that posed challenges for server owners.

One of the main reasons servers avoided updating to Minecraft 1.13 was the complete overhaul of the game's backend code, known as the "Flattening." This update restructured the internal item and block IDs, resulting in a complete migration of all data. This change was done to improve the game's performance and make it easier for developers to add new content in the future. However, it also meant that any plugins, mods, or custom server software had to be rewritten to accommodate these changes. This posed a significant hurdle for server administrators, as many plugins and mods were not updated promptly, rendering them incompatible with the new version.

Another significant change introduced in Minecraft 1.13 was the transition from the traditional Java Edition to the new and improved Minecraft Java Edition. This version included technical improvements, such as server performance optimizations and enhanced security measures. However, these improvements also caused compatibility issues with existing plugins and mods. Many server owners relied on these community-developed add-ons to enhance gameplay and provide unique features, making it essential for them to wait until these plugins and mods were updated to be compatible with the new version.

Furthermore, Minecraft 1.13 introduced changes to the world generation algorithm, which affected the appearance and structure of generated terrain. This alteration meant that existing worlds created in earlier versions of Minecraft would not seamlessly transition to 1.13. Server owners who had invested significant time and effort into building and shaping their worlds did not want to lose these creations or deal with the complicated process of converting their existing maps to the new version.

The decision to avoid updating to Minecraft 1.13 was not solely based on technical challenges but also on the potential impact on the player base. Many Minecraft servers have established communities with dedicated players who invest countless hours in building, trading, and collaborating. Updating to a new version often means temporarily disrupting the server's operations, as players would have to wait for plugins and mods to be updated or risk losing important features. Server administrators feared that a forced update could lead to player attrition, with users seeking alternative servers that remained on older, more stable versions.

Additionally, server owners took into account the fact that Minecraft updates are released on a regular basis. With the release of Minecraft 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, and subsequent versions, each with their own set of changes and challenges, some server administrators decided to skip Minecraft 1.13 altogether and wait for a more stable release. This decision allowed them to focus on maintaining their existing player base and ensuring a smooth experience, rather than continuously grappling with the technical difficulties introduced by each new version.

The decision of Minecraft server owners to avoid updating to version 1.13 was driven by a combination of technical challenges and the desire to maintain a stable and enjoyable experience for their player base. The complete overhaul of the game's backend code, the incompatibility of existing plugins and mods, the changes to world generation, and the potential disruption to the player community all factored into this decision. While some servers eventually migrated to version 1.13, many opted to wait for subsequent releases, hoping for a more seamless transition and a stable environment for their players to continue their Minecraft adventures.