Summary
The majorMinecraftupdate coming in 2024 will be 1.21, but 1.20.5 will be offering a few new features beforehand. This micro-update could start a promising trend forMinecraftgoing forward.
1.20.5 is an upcoming update that will add the armadillo, wolf armor, and a sampling of other tweaks. This will mark the first time thatMinecraft’s mob vote winnerwill arrive in a minor update. Mojang has already released snapshots of this version alongside experimental releases of other 1.21 content (such as trial chambers and crafter blocks), though this latter material is still said to be coming in 1.21. The exact release dates for 1.20.5 and 1.21 are still unknown.
1.20.5’s Armadillo Update Comes With A Big Opportunity For Mojang
Whilst it could be said that an early release for the armadillo detracts from the larger update, the concept behind 1.20.5 has a great deal of value. For one thing, the process leading up to it has allowed community feedback to be well heard. Responses to the snapshots focused on the armadillo features coming in 1.20.5 led toMojang changing theMinecraftarmadillo’s appearanceto better represent the real animal. However, the greater opportunity present is one that allows for the structure ofMinecraftupdates to be radically shifted. Smaller content updates spread out over the year as opposed to one big update per year could solve many of the game’s problems in one go.
Smaller Updates Have Precedent, But Minecraft Could Delve Deeper
There’s a precedent for mobs arriving in minor updates, chiefly the addition of the piglin brute in 1.16.2. Whilstthe piglin brute has presented problems forMinecraft, a small update housing a legitimate mini-boss creature remains as enticing a prospect as ever. Moreover, there have been many mainline updates with smaller content offerings. The best example of this, one that could serve as a template for smaller updates coming forward, was 1.15—the Buzzy Bees update. This update was entirely focused around the bee mob, adding a huge variety of items enveloped into its interaction. In particular, 1.15’s honey block has gone on to revolutionize the world of redstone.
Buzzy Bees' focus on one mob for an entire mainline update could easily serve as an expanded template for smaller content updates. Not only did its small scale allow it to come less than a year after 1.14 (and less than a year before 1.16), but its centralized focus on one mob allowed for said mob to be a rich addition. It’s better for Mojang to add one complex mob that really shakes up the game than a series of forgettable filler creatures. 1.20.5 is focused entirely on the armadillo, but isn’t large enough to quite fit the model of 1.15. The armadillo still looks like it will add toMinecraft’s recent repertoire of lackluster creatures. Despite this, 1.20.5 still opens the door for more updates in the vein of 1.15.
The Benefits Of Smaller Minecraft Updates Outweigh The Drawbacks
There is the concern, however, of smaller updates throughout a year being detrimental to the game’s momentum.ThoughMinecraft’s 2023 live event was controversial, its 1.21 announcements and mob vote dominated gaming news due to the extreme fan reaction. On the other hand, smaller updates could do better here too. Two or three small updates in a year would kill a whole aviary with one stone; it would maintain momentum over a year rather than all in one go, allow for more time to be spent on individual mobs/features, and still reduce crunch.
Fans are already having fun withMinecraft’s armadillo, so it’s only reasonable to assume that engagement could be maintained throughout the year with updates in this manner. With a few more features per mob, block, structure, or biome, small updates like 1.20.5 could be a big success.
