Download Minecraft Snapshot 12w18a

Minecraft Snapshot 12w18a is now available to download. It's not a big release but it does come with new features for both single player and multiplayer (which were not announced on the Mojang website). Features include hardcore mode for Minecraft servers, recommended texture packs, speed improvements and other stuff. Unfortunately, very little is included in the client snapshot.

Mojang have really stepped up the pace in the last few weeks, these snapshots are coming packed with more and more features. It's thanks to the hard work from Nathan Adams and the rest of the ex Bukkit team that we're getting so many of these great features. So well done to you Nathan, and we hope you enjoy Sweden as much as the UK.

It's great to see that Notch's investment in the Bukkit team is paying off. They're a hard working bunch of guys and we hope that Minecraft continues to grow at this pace. Several new features every week can't be a bad thing eh?

So, all of these snapshots will lead up to the official version of Minecraft 1.3. It's a little way off yet, so expect to see more of these snapshots in the meantime. As we reported the other day, the official Mod API has been delayed but it will be included in Minecraft 1.4, probably sometime in June/July. Until then, you're going to need to download the latest compatible versions of your favourite mods.

New Features included in 12w18a

Fixes to silk touch and block picking
Wooden tools now work correctly in furnaces
Villages now have a profession which is randomly chosen when they are spawned from eggs
Language files have been udpated

The other big change in this update is the addition of a new minecraft_server.jar file for clients. Although the feature isn't finished yet, this jar file will allow you to invite other people to play on your local computer i.e. run your local computer as a server. No need for big expensive cloud servers or Linux bukkit servers, this baby is going to open the door for local multiplayer games between you and your friends. Great stuff!!

Just remember to keep the minecraft_server.jar file in the server folder and NOT the bin folder.

Download Links

Warning

Before you use this snapshot we strongly recommend that you backup your saved worlds. The snapshot is very, very buggy!! You have been warned!

You can download the latest snapshot using the links below:

Client: http://assets.minecraft.net/12w18a/minecraft.jar

Server: http://assets.minecraft.net/12w18a/minecraft_server.jar (exe)