Release Date: May 26, 2011
Protocol Version: 13
Minimum Java Version: Java SE 5
Overview:
Beta 1.6 introduced maps, trapdoors, and multiplayer Nether support, along with numerous block, item, and gameplay improvements. Several bugs were fixed to improve stability and performance.
Additions
Blocks
- Dead Bush – Found in deserts; can only be placed on sand.
- Grass – Color changes based on biome humidity; seeds now drop directly from grass instead of using a hoe.
- Fern – Functions similarly to grass.
- Wooden Trapdoor – Can be opened/closed manually, adding more building options.
Items
- Maps – Display a top-down view of explored areas.
Command Format
- Server.properties updates: Added
view-distanceandallow-nethersettings for server customization.
Gameplay
- Multiplayer: Added full Nether support for multiplayer worlds.
Changes
Blocks
- General: Breaking blocks in multiplayer now shows particle effects; blocks that don’t change visually no longer send unnecessary updates.
- Beds: Explode if used in the Nether.
- Dispensers & Doors: Now trigger sounds and particles for all players in multiplayer.
- Fire: Spread rate reduced; no infinite fire spread.
- Furnaces: Output slot cannot accept items directly.
- Ice: Regenerates independently of snow.
- Jukeboxes: Support more than 11 music discs.
- Leaves: Fast graphics mode no longer makes them block torches, doors, or mob spawning.
- Mushrooms: Slowly spread to nearby blocks.
- Powered Rails: Slightly faster to compensate for removed glitch boosts.
- Water: Source block behavior adjusted under multiple layers.
Items
- Arrows: Can be collected by other players after being shot.
Non-mob Entities
- Boats & Minecarts: Players dismount when traveling through Nether portals.
Gameplay
- Lighting: Brighter block icons in inventory.
- Player Movement: Stuck players slide toward the nearest gap.
- Combat: 10-tick cooldown when missing a hit removed.
General
- Controls: Shift + click quickly moves items between inventory and hotbar.
- Network: Traffic compression improved.
- Options: Advanced OpenGL temporarily disabled until 1.6.5 due to bugs.
- Texture Packs: Added support for
misc\grasscolor.pngandmisc\foliagecolor.png.
Bug Fixes
- Total Bugs Fixed: 97
- Fixed issues such as players dropping through ground while sneaking, rotation problems, riding vehicles into Nether crashes, falling while riding, and many multiplayer sync issues.
- Corrected furnace/dispenser behavior, fire/lava damage through walls, entities interacting with blocks incorrectly, achievement screen issues, and more.
- Network and multiplayer improvements included proper IPv6 parsing, smoother entity position syncing, inventory animations, and correct compass behavior.
- Visual bugs such as incorrect lighting, 3D rendering issues, arrow physics, and disappearing objects were addressed.
Trailer
- Released: May 24, 2011, by Hat Films on Mojang’s official YouTube channel.
- Showcases Beta 1.6’s main features but omits the “Beta” label.
Known Bugs
- Some users experience unexpected FPS drops.
- Shift + clicking in a container with a full inventory may crash the game.