Release Date: June 30, 2011
Edition: Java Edition Beta
Beta 1.7 is a version of Minecraft Java Edition Beta that introduced several notable features, including pistons, sticky pistons, and shears, along with other improvements and adjustments.
Additions
Blocks and Items Added in Beta 1.7:
Pistons
- Crafted using 3 wooden planks, 4 cobblestones, 1 iron ingot, and 1 redstone.
- Can push blocks when powered by redstone.
Sticky Pistons
- Created by combining 1 piston and 1 slimeball.
- Can push and pull blocks when activated with redstone.
Stone Bricks
- Tooltip added in the language file (en_US.lang), though full functionality is not yet implemented.
Shears
- A new tool with 238 uses.
- Crafted with 2 iron ingots placed diagonally.
- Can collect leaves and shear sheep without harming them.
Silverfish
- Texture added, though the mob itself is not yet in the game.
Changes
Block Updates:
- Bricks: Texture updated.
- Cobblestone: Texture updated.
- Cobwebs: Now require shears or a sword to break properly; drops 1 string.
- Fences: Texture updated; now allows any block to be placed on top.
- Slabs: Single slab texture now uses the bottom half of the full block.
- Levers: Texture updated due to cobblestone changes.
- TNT: Cannot be ignited by hitting it empty-handed or with other items; will drop as an item instead.
General Changes:
- Pressing F3 shows a direction value (“F”) from 0 to 3.
- Bed and cake side textures shifted in terrain.png.
Mob Changes:
- Sheep: Shearing drops 2–4 wool; punching drops none. Killing unsheared sheep drops one wool.
Bugs
- Right-clicking a sheep could crash the game.
- Certain blocks cause crashes when pushed or pulled.
- Piston mechanics with redstone could trigger crashes.
Fixes
- Clay now generates properly.
- Squids can despawn as intended.
- Shift+clicking in a full inventory container no longer crashes the game.
Trailer
A Beta 1.7 trailer showcasing these features was released on Mojang’s official YouTube channel on June 30, 2011. Created by Hat Films, the trailer references the version without mentioning “Beta.”