Release Date: October 25, 2013
Version(s): Java Edition 1.7.2
The Update that Changed the World refers to Java Edition 1.7.2, a major release that introduced sweeping changes to world generation, biomes, and gameplay systems. Released on October 25, 2013, this update brought a host of new blocks, items, entities, biomes, and commands, significantly expanding the scope and depth of Minecraft’s sandbox environment. It also included custom-size Nether portals, improved fishing mechanics, and an expanded world customization system.
Development History:
Work on this update began shortly after the release of Java Edition 1.6.2. During its development, fourteen snapshots were published from 13w36a to 13w43a. Multiple launcher updates were also issued (versions 1.2.3 through 1.2.8) to support testing. The focus towards the end of development shifted primarily to bug fixes rather than feature additions. The update’s official title, “The Update that Changed the World”, was announced just days before the release on the MCUpdate Tumblr blog. Pre-release versions were gradually released from October 22–25, 2013.
Notable Features
New Blocks:
- Double Tallgrass (Tall Grass) – Naturally found in the Overworld; can also be generated using bone meal.
- Grassless Dirt – Appears in savanna M, mesa plateau F, and mega taiga; does not allow grass or mycelium to spread. Later became known as coarse dirt.
- Large Fern – Naturally in taiga and mega taiga; can also be spawned using bone meal.
- Packed Ice – Found in Ice Plains Spikes; unlike regular ice, it does not melt.
- Podzol – Present in mega taiga; prevents grass/mycelium spread.
- Red Sand – Found in mesa biomes; usable in any recipe calling for sand.
- Stained Glass & Panes – Crafted with glass and dye for decorative purposes.
New Wood Types:
- Acacia – Saplings, leaves, logs, planks, slabs, stairs (savanna biome).
- Dark Oak – Saplings, leaves, logs, planks, slabs, stairs (roofed forest biome).
New Flowers:
- Allium, Azure Bluet, Blue Orchid (swamps only), Lilac, Oxeye Daisy, Peony, Rose Bush, Sunflower (sunflower plains), and Tulips in four color variants.
New Items and Consumables:
- Tropical Fish (Clownfish) – Restores hunger and saturation.
- Pufferfish – Grants minor hunger restoration but can inflict Hunger III, Nausea, and Poison II; used for Potion of Water Breathing.
- Raw Salmon & Cooked Salmon – Fished food items with different hunger and saturation values.
New Potions:
- Potion of Water Breathing – Brewed using pufferfish.
New Non-Mob Entities:
- Minecart with Command Block – Can activate commands while moving via activator rails; can be tested with redstone comparators.
World Generation Changes
The 1.7.2 update dramatically overhauled world generation:
- Oceans were reduced in size, creating more land mass.
- Cave systems became denser and more interconnected.
- Mutated biomes added variety, with taller trees, steeper terrain, and unique features.
New Biomes Include:
- Birch Forest & Birch Forest Hills
- Snowy Beach & Snowy Taiga (and hills variant)
- Deep Ocean, Windswept Forest, Flower Forest
- Ice Spikes, Sparse Jungle, Old Growth Pine Taiga & Mega Taiga Hills
- Badlands, Eroded Badlands, Wooded Badlands Plateau
- Dark Forest, Savanna & Savanna Plateau
- Stony Shore, Sunflower Plains
Biome Variations:
- Many biomes received “mutated” versions with taller trees, unique terrain, and increased verticality, e.g., old-growth birch forest, windswept savanna, shattered savanna plateau.
- Several biomes were adjusted: rivers now generate with gravel disks; swamps show more fluctuating grass colors; taigas no longer produce snow outside of cold variants.
New Structures:
- Acacia and Dark Oak Trees
- Forest Rocks in Mega Taiga
- Ice Spikes in Ice Plains Spikes
- Mega Spruce Trees
Gameplay Enhancements
AMPLIFIED World Type:
- A new world type that scales terrain generation to the maximum world height, creating dramatic landscapes and towering mountains.
Fishing Improvements:
- Lure Enchantment – Reduces waiting time and increases fish catch chance while decreasing junk/treasure probability.
- Luck of the Sea Enchantment – Increases treasure chance and reduces junk chance.
Achievements & Statistics:
- Six new achievements and four new statistics were added.
- Achievements are now per-world/server instead of account-wide.
Commands Added:
- /achievement, /setblock, /setidletimeout, /setworldspawn, /summon, /tellraw, /testforblock
Other Notable Changes:
- Treasures can now be obtained via fishing.
- Weighted pressure plates can detect more than just items.
- Boats reverted to pre-1.6.1 controls.
- Unbreaking enchantment works on more items.
- Mobs now trigger particles on fall damage.
- Witches spawn outside witch huts.
- Server list refresh possible with F5.
- Render Distance and Max Framerate can be adjusted via sliders.
Subsequent Revisions
- 1.7.4 – Added Twitch.tv broadcasting, new music tracks from Minecraft – Volume Beta, and the Chicken Jockey.
- 1.7.5 – Introduced minigames to Realms servers.
- 1.7.6–1.7.9 – Internal changes for player name and skin infrastructure.
- 1.7.10 – Realms extracted into a separate library, making future updates independent of game version upgrades.
References
- “Minecraft 1.7: The Update that Changed the World” – Dinnerbone, Mojang, October 22, 2013
- Minecraft News Archive – mcupdate.tumblr.com
- 1.7 Pre-release Announcement – Nathan Adams (@Dinnerbone) on X, October 22, 2013
- Community discussion – Minecraft Forum