Minecraft: Java Edition is the original version of Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is written in Java, giving it flexibility for mods, custom servers, and community content.
Latest Version: 1.21.8 (Release)
Snapshots: 25w37a
Original Release Dates:
- Classic: May 17, 2009
- Indev: December 23, 2009
- Infdev: February 27, 2010
- Alpha: June 30, 2010
- Beta: December 20, 2010
- Full release: November 18, 2011
Game Size:
.minecraftfolder: ~612.8 MB.jarfile: ~20.6 MB- Launcher: ~300–386 MB
- Combined (with runtime): ~1 GB
Ratings:
- ESRB: E10+
- PEGI: 7
- ACB: PG
- CERO: A
Unique Features
- Updates delivered via Minecraft Launcher, bypassing platform certification.
- Supports mods, custom skins, and community servers extensively.
- Microsoft account login required.
- Separate profiles for mods, snapshots, and old versions.
- Players who purchased Java Edition before June 7, 2022, received Bedrock Edition for free on Windows.
- Java Edition servers and Realms are distinct from Bedrock Edition subscriptions.
Development History
1. Pre-Classic / Cave Game (May 2009)
- Notch developed Minecraft inspired by Infiniminer, Dwarf Fortress, and Dungeon Keeper.
- Originally called “Cave Game”, then Minecraft: Order of the Stone, finally shortened to Minecraft.
- First private alpha released on May 16, 2009.
2. Classic (May 2009 – December 2009)
- Released publicly as 0.0.11a on May 17, 2009.
- Introduced Creative mode, unlimited building blocks, and basic multiplayer.
- Multiplayer allowed simple interaction like pushing and building together.
- Rewritten in July 2009 to use Lightweight Java Gaming Library (LWJGL).
3. Survival Test (September 2009)
- Introduced Survival Mode: players mine, craft, and fight mobs.
- Added health bars, and maps are lost upon death unless backed up.
4. Indev (December 2009 – February 2010)
- Added day-night cycle, advanced lighting, and difficulty levels (Peaceful, Easy, Normal, Hard).
- Introduced level types like Floating Islands, Sky Dimension, and “Hell” (prototype Nether).
- Features like food, torches, fire, and prefabricated starting houses tested.
5. Infdev (February 2010 – June 2010)
- Infinite world generation introduced.
- Added minecarts, dungeons, respawning, and new crafting recipes.
- Removed some Indev features, focusing on endless maps.
- Only Infdev 20100618 remains playable through the launcher.
6. Alpha (June 2010 – December 2010)
- Multiplayer Survival mode officially introduced.
- Added redstone circuits, boats, new music, mobs, and biomes.
- The Halloween Update (Oct 30, 2010) added The Nether, new blocks, mobs, and biomes.
- About 23% of Alpha versions are lost.
7. Beta (December 2010 – November 2011)
- Adventure Update introduced villages, strongholds, mineshafts, and new mobs.
- Combat system improved: critical hits, experience, and new weapons.
- Creative, Hardcore, and Survival modes refined.
- Beta 1.8 released September 14, 2011; Beta 1.9 was never fully released.
8. Full Release (November 18, 2011)
- Official release version 1.0.0 announced at MINECON 2011.
- Added Ender Dragon boss and The End dimension.
- Alpha and Beta players updated automatically; new players paid $29.99 USD.
- Java Edition subtitle added in 1.12.2 to differentiate from Bedrock Edition.
- Post-release updates continued adding mobs, biomes, mechanics, and blocks.
Demo Version
- Set to Survival mode with one world (
Demo_World) using seed-343522682. - Limited playtime; player name always set to Player.
- Bonus chest included at start.
Controls
- Designed for keyboard & mouse, touchscreens, or touchpads.
System Requirements
Minimal:
- OS: Windows 7+, macOS Mojave 10.14.5+, Linux
- CPU: Intel Core i3, AMD A8, or equivalent
- RAM: 2 GB
- GPU: Intel HD 4000 / AMD Radeon R5
Recommended:
- OS: Windows 10+, macOS Mojave+, Linux
- CPU: Intel Core i5, AMD A10, or equivalent
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 700 series / AMD Radeon RX 200 series
Java: Java SE 21 (automatically included in launcher)
Note: Latest versions do not support 32-bit systems.
Reception
- Critics: 92.79% (GameRankings), 93/100 (Metacritic)
- Sold over 30 million copies during Alpha/Beta stages.
- Praised for creative freedom, dynamic gameplay, and modding support.
- Featured at Smithsonian American Art Museum’s The Art of Video Games.
Awards
- PC Gamer: Game of the Year
- Independent Games Festival: Grand Prize & Audience Award
- Good Game: Best Downloadable Game 2010
- Rock Paper Shotgun: Game of the Year
- Polygon: #1 Game of the Decade
Trivia
- Informally called PC Edition before 1.12.2.
- Parts of Java Edition code, like Brigadier and Data Fixer Upper, were open-sourced in 2018.
- Java Edition page often uses Bedrock Edition screenshots.