Top 5 Highlights from Minecraft Snapshot 24w38a

Released on September 18, 2024, Minecraft Snapshot 24w38a brought new features, updates, and bug fixes to the Java Edition. While not all of these changes are groundbreaking, some stand out as particularly useful. Let’s explore the top highlights from this snapshot without diving too deep into the full patch notes.

1) Dyeable Bundles

After years of anticipation, bundles are nearing full release in Minecraft as a standard feature. In Snapshot 24w38a, Mojang took bundles one step further by introducing the ability to dye them. Players can now choose from 16 colors to customize their bundles, much like dyeing leather armor or wool blocks. This small yet fun addition brings a fresh layer of personalization for item storage.

2) Hardcore Mode Enabled for Realms

Hardcore Mode, a popular feature in Minecraft Java Edition, was noticeably absent in the Realms servers. Mojang listened to the community, and now, thanks to this snapshot, Hardcore Mode is officially available in Realms. This addition brings a thrilling challenge to players who want to push the limits while playing with friends on Realms. Despite recent downtime issues, the inclusion of Hardcore Mode adds a level of difficulty and excitement to the shared gameplay experience.

3) Shulker Box Colors Now in Recipe Book

Although players have been able to dye shulker boxes in Minecraft Java Edition for some time, the process wasn’t visible in the recipe book. Snapshot 24w38a finally addresses this, adding the dyeing recipes for shulker boxes directly into the recipe book. While seasoned players may already know how to do this, it’s a helpful addition for new players unfamiliar with the feature, making crafting easier and more intuitive.

4) Updated Realms World Creation Screen

Along with the addition of Hardcore Mode, the Realms service also saw improvements to its world creation screen. Snapshot 24w38a introduces game rule and datapack customization options to Realms’ world creation, aligning it with the features available in single-player and LAN games. Though this change may seem minor, it brings consistency and a more seamless experience for players when creating worlds, regardless of the mode they’re playing in.

5) Item Disappearance Bug Fix

A particularly frustrating bug from Snapshot 24w36a, where items in the hotbar would disappear if dropped while the Survival Inventory tab was not selected, has been resolved. This issue caused items to vanish when dropped in certain modes, such as Creative, leading to the loss of stacked items. Fortunately, this problem has been fixed in Snapshot 24w38a, ensuring smoother inventory management going forward.

With these updates, Minecraft Snapshot 24w38a continues to fine-tune the game, addressing key player feedback and making useful additions to both gameplay and the user interface. Whether you’re customizing bundles or diving into Hardcore Mode on Realms, this snapshot offers plenty of reasons to explore the latest changes.