Java Edition 1.13

1.13 is an upcoming major update with no set release date. It will focus mainly on bug fixes and technical features.

Planned additions

 * Data packs
 * Like resource packs, but for loot tables, advancements, functions, can be changed from world to server side.
 * It is used by placing it in the world or server file, and it is also possible to use more than one.
 * Data packs are zips or folders with a  in the root. See: Tutorials/Creating a resource pack#pack.mcmeta
 * Multiple data packs can be loaded at the same time, or none at all.
 * Structures will load from  before checking data packs.
 * However, you should not use this to distribute structures and instead move them out of here and into data packs

Planned changes

 * Block metadata
 * Numeric block metadata completely phased out in favor of block states.


 * Commands
 * The error sentence of the command now tells you where the mistake is.

Target selectors
 * They will be so much more faster and efficient. Especially functions.
 * Most commands are even more case sensitive than before. Lowercase is preferable wherever possible.
 * For example, this is no longer allowed:
 * Functions will be completely parsed & cached on load.
 * This means if there's any command that isn't correct for whatever reason, you will know about it on load.
 * The syntax of  has been split off, to avoid ambiguity.


 * More error handling has been introduced.
 * Things like,  ,   aren't allowed.
 * ,,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,   are now doubles and allow values like
 * &  are no longer center-corrected (  isn't   anymore). Use   if that's what you wanted.
 * (game mode) no longer allows numerical IDs.
 * Crafting
 * Customizable crafting recipes.
 * Originally planned to be added in 1.12.


 * Block ID
 * Expansion of the block ID limit past 256.


 * Structures
 * A structure stored in the world file also will need a namespace. The default namespace is  which will cause conflicts later.
 * Structures are saved to.


 * World Files
 * Files in  will need to be moved to inside data pack as
 * Files in  will need to be moved to inside a data pack as
 * Files in  will need to be moved to inside a data pack as
 * Files in  will need to be moved to inside a data pack as

Unconfirmed features

 * Damage value parameter in, and  will be removed.
 * Damage value will be moved to a  tag.   becomes.
 * Many blocks, currently separated by block states, will be split into their own ids. (for example  will become  .)
 * Damage value will only be used by tools and armor, resulting in different ids for all other items with their own that use the damage value.
 * Removing the block entity for flower pots, mob heads (except player heads) and note blocks.
 * The ability to change technical colors (such as sky and foliage) without needing mods
 * The new "^" notation to use coordinates based on the rotations of entities.

Trivia

 * A list of function which absolutely do not work in 1.13 has been released.