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Large normal comparison

Comparison between large and normal. The red dot is the origin of the world. Both worlds have the same seed.

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This feature is exclusive to Java Edition. 

Large Biomes is a world type that generates Overworld worlds at a higher scale than in normal worlds. It does not affect Nether biomes at all.[1]

Generation[]

Large Biomes Button

Prior to version 1.18, Large Biomes worlds were generated as Default worlds, but had 16 times as much area (multiplied by 4 along the X and Z axis), causing the biomes of the Overworld to be expansive. A Default and Large Biome world sharing the same seed were geographically the same, overall. Rivers were not larger than they were in a default world.

Because of the multi-noise parameters used to generate biomes as of 1.18, Large Biomes terrain is no longer geographically consistent with the Default generation using the same seed.

The player can use a map to gain a visual representation of the scale of the biomes in their world.

Large Biomes offer a play experience different from regular sized worlds. If a player starts in an undesirable area, such as a desert, it can be difficult to survive. The generation system also leads to rare biomes being far more difficult to come by, but with more valuable resources when they are eventually found.

Video[]

History[]

Java Edition
1.3.112w19aLarge Biomes introduced.
Java Edition
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1Removed large biomes.
21w39aAdded large biomes for custom worlds.
Pre-release 1Readded large biomes. Large Biomes terrain is no longer geographically consistent with the Default generation using the same seed.

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Large Biomes" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The scale of biomes can be altered through the firstOctave parameters in biome_source of Custom worlds. Decreasing each firstOctave by 2, roughly makes biomes have a similar size to Large Biomes. This affects the temperature, vegetation, continentalness, and erosion parameters. Conversely, increasing all 4 parameters by more than 2 creates a more rugged terrain.
  • The Legacy Console Edition added a biome scale slider in TU54 with a "large biome size" option. This differs from large biomes on Java Edition by a scale factor of 4x smaller biomes on Legacy Console. This is due to Legacy Console Edition's default generated worlds using small biomes with 4x smaller biomes compared to default worlds on Java and Bedrock, and "medium sized biomes" 2x smaller than Java/Bedrock.

See also[]

  • Amplified - Similar to large biomes, but world generation is instead expanded vertically.
  1. MC-172228 — resolved as "Works As Intended".
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