Highlights

  • 'Add-Ons' bring modding support to Minecraft Bedrock, finally allowing for mods like those on Java edition.
  • Modding is key to Minecraft's success, expanding gameplay and driving social media virality.
  • Add-Ons will help Bedrock catch up to Java's features, improving parity between the versions, with console players in particular benefiting from the addition.

A new feature has come to Minecraft's Bedrock edition, one that brings a long-overdue mechanism to the most popular version of the game. Mods, in a form as close as possible to how they exist on Java, have finally come to the Bedrock version of Minecraft.

Minecraft's Bedrock edition is known for its quirks. From a suped-up Wither fight to an entirely different set of redstone mechanics, the version of the game available on most devices is perhaps the less polished. One of its biggest missing pieces, however, is its lack of modding support. Java edition has more mods than can possibly be counted, with every aspect of gameplay up to change with the installation of a mod. On the other hand, Bedrock has been limited to its Minecraft Marketplace. For the longest time, the community-created content sold here (not free, save for some promotional offerings) has been limited to world-templates, texture packs, and skin packs—lacking content packs that can be ported into new or existing worlds.

Sword, bucket of milk, enchanting table
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Minecraft Bedrock's New Add-Ons Are A Long Time Coming

On February 20th 2024, 'Add-Ons' came to Bedrock's Marketplace. These content packs function just as mods do on Minecraft Java, porting new content into new and existing worlds. Of course, doing so turns off achievements—but with modded content now available for all worlds, the benefits are huge. The modded adventures that have been long available on Java are finally coming to Bedrock, and it's about time.

Modding Is At The Heart Of Minecraft's Success

Minecraft's Java edition has had a huge advantage over Bedrock thanks to the ease of modding. Mods are a major part of Minecraft's success. Not only do they allow the sandbox worlds of the game to be expanded even further, but the vibrant modding community has facilitated the success of Minecraft's social media virality. Mod showcases were among the first series' of Minecraft content, and still exist today in many forms. Mobzilla or mutant creepers are almost as iconic as the game's original mobs, and they're only the tip of the iceberg for culturally impactful mod creations. The humble lucky block is such a staple that it has been remixed countless times, reconfigured across updates, servers, and versions. Minecraft's mods have grown the game to a great extent.

Bedrock Needs Mods To Even The Playing Field

Whilst Bedrock has some unique features—such as special cauldron mechanics, white-leaved trees, posable armor stands, and more—it lacks a lot. Redstone is a big one; whilst Bedrock has all the same redstone components, they interact in different ways. This cuts it off from the wider ecosystem of tutorials, likely the reason as to why the most impressive redstone machines are all constructed on Java. It's also missing Minecraft Java's world customization features, which predecessor console editions had access to.

Add-Ons can give Bedrock the leg-up it needs. While creating mods still isn't as accessible as it is on Java, given the existence of the Partner Program, it's good that mods are actually available in their traditional form. The fun found in Java's mods can truly be replicated on Bedrock, making the Marketplace a more acceptable alternative. It'll go a long way to improving the parity between Minecraft's versions.

The One Drawback To Add-Ons

On the whole, Add-Ons are a great new feature. Free packs, like the 'More TNT!' mod, can be downloaded and enjoyed in normal survival worlds right now. However, there is the issue of these features being equivalent to the much-derided concept of 'paid mods'. With how much profit the Minecraft Marketplace already rakes in, proper free tools that would allow players to easily mod the game still need to be seen.