While many Minecraft players are looking forward to the upcoming 1.20 update and the cute mobs it brings, there's an opportunity to test some of this new content courtesy of the Minecraft 23W18A snapshot update. This snapshot takes aim at an 11-year-old bug and makes some other welcome adjustments along with it!

Minecraft 1.20 Snapshot Update 23W18A Patch Notes

https://twitter.com/slicedlime/status/1653753957104209922

Like other snapshots, 23W18A brings various adjustments, bug fixes, and new features to Minecraft. Continue reading as we highlight the details of this update below!

The Power of Books

• Read power signals from Chiseled Bookshelves using Comparators.

Before this update, it was only possible to send a signal from a Chiseled Bookshelf using a Redstone Comparator.

Step Sounds

• Walking on a block will now always play a step sound

Do you fancy hearing your Minecraft character stepping on different surfaces? With Snapshot 23W18A, you can! The developers have also adjusted the step sounds when you’re walking underwater, making them sound muffled. An 11-year-old bug has also finally been fixed, wherein a character stepping on the edge of a block wouldn't emanate a step sound. It’s because the game thought that said character was airborne, despite the location of the player sprite.

Additional Changes

• Smithing table no longer needs a template slot before placing an item stack into other slots
• Redstone Blocks now have the Jukebox

How To Install Minecraft Snapshot 23W18A

Start installing the Minecraft 1.20 Snapshot 23W18A patch by launching the Minecraft Launcher on your system. Then, navigate to the “Installation” tab and click “New Installation.” Next, select “Latest Snapshot,” which should reveal the 23W18A option. Note that installing a Minecraft 1.20 snapshot has extra steps. You must enter the game, then click “Create New World.” Then, select “Datapacks” before enabling the built-in “bundle” and choosing “update_1_20” datapacks. The last step is to click “Create New World” again. If successful, you should be able to enjoy the new features and changes in the Snapshot 23W18A.

What to Expect In the Minecraft 1.20 Update

Called the Trails and Tales update, Minecraft 1.20 brings a plethora of new content to the game. Here are some of the biggest things it brings to the table:

New Cherry Blossom Biome

This massive update brings a new Cherry Blossom biome, which is also a long-requested area by many fans. The biome also brings a new wood type, along with different crafting recipes. Although it doesn’t have new mobs, bees, sheep, pigs, and other creatures call this place home.

Archaeology

Announced during Minecraft Live 2020, Archaeology is finally arriving in Minecraft as part of the 1.20 update. It brings various archeological dig sites but is only available around desert temples for now.

New Mobs

Speaking of the desert, players will soon see camels as new mobs in the 1.20 update. You can also ride these animals, as well as the Sniffer.

Chiseled Bookshelves

The Chiseled Bookshelf has been in different Minecraft snapshots, but it’ll officially arrive in update 1.20. It’s an interactive block that looks like a bookshelf. Players can use this opportunity to make hidden passages or make the block into a storage space for their enchanted books.

Hanging Signs

Tired of the old look of the in-game sign? In 1.20, you’ll soon be able to hang them on different surfaces. Creative players can also customize their placed signs, decorating different structures like shops and streets.