Minecraft Java Edition (Image via Minecraft Wiki) Minecraft, a game that started as an indie survival sandbox, has turned into a full-scale pop culture phenomenon.

Minecraft 1.21.1 debuted for Java Edition on August 8, 2024, as a hotfix update to fix a few critical exploits that were being used to intentionally crash multiplayer servers.

Rather than enrolling in a dedicated beta program, Minecraft: Java Edition allows you to select a slice of pre-release software for you to try.

Minecraft snapshots - testing new features in 25w35a Test out the latest Minecraft update using Java snapshots and Bedrock preview before they’re fully rolled out to the vanilla game.

If you own a Chromebook, "Minecraft: Java Edition" is available to you via Linux. Here's how to download and install the popular game on a Chromebook.