Minecraft 24w33a Update - What's New
The first snapshot after 1.21, with around 200 bug fixes and three new experiments. Bundles came back to be finished, minecarts got smoother movement and redstone wire got faster, and item names now show a rarity colour.
Overview
Minecraft 24w33a is a weekly development snapshot for Minecraft: Java Edition, published on August 15, 2024. Snapshots are Mojang's weekly previews of in-progress features (development week 33 of 2024), shipped early so the community can test and report problems before anything is finalized. This one logs 11 changes you can try in a throwaway test world.
The work in this update spans experimental features, changes, and technical. On the experimental features side it brings Bundles are back: one bundle holds a stack of mixed items and is crafted from string and leather and Minecart Improvements: smoother turns, better jumps and less derailing.
This build is part of the development cycle leading to 1.21.2 (the Bundles of Bravery drop, after 1.21). Treat it as a preview rather than a destination: features can change, be renamed, or be cut entirely before they reach the stable release, so it is meant for testing and feedback, not for your main world or a live server.
Changes
#Experimental Features(3)
- Bundles are back: one bundle holds a stack of mixed items and is crafted from string and leather
- Minecart Improvements: smoother turns, better jumps and less derailing
- Redstone Experiments: redstone wire updates fewer blocks and runs faster
#Changes(5)
- Item rarity decides the colour of item names
- Banner patterns got rarities
- A frame rate limit while the game is inactive
- Skins and player names can be reported
- Beds in trial chamber intersections get random colours
#Technical(3)
- Data pack version 49 and resource pack version 35
- Instruments and painting variants are data driven
- Changes to the network protocol and post-process shader definitions
Server Admin Migration Guide
- Snapshot only, not for a live server: keep production on the current release
- The minecart and redstone experiments change how contraptions behave, test them on a copy
Known Issues
- Development snapshot for 1.21.2, features could still change before the release
What This Means
For players
Snapshots are opt-in through the official launcher. Always make a copy of any world before opening it in 24w33a, because development builds can corrupt saves and there is no guarantee the world will open in a later version. Use a fresh test world to try the new content safely.
For server admins
Do not run 24w33a on a public server. Snapshots are unsupported by server software and most plugins. Spin up a private staging instance, confirm your plugins load, and report regressions while there is still time to fix them before release.
Background & Context
- Snapshots ship roughly once a week during active development and are enabled through the "Latest snapshot" toggle in the official launcher.
- The content here was being developed toward 1.21.2 (the Bundles of Bravery drop, after 1.21); individual features may have been adjusted, renamed, or removed before that version shipped.
- Always keep a backup of important worlds before changing versions; the Astroworld versions database tracks client and server compatibility for 24w33a.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Minecraft 24w33a released?
Minecraft 24w33a was released on August 15, 2024 as a weekly development snapshot for Minecraft: Java Edition.
What is new in 24w33a?
The first snapshot after 1.21, with around 200 bug fixes and three new experiments. Bundles came back to be finished, minecarts got smoother movement and redstone wire got faster, and item names now show a rarity colour. Notable entries include: Bundles are back: one bundle holds a stack of mixed items and is crafted from string and leather; Minecart Improvements: smoother turns, better jumps and less derailing; Redstone Experiments: redstone wire updates fewer blocks and runs faster. In total it documents 11 changes across 3 categories.
Should I use 24w33a on my main world?
No. 24w33a is a weekly development snapshot meant for testing. Keep your main world on the latest stable release and only open a backup copy in a separate test world to try the new content.
Can I run 24w33a on a Minecraft server?
It is not recommended for a public server. Snapshot only, not for a live server: keep production on the current release. Use a private staging instance to test plugins and mods, not to host players.
Which Minecraft version is 24w33a a preview of?
24w33a is part of the development cycle for 1.21.2 (the Bundles of Bravery drop, after 1.21). Features shown here are still in progress and may change before the final release.
Are there known issues in 24w33a?
Yes. Documented issues for this build include: Development snapshot for 1.21.2, features could still change before the release. Development builds are expected to have rough edges that get fixed before release.
Looking for version compatibility info?
Check client and server version details on our versions database.