Mojang’s Java snapshot 21w13a, published on March 31, 2021, was a regular Caves & Cliffs development snapshot—not a release Mojang identified as an April Fools update. For 2026, Windows Central reported that the Java April Fools snapshot is called Herdcraft, with a joke built around making the world function as the player’s inventory. Mojang’s official snapshot archive is the place to check authoritative release details.
What was the Minecraft April Fools snapshot in 2021?
The official 2021 snapshot established here is 21w13a, announced by Mojang on March 31. Mojang described it as a Java snapshot and listed Caves & Cliffs development features; the post did not call it an April Fools release.
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That distinction matters: a snapshot released near April 1 is not automatically the year’s joke update. The official 21w13a notes are evidence of what that build contained, but they do not identify a separate 2021 April Fools promotion. So 21w13a should not be presented as the confirmed 2021 joke snapshot.
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What 21w13a added
- Goats: They spawn in mountains, can climb mountain sides, can be tempted and bred with wheat, and provide milk.
- Monochrome Logo: An accessibility option provides a solid black alternative background for the Mojang Studios loading screen.
- Other development changes: The notes also cover Caves, ore distribution, powder snow, underground water spawns for axolotls and glow squids, and trade and loot changes.
The next week, Mojang’s 21w14a announcement, dated April 7, introduced raw copper, iron, and gold items and explained that smeltable ores would drop raw forms. That follow-up fits the ongoing feature-development cadence; it does not resolve what separate April Fools content Mojang may have promoted in 2021.
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Was Minecraft snapshot 21w13a an April Fools update?
Not according to its official announcement. Mojang called 21w13a a Java snapshot and described ordinary development features, without labeling it a joke update. The evidence available here cannot establish the exact separate April Fools release or promotion for 2021, so the accurate answer is that 21w13a is not confirmed as that year’s April Fools update.
What is Minecraft’s April Fools update in 2026?
Windows Central reported on April 1, 2026, that the Java April Fools snapshot is Herdcraft. Its report describes a joke in which the world becomes the player’s inventory, alongside a commandable arsenal mechanic. These details are secondary-source reporting; check Mojang’s official snapshot archive for authoritative release notes and availability before treating the name or mechanics as confirmed by Mojang.
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- Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs
Keep the editions separate: the same report discusses sulfur-themed content in Bedrock Preview, including sulfur cubes, a sulfur cave biome, sulfur springs, and a potent sulfur block. Those Bedrock Preview features are not the Java Herdcraft joke snapshot.
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How do I play the latest Minecraft Java snapshot?
- Open the Minecraft Launcher and check its current installation guidance for enabling snapshots. Launcher labels and behavior can change, so consult Mojang’s current snapshot archive rather than relying on an old menu path.
- If the current Launcher provides the option, enable snapshots and select “Latest Snapshot,” as described in Windows Central’s 2026 report. Confirm the selected version against Mojang’s official changelog.
- Start a separate world for testing, or back up any world before opening it in a snapshot. Mojang’s 21w14a notes warn: “Snapshots can corrupt your world, so please backup and/or run them in a different folder from your main worlds.”
At the time the official archive was checked, it listed Java 26.4 snapshots and 26.3 entries. That index is the better source for current version details than an older news report.
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- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
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