How Minecraft versions are organized
There are three main Minecraft codebases. To simplify, I'm gonna call them Java, Bedrock and Console.
Following are the versions of Java codebase:
Classic, Indev, Infdev, Alpha, Beta: pre-release development versions of the PC game
Minecraft (please note that, while this term is officially to be considered outdated, for most gamers this is what "Minecraft" means): the first, original Minecraft edition, that is playable on literally any OS that can handle Java and OpenGL. In fact, it is available for Windows, macOS, *nix systems (Unix, Linux etc.). Quite interestingly, it can even be run on Android, up to version 6 (Marshmallow), with a tool called Boardwalk. It has not cross-platform capabilities, however, being multiplayer based on a decentralized server infrastructure, online play is 100% platform agnostic, as long as everyone is playing this edition of the game. Being coded in Java, this version is highly reverse-engineerable so mods for it can be easily developed.
It has now been renamed to:
Minecraft: Java Edition: another name for the original version of Minecraft. Just that. This change is relatively recent.
Minecraft Server: a minimal, command line implementation of the Java codebase, in the form of a JAR executable. It does not require a license to run and can be used to create a multiplayer server, even if for bigger servers the use of a custom version (like Spigot) is recommended.
Following are the versions of Bedrock codebase:
- Minecraft: Pocket Edition (a.k.a. PE): a mobile edition of the game, completely different from both the console and Java codebases, originally only developed as a secondary, smaller game, to be played on the go. It was made available on iOS, Android (both through the Google Play and Amazon App stores) and Windows Phone, even if - ironically - the latter version was deprecated pretty soon. The game is written in C++.
It has now been officially renamed into:
Minecraft: although the name change was quite controversial, it has been officially applied. This name now represents PE, Windows 10 Edition and was also ported to Xbox and Nintendo Switch: this version completely replaced the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch editions of the game. It provides cross-platform play across different consoles and devices via Xbox Live, although only on Xbox consoles is a subscription required for online play. Microsoft approved servers are also accessible from all platforms, but only from "non-jailed" platforms (Windows, Android, iOS) can user-created servers be connected to. The only official way to "create" a server on this platform is to purchase a Minecraft Realms subscription, which gives you an online world hosted by Microsoft in the cloud. The game also features a store, where user-created content can be sold and purchased, using an in-game currency called "Minecraft Coins". It should be noted that the only way to obtain those is by purchasing them with real money. Third-party server software exists, though it is often incompatible with updates and lacks core features, such as mobs. This version supports a very basic native modding API in the form of "Behaviour Packs".
Windows 10 Edition (now merged into Minecraft): it is a UWP version of the game, downloadable from Microsoft Store on any x86 device running Windows 10 (only 10, no 8.1/8/7/older OS is supported). It mustn't be confused with Minecraft: Java Edition, which can also run on Windows 10, but on many other platforms too.
Raspberry Pi Edition: a now abandoned application, based on old Minecraft PE and developed specifically for the ARM-based Raspberry Pi Single Board Computer. It comes included with the free Raspbian operating system, which is a distribution of Linux for the Raspberry Pi. It is completely free and it includes a Python language interpreter, which allows users to make the Minecraft world interact with sensors, GPIO pins, cameras et cetera.
Apple TV Edition: basically Pocket Edition without multiplayer for Apple TV (5th+ gen). It isn't getting any recent updates past 1.1.x: a "dead" game, as it was not even merged into the unified Minecraft game. Officially it is still an active Minecraft edition.
New 3DS Edition: this edition for the Nintendo New 3DS is relatively new, albeit based on an old Minecraft Pocket Edition release, with additional features such as multiplayer with other N3DS consoles and touch screen support. It's unclear wether or not it will be further developed in the future.
Gear VR Edition: this is an exclusive edition to Samsung Oculus Gear VR virtual reality platform. It gets the same updates as the unified Minecraft and has full cross-platform multiplayer capabilities with other Minecraft unified versions. It is controlled with a gamepad and the user can switch between an immersive, first person mode, and a mode where they are in a virtual room playing in front of a giant screen (the latter to reduce VR motion sickness).
The Console codebase was developed by 4J Studios, not Mojang. After Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang, the Redmond company has been constantly attempting to unify this platform with Bedrock. Following are the versions of Console codebase:
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition: this is the first Console edition to ever be developed. It is exclusive to the Xbox 360 console and gets still updated today. Console editions are pretty limited compared to the others, but eventually they catch up with most of the features implemented in Bedrock and Java. This edition is for a last gen console, so it has a low world size and short draw distance. It can export worlds to be imported into Xbox One Edition and it features some exclusive Xbox DLC, as well as the standard content available on other Console platforms.
Minecraft: Xbox One Edition: this version is officially deprecated and a free upgrade to Minecraft (the Bedrock one) is offered to its users. Online play was shut down and it is instead available on the Bedrock-based game. It has the same DLC as Xbox 360. This edition is for a current gen console, so it has a high world size and long draw distance. Additionally, this edition can import worlds from Xbox 360, but not export them back, however they can be exported to the new Minecraft game.
Minecraft: PS3 Edition: this game is almost identical to the Xbox 360 Edition, exception made for a PS Vita world import/export feature and exclusive PlayStation DLCs.
Minecraft: PS Vita Edition: an edition made specifically for the PS Vita handheld console. Based on the PS3 Edition, it implements basic support for its touch screen and local ad-hoc multiplayer. It has a shorter render distance compared to the PS3.
Minecraft: PS4 Edition: it is almost identical to the Xbox One Edition, exception made for the touchpad support, exclusive PlayStation DLC and PS3/PS Vita world import features (worlds cannot be exported back though). Due to Sony's refusal to replace this version with Bedrock, this version is currently active, online play included.
Minecraft: Wii U Edition: as the name suggests, it is a version for the Wii U console. It is similar to the PS3/Xbox edition, but it runs at a lower resolution and is more expensive; the higher price is justified by some included exclusive Nintendo DLC. It is still getting updates.
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition: this version is officially abandoned, players are offered a free copy of the new unified Minecraft, while on this edition the online servers are shut down. Worlds created on this version can be converted to the format for the new game on Nintendo Switch. World size is similar to that of next-gen consoles.
Edit:
This is my idea for tags:
minecraft-redstone, minecraft-commands and all modded Minecraft tags should be left as they are IMHO.
minecraft-java-edition should be created, with minecraft-macos minecraft-mac and minecraft-linux as synonyms, being Java Edition the only one available on these platforms.
minecraft should be a synonym of either minecraft-bedrock-edition or minecraft-java-edition, depending on whether we want to make it easier to understand for either newer players or "veterans", I'd guess. These days "Minecraft" doesn't mean much.
minecraft-console should be renamed to minecraft-4j-studios or something like that. It should have some synonyms: minecraft-ps3, minecraft-ps4, minecraft-psvita, minecraft-xbox360 and minecraft-wiiu.
minecraft-xboxone, minecraft-switch and minecraft-pocket-edition should become synonyms of minecraft-bedrock-edition
Something has to be done about the Windows 10 UWP version. While minecraft-windows-10 could be a synonym of minecraft-bedrock-edition, it would be extremely confusing, especially to new users, as not everyone knows about the other UWP version of the game or how it's different from the almost always preferrable (citation needed) Java Edition, and Windows 10 is installed/"force-upgraded-to" on most PCs nowadays. On the other hand, almost no one knows what Universal Windows Platform is, so minecraft-uwp would too not make sense. We may consider a tag that contains "microsoft-store" in the name, as that is the only (legal) place you can get the game from.
