Minecraft: Java Edition gets bees and they're absolutely adorable

What you need to know

  • Minecraft: Java Edition is getting bees.
  • You can download build 19W34A right now.
  • The bee mechanics are deep and varied.
  • Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is part of Xbox Game Pass.

It seems like there's a bee craze sweeping the world of video games. Aside from the lovable Bee Simulator, Minecraft is getting the little insects who are responsible for life on Earth in many ways. Today, Xbox Game Studios announced that the Java version of the popular game was getting bees and other related additions. You can take a look at the important patch notes for build 19W34A below.

  • Added Bees to the game.
  • Added Bee Nests and Hives to the game.
  • Added Honeycomb to the game.
  • Added some dispenser functionality.
  • Minecraft: Java Edition now requires OpenGL 2.0 so get on that.
  • Bees are cute, fuzzy, neutral mobs, so don't hurt them because they don't want to hurt you.
  • If a bee does sting you, it will leave its stinger in you and eventually die, dropping nothing.
  • Bees love pretty flowers and spend their lives gathering pollen from them.
  • After gathering pollen, bees fly back to their home nest.
  • Bees help you by growing crops while carrying pollen back to the nest.
  • Bees can be bred using flowers.
  • Bees like sharing the location of their favorite flowers with other bees.
  • If a bee can't find nectar, after a while it will return home for a bit.
  • If a bee doesn't have a home nest, it will wander around until it finds one it can use.
  • Bees don't like rain and they sleep at night.
  • Bee Nests spawn naturally in Flower Forests, Plains, and Sunflower Plains biomes.
  • Bees use Nests and Hives to share flower locations with other bees.
  • Bee Hives are crafted by players using Honeycomb and Wood Planks.
  • Bee Nests will be destroyed unless you use Silk Touch.

Are you excited for bees? Let us know. Minecraft is a cultural sensation and is played by over 190 million active users. The game is also a part of Xbox Game Pass so you can play it through your subscription.

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Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.