The next Minecraft: Java Edition update secures its first Release Candidate

Impending Minecraft updates always mean a flurry of snapshots and pre-release builds in the weeks leading up to release, and Minecraft: Java Edition 1.18.2 has been no different. Mojang Studios is preparing to release the massive patch update as soon as Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, as long as no critical issues are discovered within the most recent snapshot.

The latest Pre-Release 3 snapshot is already being followed by Minecraft: Java Edition 1.18.2 Release Candidate 1, which, as the name implies, could very well be the exact build released to players. The snapshot only includes two minor server-focused fixes, with Mojang carefully monitoring the snapshot for any other potential critical issues.

Assuming nothing is found, the 1.18.2 patch update could be cleared for an official release this coming Monday. Minecraft may be updated less frequently than other games, but updates like version 1.18.2 are what help Minecraft stay on the top of our list of best PC games you can play.

In case you missed it, Mojang Studios also released the first Deep Dark experimental snapshot based on The Wild Update, which comes to Minecraft in 2022 with new biomes to explore, mobs to discover, and features with which to play. The first experimental snapshot specifically highlights the Deep Dark biome and terrifying Warden mob.

The full changelog for Minecraft: Java Edition 1.18.2 Release Candidate 1 includes:

Fixed bugs

• Some custom dimensions settings can cause the server to stop running, but not crash
• Some worldgen datapacks can kill the internal server (possibly related to density functions)