Minecraft’s Bedrock Edition 1.21.80 update introduces versatile Flat World presets and a suite of gameplay tweaks—but also signals the end of official virtual and mixed reality support, a feature Mojang announced it would retire in October 2024 and has now finally removed as of May 6, 2025. While the move closes the book on VR headsets like PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift, players can still mod their way into VR via third-party tools such as Vivecraft. On the Java side, April’s snapshot brought its own set of refinements, from crafting recipe updates to adjusted potion mechanics. This article walks through the patch highlights, the implications of VR’s departure, and where Minecraft is headed next.

Bedrock Edition 1.21.80: What’s New

Flat World Presets

Mojang has added a dedicated Flat World option in the “Advanced” tab of the Create New World screen, giving players eight ready-made templates—Classic Flat, Tunnelers’ Dream, Water World, Overworld, Snowy Kingdom, Bottomless Pit, Desert, and Redstone Ready—for instant, uniform terrain.
These presets make it easier for builders, educators, and redstone engineers to start with a clean canvas, avoiding the tedious excavation of hills or ravines.

User Experience and Accessibility

Alongside the Flat World addition, Bedrock 1.21.80 fixes a range of minor bugs—text-to-speech issues on Android Fire tablets, block behavior inconsistencies, and audio glitches—to smooth out the experience for console, mobile, and Windows 10 players.
Nintendo Switch users now also have a “Filter Profanity” toggle in chat, reflecting Nintendo’s evolving online-safety policies.

The End of VR & Mixed Reality Support

Official Removal in 1.21.80

Mojang officially pulled the plug on virtual reality and mixed reality support in this latest Bedrock release, fulfilling its October 2024 promise that VR would sunset in Spring 2025.
The removal encompasses all major VR platforms previously supported—Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Meta Quest, and Sony’s PlayStation VR—meaning players can no longer launch Minecraft in a VR or MR headset directly.

Why Now?

In their announcement, Mojang cited diminishing usage and technical constraints as the impetus for ending official VR compatibility.
Despite being one of the earliest adopters of VR gaming—Minecraft first appeared on Samsung Gear VR in 2016—the feature never achieved the same monthly active numbers as the main game, which still boasts around 170 million monthly users as of early 2025.

Community Reaction

Some fans mourn the loss of an immersive way to experience Minecraft’s procedurally generated worlds, likening early VR demos—such as the HoloLens showcase—to “groundbreaking” moments in gaming.
Conversely, a segment of casual players admitted they weren’t aware VR mode even existed, though many agreed it sounded like a “worthwhile” addition.

Workarounds: Vivecraft and Beyond

For PC-based enthusiasts, community-driven mods like Vivecraft remain viable. Vivecraft transforms the Java Edition into a rich VR experience on SteamVR, Oculus, and other platforms, while QuestCraft offers a Quest-specific port—proof that Minecraft’s VR legacy lives on through modding.

Java Edition Snapshot: April Highlights

Java players also received an update in April 2025, focused on technical tweaks rather than new world types.
Crafting recipes for dried ghast tears and leads were adjusted, responding to player feedback on resource balancing.
Potion mechanics saw a minor overhaul to better align with underlying code changes, improving consistency when brewing advanced effects.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Minecraft?

With VR officially off the table, Mojang’s focus appears to be on cross-platform parity and core features—ensuring Bedrock and Java share essential mechanics without leaving any community behind.
Expect further usability upgrades like improved chat moderation tools, expanded world-generation options, and ongoing bug fixes to keep Minecraft’s sandbox as smooth as its blocky vistas.
Mojang’s roadmap also hints at deeper integration of accessibility features, potentially including more robust text-to-speech and input-customization settings to welcome players of all abilities.

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Conclusion

Minecraft’s 1.21.80 Bedrock update strikes a careful balance between innovation and consolidation—granting creators new Flat World presets and polishing long-standing issues, while finally closing the chapter on VR and MR support that began nearly a decade ago. Java Edition users see their own refinements, keeping both versions in lockstep with Mojang’s pledge to seamless, platform-wide improvements. Whether you’re drafting redstone contraptions on a Superflat map or donning a headset via Vivecraft, the blocky realm of Minecraft continues to evolve in fresh and exciting ways.