The C++ Minecraft implementation (Minecraft Pocket Edition and Windows 10 edition) is getting a fully supported add-on system. They're angle for data-driven entity/item customization (simple JSON files) and C# code for implementing entirely new behaviors and components.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2MNYIa411k

https://minecraft.net/en/addons/

That sounds dumb. Why? because they've built up an ecosystem around an API that they're about to throw by the wayside (unless they integrate it into MCJE), and I very much doubt that the new system will be as powerful (will it be able to handle mod conflicts? What about the very powerful APIs that Forge has built over the years, will you replace them? I'd like to see you try to rebuild Fluid API, FMP, OreDict, FluidDict, and the rest. And if you don't, than the best of modding probably won't be able to be rewritten for your new system). Hopefully, Searge is involved, in which case it's more likely we'll get something decent. Also hopefully, Java MC will just include Forge into MC, or at least support it officially, or something. I don't want all my favorite mods to die.

The panel discussion I linked to was really intersting. I believe they said that Searge (who was on the panel) is the leader of the add-ons effort.

They did say that Java MC isn't going anywhere.

Their stated intent is to make add-ons/plugins as powerful as they can, but there is a limitation in that they want them to be able to work in environments like iOS. Add-ons sre no problem: they're just json data files. They think they'll be able use use C# plugins on iOS, but I'm quite interested to see how they pull that one off.

Regardless, there are 30-40 million players of MCPE who have no modding at all today. This new system is going to be a big step up. even if it is entirely different from the way Java MC is extended.

> They did say that Java MC isn't going anywhere.

Embrace, extend, extinguish is how it always plays out.

We shall see...

I personally don't think that Mojang would do that unless forced to, especially given what would happen to the community. Most likely established modders would continue to use JMC as their base, pushing new modders towards doing so, and thus it would continue to overshadow other versions, as the mods really do make the game.

Okay, good. I'm just nervous, especially since they've been doing this stuff for the MCPE codebase, and Java MC has been mainline since forever. Seeing as I'm a Linux user, I'd rather JMC didn't fall by the wayside.

Because MS hates Java as much as you or I hate cancer or malaria. I mean they really hold a grudge.

true, but with Forge and FML, the unofficial mod support is pretty slick. Besides, the problem isn't that modding is hard, it's the ecosystem.