Summary
- The latest Minecraft update introduces a new /tick freeze command that allows players to freeze time and all entities in sight.
- The new snapshot provides a preview of upcoming gameplay features, building blocks, and items, giving players a glimpse into the future of the game.
- Players should be cautious when using console commands as they have the potential to cause havoc if not used carefully, and resuming normal time requires the /tick unfreeze command.
Making use of the many console commands in Minecraft allows players to do almost anything with the game, and the latest 1.20.30 snapshot introduces the /tick freeze command along with other related commands which lets players freeze time along with every mob and entity in sight. The developers of Minecraft have already put out both a minor update for the game as well as a new snapshot following this year's Minecraft Live event, with the latest content preview bringing in a variety of new blocks and gameplay features for fans to toy with.
While Minecraft did see a new minor update very recently, the Bedrock Edition-focused patch primarily aimed to improve parity between the features present in both versions of the game while also squashing many of the bugs and crashing issues which affect Minecraft's somewhat notorious Bedrock Edition. While this small update did also introduce several new optional experimental features relating to the villager trading system and loot drop mechanics in general, the new Java-exclusive 1.20.3 snapshot is where fans are really able to get a good look at some of the new gameplay features, building blocks, and items that are planned to come to the game in the future.
While Minecraft fans have been using commands to do some incredible things with the game for many years now, a new command introduced with the 1.20.3 snapshot allows players to completely stop time. The command can be input by typing /tick freeze in the console, and was recently demonstrated in a creative screenshot shared by the user SnifferHexapod66 on Reddit which shows two temporally-frozen mobs surrounded by a barrage of static arrows. This clever concept brings to mind certain scenes from a variety of pop-culture media, and demonstrates the ability to set elaborate traps for mobs or eliminate them in creative ways through the use of this fun command. Aside from setting the game's tick speed to zero, several other commands related to the game's tick speed allow players to manipulate the flow of time for gameplay or experimental reasons.
Players should also remember that the /tick unfreeze command will be required to resume the normal flow of time in the game after it is frozen. While Minecraft's command console is useful for a whole spectrum of things, players new to manipulating commands should tread lightly, as they have the potential to wreak all sorts of havoc on a world if not used carefully.
Aside from these new commands, the latest 1.20.3 snapshot for Minecraft provides a glimpse of what's to come, including some new building blocks and a variety of new copper installments both decorative and functional. Several updates to certain gameplay mechanics have been made, as well as a new model and set of animations for the bat mob.
Minecraft is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and most legacy platforms.