Does Minecraft: Bedrock Edition support mods?

Mods aren't coming to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition

Minecraft is a ridiculously popular game no matter how you look at it. However, for many members of the Minecraft community, Minecraft is at its best when paired with the hundreds (if not thousands) of community-created mods that exist for Minecraft: Java Edition, the legacy PC version. Mods can do everything from total conversions and overhauls to tiny changes and additions. If you're interested in getting started with mods in Minecraft: Java Edition, you can check out our comprehensive guides on how to install mods for Minecraft: Java Edition.

The mod community has been very active in Minecraft: Java Edition for over a decade. So, where does this leave Minecraft: Bedrock Edition?

For the unaware, Minecraft currently has two editions. The Java Edition exists on PC with its own launcher, and is the original version of Minecraft. On the other hand, the Bedrock Edition is built on top of the universal, custom-built Bedrock and RenderDragon engine, and scales across hardware like Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC, mobile devices, and even VR. The Bedrock Edition is far more flexible and accessible, and supports modern features like cross-play across platforms and Minecraft with ray tracing.

The way that Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is built, however, doesn't allow for mod support. Spanning across every major platform in the world doesn't come without compromise, and the lack of mod support is the most significant difference between the Java and Bedrock Editions of Minecraft (there are many other parity issues, but the gap between Bedrock and Java becomes closer with every update).

However, the Marketplace provides

The lack of mod support doesn't mean Minecraft: Bedrock Edition players are entirely out of luck. Mojang Studios has built the Minecraft Marketplace, a universal hub where Mojang Studios, Minecraft studios, and community members can all come together to create and offer brand-new content for Minecraft. What's on offer extends beyond just simple texture packs and maps, too; creators have a surprisingly powerful suite of creation tools for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

With the Minecraft Marketplace, players can find new skins for their characters or new character creator pieces to design their own. They can download new texture packs to change the look and feel of Minecraft wildly, and new maps to explore that cover every topic imaginable. There are also adventure packs that offer their own stories, quests, gameplay mechanics, and more, as well as resource and behavior packs that change specific parts of Minecraft. There's so much already available, and new creations are being added every day. Mojang Studios even offers free collections for Minecraft with ray tracing or Minecraft: Education Edition maps.

What's the problem with the Minecraft Marketplace?

While the Minecraft Marketplace is fantastic for many reasons, there's understandable discourse from the Minecraft community that much of the content is paid for through in-game currency called Minecoins. There's plenty of free content, and Mojang Studios offers gifts to players all the time through the Minecraft Marketplace, but the vast majority of content in the Marketplace needs to be purchased.

This is in stark comparison to mods on Minecraft: Java Edition, which are often provided for free from their creators. While complaints from Minecraft players who are used to how Minecraft: Java Edition operates is to be expected, the Minecraft Marketplace is a necessary part of keeping Minecraft going on all of these platforms with constant, major free updates and support. Minecraft community creators get paid for all the hard work they put into their creations, and Mojang Studios gets to continue showering Minecraft with love and support on every gaming platform imaginable.

It helps that the Minecraft Marketplace is usually very reasonable with pricing and that players will never need to put down extra money to play Minecraft's base game. All purchases in the Minecraft Marketplace are entirely optional, adding new content to your Minecraft worlds at your discretion.

For many, the Minecraft Marketplace might not be a suitable replacement for mod support in Minecraft: Java Edition. However, Minecraft: Java Edition isn't going anywhere, and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition scales across platforms, syncs purchases and maps to your Microsoft Account, and allows full cross-play support with all of your friends no matter where they play. Depending on how you play Minecraft, there are options that benefit everyone.

Supporting Minecraft creators through the Minecraft Marketplace isn't the only way to show your love for Minecraft, with our list of Best Merch, Toys, and Gifts for Minecraft offering a ton of great options for any Minecraft fan. You should also consider picking up one of the Best Headsets for Xbox Series X|S, as high-quality audio is important to get the most out of your games.