Recently, Mojang has rolled out a new feature designed for those who enjoy multiplayer fun in Minecraft: the player locator bar. Initially available in the Bedrock beta and preview versions, it’s set to make its way to the Java snapshot soon, allowing players an innovative way to find each other in the vast sandbox world.
Minecraft has always been about keeping its community engaged with fresh updates, and 2025 has been a busy year for Mojang. Experimental patches have been packed with potential new features, including diverse mob variants, tweaks to the desert biome, and the introduction of various new blocks. Among these updates, the player locator bar stands out, especially for those who thrive in multiplayer environments.
Introduced on March 11, this locator bar is making waves among players eager to test it out. Imagine an in-game tool that utilizes the XP bar on your UI, showcasing colored markers that guide you towards your friends or fellow players. It even adjusts to show elevation, indicating whether someone is above or below your current level, which can be a game-changer in navigating Minecraft’s sprawling landscapes.
For players who relish a bit of stealth or privacy, Mojang has smartly integrated ways to dodge detection. By sneaking, donning a mask, or sipping a Potion of Invisibility, players can maintain their invisibility on the locator. Additionally, server admins can disable this feature, although, for now, individual players can’t switch it off in the current snapshots and previews.
The community’s reception has been largely positive, with a Reddit post about the feature garnering over 7,000 upvotes. Many find the locator bar a more user-friendly alternative to the somewhat cumbersome method of using coordinates. Still, there’s a wish among players for the feature to be universally toggleable within the game settings.
As Mojang continues to refine the player locator bar, the feedback from the Minecraft community will undoubtedly shape its final form. While it’s unclear when this feature will be available to all players, excitement is building for further updates during Minecraft Live 2025 on March 22. It looks like fans can expect plenty more to come!