Notch has quietly let 1.8 into the hands of a chosen few...

Remember in my last article when I said I didn't like writing news about Minecraft? Well, looks like I am eating a big plate of my own words today, because this is some very, very good Minecraft news.

If you hadn't already guessed it from the headline, 1.8 has dropped sometime yesterday, and it is legit. I have the window open right now, and you can bet I'm going straight back to it when I have finished writing this.

Details are still a little fuzzy about how, or even why it has surfaced at this point, but while browsing Reddit late last night I cast my gaze across this post. Basically, on 4chans /v/ last night someone posted a link to download http://assets.minecraft.net/1_8-pre/minecraft.jar, the executable file for an updated version of Minecraft. First there were doubts, but then as the brave tested it, it was confirmed, Minecraft 1.8 was out. Last time I checked, the link is still working, so grab it while you can and get exploring!

After the dust had settled a little, a Twitter post from Jeb was found that suggested that he had planned to slip 1.8 out like this, but that it was 'unlikely =('. Then, shortly after the file was released, Notch tweeted; '(I am fine with you using it. Make sure you get it from the leaked url we are hosting, though)'. Showing that not only did the leak come from Mojang themselves, but also that they were wanting people to use it.

Although it is still very early days, there already lots of people scouring the game for the new additions, items and mobs that we have been promised, and they are all appearing, along with a whole host of bugs and glitches (hey, it's still a beta, remember?). If you want to keep up to date with what has been found/confirmed, Redditor Pendit76has been dutifully updating this very helpful thread about what has been found, what works, and what doesn't.

If you want to play 1.8 right now, then simply follow the link about (or here, whatever) to download the new .jar file. Then simple navigate to C:/Users/AppData/Roaming/.minecraft/bin, find your old minecraft .jar, BACK IT UP, and then replace it with the one you just downloaded and boom. Minecraft 1.8 beta. Enjoy.

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