Bedrock Edition beta 1.17.40.20

**Beta 1.17.40.20** is the first beta version for Bedrock Edition 1.17.40, released on September 15, 2021, which brought changes to the new world generation from Java Edition 1.18 experimental snapshots, and fixes bugs.

## Changes

### General

RenderDragon
* Used only by selected Android devices that run on ARMv7

### Technical

Data Driven Items
* Updated documentation for Block Rotation Component.
* Added required toggles to documentation and to content error for block components.

Data Driven Blocks
* Updated documentation for BlockExplosionResistance.

Graphics
* Added a content error for using a material but not providing the required number of textures to the render controller.
* Testing RenderDragon engine across subset of Android devices (ARMv7).

Molang
* Add new compile errors for expressions like 'text' + 3, which were previously ignored (This is a Versioned Change as of engine version 1.17.40).

User Interface
* Added an ImGUI window for easier viewing of content errors.

## Experimental

These additions and changes are accessible by enabling the "Caves & Cliffs" and "Enable GameTest Framework" experimental toggle.

### Mobs

Donkey and Sheep
* Can now spawn in meadow biome.

Fox
* Can now spawn in grove biome.

Goat
* Now only spawn in snowy slopes, stony peaks, lofty peaks, and snow capped peaks biomes.

Rabbit
* Can now spawn in meadow and snowy slopes biome.

### World generation

Biomes
* Re-added ice spikes, eroded badlands, jungle edge, and savanna plateau.

Caves
* The cavern now generates in 2 layers of different stone bases depending on the depth.
	+ Cavern layer above Y=0 is made up of regular stone.
	+ Stone transitions to deepslate from Y=0 to Y=-7.
	+ Deepslate now completely replaces stone from Y=-8 to bedrock.
		- Certain types of ores and structures still generate in the deepslate layer.
		- Dirt, diorite, granite and andesite do not generate in this layer.

Mountains
* Meadows sometimes spawn a lone oak or birch, often with a bee nest.
* Infested stone now generate in the new mountain biomes.

Ore distribution
* Tweaked ore distribution to match in parity with *Java Edition*.

Pillager outposts
* Now generate in all the new mountain biomes.

Stony peaks
* A new mountains biome that is a variant of lofty/snowcapped peaks that uses stone and strips of gravel, instead of snow and ice.
	+ Is used to avoid temperature clashes.

Villages
* Now generate in meadows.

General
* Tweaked biome placement, river size, and terrain shapes for a better overworld experience.

### General

Clouds
* Raised cloud level from 128 to 192.

### Technical

GameTest Framework
* Renamed method succeedWhenBlockTypePresent to succeedWhenBlockPresent
* Fixed a bug where property idwould return "Unknown" for custom entities (MCPE-137786)
* Identifier strings returned from property idnow include the item's namespace
* GameTestSequence
	+ Removed method thenWaitWithDelay
	+ Added method thenWaitAfter(delayTicks: number, callback: () => undefined) - After a delay, executes the given callback every tick until it succeeds. Exceptions thrown within the callback will end sequence execution

* Player
	+ Fixed a bug where the location property would return an incorrect height for players
	+ Added property id

* Block
	+ Replaced method getLocationwith property location
	+ Replaced method getPermutationwith property permutation
	+ Replaced method getTypewith property type
	+ Replaced methods isWaterloggedand setWaterlogged with property isWaterlogged
	+ Replaced method getBlockDatawith property permutation
	+ Replaced method isEmptywith property isEmpty
	+ Removed property canBeWaterlogged

* BlockType
	+ Replaced method getNamewith property id
	+ Replaced method canBeWaterloggedwith property canBeWaterlogged

* BlockPermutation
	+ Replaced method getTypewith property type

## Known issues

* Beehives generates too frequently in this version.

## Fixes

Experimental
* Maps now correctly show the colors of blocks below a Y level of zero (MCPE-136638)
* Vines now generate in Lush Caves instead of generating above the surface (MCPE-125800)
* Vines can now grow down below zero height
* Villages now generate in the style of the biome they are located in (MCPE-136939)

Blocks
* Falling stalactites are now offset properly to avoid interacting with entities outside their intended hitbox (MCPE-132772).
* Beehives now generate in the world facing south.

Candle Cake Blocks
* Pressing the 'use' button on a Candle Cake now consumes the correct amount of cake slices (MCPE-135519).

Character Creator
* Fixed a crash that could occur when using Character Creator.
* Tweaked color tint for default Steve skin to match default Steve (MCPE-120818).
* Altered message for when friends change skins (MCPE-92772).

Commands
* Education Edition items are no longer shown as an option when using @e[type=] (MCPE-78363).

Gameplay
* Fixed a bug that caused players to be set on fire upon changing dimensions if there was Lava underneath the Nether Portal (MCPE-28765).
* Players can no longer eat food at full hunger in Survival mode (MCPE-60807).
* Sea Grass no longer spawns under Lily Pads during world generation to avoid breaking them.
* Villagers can no longer spam doors open and closed (MCPE-28055).
* Cartographers now more consistently give new maps on all platforms.

World Generation
* Amethyst geodes are now much less likely to generate in Strongholds, and if they do they will not destroy End Portals (MCPE-129861, MCPE-128799).

Graphical
* Improved world visibility culling for underground situations to eliminate seeing sky at the end of tunnels/stairs (MCPE-128372).

Mobs
* Improved mob pathing around partial blocks (MCPE-127381).
* Armor no longer renders on Pillagers and Vindicators, but are still granted armor effects (MCPE-74242).
* Fixed an issue with mob rendering that caused Vindicator Axes to be visible even when they're not attacking on older Resource Packs (MCPE-123229).
* More mobs will spawn underground in the Overworld.

Powder Snow
* Powder Snow no longer disappears when looking at it from a distance (MCPE-127565).

Structure Block
* Trapdoors now rotate correctly when loaded from a Structure block (MCPE-66933).

User Interface
* Fixed an issue where the d-pad and directional keys could not be used to navigate in certain parts of the UI (MCPE-132826).
* Fixed an issue where an error message could be shown after suspending the game on the achievements screens with screen animations disabled (MCPE-132269).
* Fixed an issue where an obscure gamerule was added to settings (MCPE-139025).
* Fix keyboard/d-pad navigation from custom server to edit server button.
* New achievements screens are available on Windows 10 ARM-based PCs.
* The sign in text on the start screen will no longer overlap the Marketplace button.
* Add space between tab title and the word 'Tab' for text-to-speech on Settings screen.
* Added "More Info" button to failed sign-in modal.

Technical
* Command blocks with 'Needs Redstone' and a non-zero 'Delay in Ticks' will now execute only if they remain powered for the delay duration (MCPE-74281).
* Fix alignment of the sidebar display from the `/scoreboard` command when text length changes.
* Fixed failure to render leash when attached to a mob outside of viewport (MCPE-63931).
* Fixed ability to summon experience orbs via `/summon` command (MCPE-130835).
* Fixed display only entity destruction in chunk discard scenarios.
* Fixed query.item\_remaining\_use\_duration having improperly scaled or inverted results (This fix is a Versioned Change as of engine version 1.17.30).

## References

1. ↑ "Minecraft Beta - 1.17.40.20 (Xbox One/Windows 10/Android)" – feedback.minecraft.net, September 15, 2021.
2. ↑ "Minecraft Beta 1.17.40.20" by Jay Wells. Minecraft.net, September 15, 2021