Why a Minecraft server needs patch notes
Players notice changes long before they read about them. A shop price that doubled, a farm that stopped working or a command that moved looks like a bug or unfair treatment when nobody explained it. Patch notes turn those moments into news instead of complaints.
- They answer the same question fifty players would otherwise ask staff one by one.
- They show the server is looked after, which is one of the main reasons players stay.
- They give staff something to point to when a player says a change was never announced.
- They keep a history, so you can see when something changed if it causes trouble later.
- They give returning players a quick way to catch up on what they missed.
A patch notes template to copy
Use the same parts in the same order every time. Players learn where to look, and you never have to think about the layout again. Leave out any part that has nothing in it for this update.
| Part | What goes in it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Title | A name or number and the date | Update 1.4, the market update, 12 March |
| Summary | One line about the biggest change | Player shops are here, and the spawn market has 20 free stalls. |
| Added | New things players can do | Chest shops with /shop create |
| Changed | Things that work differently now | Iron golem farms drop half as much iron |
| Fixed | Bugs that are gone | Pets no longer disappear after a restart |
| Removed | Things that are gone, and why | The /fly perk from the Supporter rank, because it broke claims |
| What to do | Anything players must do themselves | Rejoin once to download the new resource pack |
| Known issues | Problems you know about and are working on | The market map can load slowly on Bedrock |
A full example
Update 1.4, the market update, 12 March. Player shops are here, and the spawn market has 20 free stalls for the first players who claim one.
- Added: chest shops. Put items in a chest, look at it and type /shop create with a price.
- Added: a market at spawn with 20 stalls. Ask a helper to claim one.
- Changed: iron golem farms now drop half as much iron, to keep shop prices fair.
- Fixed: pets no longer disappear after a restart.
- Removed: /fly from the Supporter rank, because it let players get into other claims. Supporters keep every other perk.
- What to do: rejoin once so the new resource pack downloads.
- Known issue: the market map loads slowly for Bedrock players. A fix is planned for next week.
12 patch note examples for common changes
These example entries cover the changes most servers make over and over. Adapt the details and keep the pattern: what changed, and what it means for the player.
Gameplay
- New area
Added: the Frozen Peaks, a new area in the resource world. Reach it through the blue portal at spawn.
- New event
Added: a build contest every first Saturday of the month. Sign up in the events channel.
- Mob or farm change
Changed: mob farms now stop at 40 mobs per chunk, so the server stays smooth when many farms run at once.
- World reset
Changed: the resource world resets on the first day of each month at 06:00 UTC. Your base in the main world is never touched.
Economy and ranks
- Price change
Changed: diamonds sell for less at the server shop. Players were earning more from one farm than from a week of trading.
- New rank perk
Added: a particle trail for all ranks, which you can turn on or off with /trail.
- Removed perk
Removed: /fly in claims from the Patron rank. Patrons get a new hat and a coloured name instead.
- New currency item
Added: vote tokens. Each vote gives one token to spend at the token shop at spawn.
Fixes and maintenance
- Bug fix
Fixed: signs in claims could be edited by players who were not trusted.
- Version update
Changed: the server now runs the latest Minecraft version. Players on the previous version can still join.
- Restart time
Changed: the daily restart moves to 05:00 UTC, when the fewest players are online.
- Rollback
Fixed: a duplication bug found on Tuesday. Items made with it have been removed, and nobody who did not use it lost anything.
How to write patch notes players read
Players skim patch notes looking for the one change that affects them. Make that easy by writing every line the same way and keeping technical details out.
- Put the change players notice most at the top, not the one that took you longest.
- Write one change per line, starting with the word that says what kind of change it is.
- Say why when you remove or weaken something, in one short sentence.
- Use the names players know, such as the spawn market, instead of plugin or file names.
- Give times with a timezone, or a Discord timestamp that shows in each reader's own time.
- Leave out security fixes that would teach players how to use the bug.
| Weak | Better |
|---|---|
| Updated EssentialsX to the latest build. | Fixed: /home no longer sends you to the wrong world. |
| Nerfed iron farms. | Changed: iron golem farms drop half as much iron, to keep shop prices fair. |
| Various bug fixes. | Fixed: pets no longer disappear after a restart, and signs in claims are protected again. |
| Removed fly. | Removed: /fly from the Supporter rank, because it let players get into other claims. |
Where to post server updates
Keep the full patch notes in one place, and point to them from everywhere else. Copies in four places drift apart after the first correction.
Discord
The announcements channel is the natural home for the full notes. Mention an update role instead of everyone for regular updates, as the part on announcements people read explains.
In the game
A line in the join message or a /news command reaches players who never open Discord. The second line of your MOTD is a good place for the headline of a big update, as described in the guide to server descriptions.
Your server website
A news section on your website shows visitors that the server is alive before they join. Post the title and the summary there, with the two or three changes new players care about.
How often to post updates
There is no right number, but there is a right rhythm: one players can predict. Pick one that fits your server and stick to it.
| Server type | Rhythm that works | What to post |
|---|---|---|
| Small SMP | One summary a week or a month | Everything that changed, in one short post |
| Survival with an economy | A weekly post | Price changes and new features, with the reason |
| Factions or skyblock with seasons | A big post per season, small fixes weekly | The season changes in full, fixes as a short list |
| Minigame network | A post per new map or mode | What is new, and which maps or modes left |
Announce planned restarts and maintenance before they happen, with the time and how long it takes. For a launch or a season start, the launch day plan shows when to post what.
How to post updates in the news section of your website
The Network and SMP templates in the website builder have a news section on the home page, called Network news and What is new. This is how you keep it up to date.
Open the website editor
Go to Website in the server panel of Astroworld Hosting or minecrafthosting.cc and open the editor of a site that uses the Network or SMP template.
Select the news section
On the home page, click the news section. Change the Heading if you want something other than the example.
Add a post
Press Add post. Every post needs a Date, a Title and a Text, and the section needs at least one post.
Write the short version
Put the summary and the two or three biggest changes in Text, which holds up to 1200 characters. Link to the full notes on Discord if players want more.
Keep the list tidy
Posts are sorted by date with the newest at the top, and a section holds up to 20 posts. Remove the oldest ones when you get close.
Publish the update
Press Publish. After the automatic content check and a review by our team, usually within a few hours, the new post is on your live site.
Questions about Minecraft server patch notes
What should Minecraft server patch notes include?
A title with the date, a one line summary, and lists of what was added, changed, fixed and removed. Add what players need to do, such as rejoining, and any known issues you are still working on.
How often should a Minecraft server post updates?
Often enough that players can predict it: once a week works for most survival servers, once a season with small weekly fixes for seasonal servers, and once per new map or mode for minigame networks.
Where should I post patch notes for my server?
Keep the full notes in your Discord announcements channel, and post a short version on your website and in game, with a link back to the full notes.
What is the difference between patch notes and a changelog?
Patch notes describe one update for players, in plain words. A changelog is the running list of every change over time. Many servers use their patch notes, kept in one channel, as their changelog.
Should patch notes mention every bug fix?
Mention the fixes players noticed or reported. Leave out fixes that would explain how to use a bug, and group small fixes into one line if there are many.
How do I announce server maintenance?
Post the date, the start time with a timezone and how long it will take, at least a day ahead for planned work. Post again when the server is back, with a short note on what changed.
More server website guides
Minecraft Discord server setupA channel layout to copy, the roles and permissions to give, how to keep spam out and how to connect Discord to your Minecraft server.
Minecraft server launch checklistForty checks for the server, the world, your community and launch day, and what to do in the first week after opening.
Minecraft server event ideasTwenty five event ideas sorted by type of server, with a plan for announcing, running and rewarding each event.
Minecraft server descriptionA one sentence formula, 24 example descriptions by game mode, what goes in a long description and how to write a two line MOTD.
Minecraft server season resetWhat to wipe and what to keep, season lengths per game mode, a reset timeline, the steps for reset day and rewards that carry over.