Cubeville is updating to 1.18! Now that 1.18 appears to be stable, the external plugins we use are up to date and our own CV programming team have updated all of our custom plugins, CV is ready to start updating! Fortunately for this update we don't need to completely reset the map so there won't be any end of map rift or anything. You'll just log off, there will be some server downtime for the update to take place, and then you'll log back in to your same survival bases, albeit with a few modifications I'll go into detail with here.
➳ What has changed since 1.16?
I'm sure many of you will have kept up with the announcements as 1.17 and 1.18 were developed and released, but for those who don't know here are links to the two update pages:
- Java Edition: Version 1.17 (text guide)
- Java Edition: Version 1.17 (video guide)
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- Java Edition: Version 1.18 (video guide)
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One of many cool new caves you can find underground on CV after the update.
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➳ How does the update work?
Fortunately the updates are designed to work with existing worlds and the update will simply integrate the new features in. So where there is currently bedrock on CV, the deep dark will generate with an extra 64 blocks of underground created. We will be running a script which should extend all existing regions to cover this new terrain, so you don't need to worry about remaking your regions to cover the new area. The world height will also be updated so if you have a build that currently goes up to Y255, you can now extend it up another 64 blocks if you so desire.
As for the above ground new terrain, the cliffs part of the Caves and Cliffs update, we will be expanding the map 1500 blocks in each direction, bringing it up to a total of 15,000 x 15,000, the largest a CV map has ever been. All of this new terrain will be generated in 1.18 so expect to see the new biomes and terrain generation in the expansion zone. We will be setting up new drops from hub to get out to the new terrain so you'll all be able to get out and exploring straight away.
NOTE: The first update will only apply to the survival server, though all other servers will be accessible still. The other servers will be updated gradually afterwards, starting with the creative server.
➳ Server Downtime
The survival map will be offline to players starting at 6am EST on Tuesday 11th January 2022 (reboot tomorrow if you are reading this post the day it comes out). At the moment this downtime is scheduled for one day, but there are some elements of the update we can't test in advance, so if problems come up and it might take longer we will post an update here. Similarly, if everything goes smoothly and we can open earlier than planned, we will notify players here. You will still be able to play on other maps like creative, skylands games etc. whilst the update is going on, though there may be occasional server restarts during the process.
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Mountains actually feel like mountains now rather than slightly larger hills.
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➳ Getting new mobs and items
There will be a 1.17/18 section added to the admin shops around spawn to allow players to purchase the new rare items/blocks added to the game in the update, and relevant new mobs will be added to the pet shop. Prices are still to be confirmed but they will be ready when the map reopens after the update.
➳ Overviewer
In order to allow for more natural exploration on the first day, the overviewer border will not be expanded until the day after the map reopens. So if you want to find yourself a cool new mountain or biome to set up in, you'll need to get out there and explore the old fashioned way! Having looked around a bit during testing, there is some very cool terrain to find if you're lucky.
➳ FAQ
Will the creative server be updating to 1.18 as well?
The initial rollout of the update on CV will be for the survival server only. You will still be able to access all other servers when we're back up, but survival is the only one where you can use the new 1.18 blocks, items and mobs. Provided all goes well we will continue updating other servers gradually, with the creative server being next up.
- ACB 
