Minecraft snapshot 25w17a brings two notable updates: the locator bar is now enabled by default, and a new option has been added to adjust cloud range.The locator bar, a feature useful in multiplayer servers, was first introduced in snapshot 25w15a as part of an experimental data pack. Starting with 25w17a, it is now available by default in all new worlds.In the previous snapshot, 25w16a, Mojang extended the range at which clouds appear in the sky. While this quality-of-life change made the skies more visually appealing, lower-end PCs might have struggled to render the extended range. Likely for this reason, Mojang has added a new option to adjust the cloud rendering distance.In addition to these two features, the update includes improvements to the Realms service and several bug fixes. Here are the patch notes for Minecraft snapshot 25w17a.Minecraft snapshot 25w17a patch notes: Everything you need to knowNew features in Minecraft snapshot 25w17aAdded an option to reduce the cloud rangeAdded the Locator Bar, a new HUD element that shows the direction of other Players in multiplayerLocator BarThe Locator Bar is a new default UI element that displays the direction of other players in the world.If there are no other players in the world the experience bar will display as normal, otherwise if another player is in the world (and that player is not hiding) then the experience bar will appear when experience is gained, otherwise the Locator Bar will display in the same area.Multiplayer servers can toggle the Locator Bar with the locatorBar gamerulePlayers can hide by crouching, wearing a mob head or a Carved Pumpkin, or using a Potion of InvisibilityPlayers in Spectator Mode are not visible on the Locator BarHowever, Spectating player are visible to each otherFacing other players within a 120 degrees range will display those players as colored indicators on the Locator BarOther players that are above/below the screen will also display an up/down arrow with their indicatorThe indicator will change to different sized icons depending on how far away the other Player isColored indicators are randomized for each playerServers can modify the colors of indicators with the /waypoint commandeg: /waypoint modify @s color red to set an indicator to redPlayers on a team will override their default indicator color with their team colorPlayer ChangesCrouching will hide the player, preventing them from appearing on the Locator Bar of other playersSpectators are only visible to other spectators on the Locator BarItem ChangesThe following items will hide players when worn in the head slot:Carved PumpkinSkeleton SkullWither Skeleton SkullPlayer HeadZombie HeadCreeper HeadDragon HeadPiglin HeadPotion ChangesUsing a Potion of Invisibility will also hide players from the Locator BarChanges in Minecraft snapshot 25w17aImprovements to the Realms configuration screenIntroduced a Region Preference setting that allows for more granular control over what region a Realm is startedRealmsChanged the layout of the Realms configuration screen to use tabsA Worlds tab containing changes to any of the world slots, creating new worlds and changing their settingsA Players tab to manage the players that have access and their level of access to the RealmA Subscription tab to manage the Realms subscriptionA Settings tab to change the settings of the RealmIntroduced a Region Preference setting that allows for more granular control over what region a Realm is startedChanged wording for Close/Open Realm to Temporarily close/Reopen RealmTechnical changes in Minecraft snapshot 25w17aThe Data Pack version is now 74The Resource Pack version is now 58Added a Server-authoritative Waypoint broadcasting system for controlling the Locator Bar behavior for PlayersData Pack Version 74CommandsAdded waypointThis is a new command for querying and modifying waypoints.waypoint listwaypoint modify <entity-selector> color <color>waypoint modify <entity-selector> color hex <hex-color>waypoint modify <entity-selector> color resetwaypoint modify <entity-selector> style <waypoint_style/resource>waypoint modify <entity-selector> style resetArguments:entity-selector: For selecting entities that are transmitting as waypoints (see waypoint_transmit_range attribute)color: Overrides the Locator Bar icon color for this waypointhex <hex-color> arguments are in web format (RRGGBB)Red is either hex F00 or hex FF0000Cornflower blue is hex 6495EDstyle: For changing the icon spriteset and selection distancesset <waypoint_style/resource> changes the style to a specific asset under waypoint_style/reset will restore the default icon behavior of the Locator BarWaypoint StylesThese define custom icons to be displayed on the Locator Bar and are within the waypoint_style/ asset directory.The default implementation is as such:{"near_distance": 128,"far_distance": 332,"sprites": ["minecraft:default_0","minecraft:default_1","minecraft:default_2","minecraft:default_3"]}near_distance and far_distance are optional and default to the values 128 and 332 respectively.far_distance distance must be greater than near_distanceEach sprite is searched within the prefix of hud/locator_bar_dot/ (the directory textures/gui/sprites/hud/locator_bar_dot).An example custom icon is given by summoning a Waypoint emitting mob with the custom name "Xilefian":/summon armor_stand ~ ~ ~ {CustomName:[{text:Xilefian}],attributes:[{id:waypoint_transmit_range,base:1000f}]}Game RulesAdded locatorBarDefault is true: enabling the Locator BarChanging to false will remove all existing Waypoints from all playersThe Game Rule has been renamed from useLocatorBar during the experiment. This may break minor command related features in worlds created in the previous snapshot.Added waypoint_transmit_range and waypoint_receive_rangeDefault: 0.0, Minimum: 0.0, Maximum: 60000000.0Players have a default transmission and receive range of 60,000,000Mobs with a transmission range above zero will send waypoint packets to nearby receivers that are within that rangeSimilarly, receivers only receive waypoints that are inside their receive range (and receive nothing if that range is zero)Examples:/attribute @s minecraft:waypoint_transmit_range base set 0 will prevent a player from transmitting (hiding them)/attribute @s minecraft:waypoint_transmit_range base set 80 will only let a player transmit up to 80 blocks (hiding them from players further than that)/attribute @s minecraft:waypoint_receive_range base set 0 will prevent a player from receiving (turns off their Locator Bar)/attribute @s minecraft:waypoint_receive_range base set 120 will only let a player see Locator Bar dots that are within 120 blocks (hiding all players further than that)Waypoint BroadcastingThe Locator Bar works by a server-controlled Waypoint system. Waypoints are received by Players, and connections between## TagsBlock TagsAdded #triggers_ambient_desert_dry_vegetation_block_sounds - blocks that can trigger ambient desert dry vegetation sounds to play from blocks aboveAdded happy_ghast_avoids - blocks that happy ghasts avoid getting close to#plays_ambient_desert_block_sounds has been renamed to #triggers_ambient_desert_sand_block_soundsAdded triggers_ambient_dried_ghast_block_sounds - blocks that can trigger ambient Dried Ghast sounds to play when a Dried Ghast block is placed on themWaypoints and Players are managed by the multiplayer server.By default, all Players transmit a Waypoint from themselves, and all Players receive all WaypointsIndividual Players can have their transmission and receive ranges controlled by the waypoint_transmit_range and waypoint_receive_range attributesTagsBlock TagsAdded happy_ghast_avoids - blocks that happy ghasts avoid getting close toAdded triggers_ambient_dried_ghast_block_sounds - blocks that can trigger ambient Dried Ghast sounds to play when a Dried Ghast block is placed on themResource Pack Version 58Shaders & Post-process EffectsFog Uniform BlockFOG_IS_SKY has been removed in favour of splitting up the sky shaderFixed bugs in Minecraft snapshot 25w17aMC-240121 - "1x1_b5.nbt" piece does not generate in woodland mansionsMC-296369 - Dispensers cannot equip harnesses onto happy ghastsMC-296421 - Right-clicking a happy ghast equipped with a harness while crouching will play hand animationMC-296438 - The "display" field on Attribute Modifiers is not optional, despite the changelog saying it isMC-296443 - Happy ghasts don’t avoid pathfinding into dangerous blocksMC-296511 - Gamemode Switcher icons become invisible when using resource pack with opaque or translucent selection.pngMC-296516 - Tooltips are incorrectly rendered below nearby elements when holding your mouse cursor over players that are online on realmsMC-296538 - Rarity of Dried Ghast is inconsistent with its crafting ingredientsMC-296542 - Waypoints on locator bar do not adjust to 3rd person front cameraMC-296567 - Waypoints on locator bar do not respect team colorsMC-296583 - Applying the waypoint_transmit_range attribute to an entity at the same time it is summoned makes it not show on the locator barMC-296750 - The game crashes after startup on some systems (predominantly Linux systems) with AMD graphicsMC-296755 - Resource Packs: The panorama overlay now renders in front of everything in the title screenMC-296756 - Clouds do not render at render distance 2 & 3MC-296764 - The text cursor renders behind command auto-complete textMC-296766 - GUIs of rideable mobs are missing their slots as of 25w16aMC-296770 - Strikethrough text in the villager interface is rendered behind charactersMC-296774 - Player messages within the "Select Chat Messages to Report" menu aren’t rendered while selectedMC-296775 - Some elements within the "Select Chat Messages to Report" menu are rendered darker while player messages are selectedMC-296777 - Lead shift right-clicking doesn't work on Boats with ChestsMC-296779 - The social interactions menu is rendered darker than normalMC-296782 - Player models within the “Report Player Skin” menu are rendered darker and lower than normalMC-296794 - Furnaces, blast furnaces, and smokers sometimes do not show the burn progress and lit progress animationsMC-296805 - The game crashes when holding your mouse cursor over players that are online on realmsMC-296806 - Cloud rendering has a considerable impact on performance as of 25w16aMC-296807 - The titles of selected tabs within the "Create New World" menu are rendered behind the backgroundMC-296808 - The titles of lists within the resource pack and data pack menus are rendered behind the backgroundMC-296984 - The "No pending invites!" text within the realms invitation menu is rendered behind the backgroundMinecraft snapshot 25w17a is available for download through the official launcher. This snapshot does not introduce any major new features, but you can still try out the locator bar with friends on multiplayer servers or simply check if all the listed bug fixes have been addressed.