This is unique from MultiMC in that it's able to use Curseforge's newer API for downloading mods & modpacks, and has an interface for browsing and searching for mods from both Curseforge and Modrinth.
Similar to MultiMC, it is a FOSS Minecraft launcher that only downloads Mojang code needed to login and shim the launch of the Minecraft java process, and is able to manage multiple instances with various different modding frameworks and version numbers involved. It even supports modding old versions using all the various old-school "jar mods" posted to the Minecraft forums around 2010-2011.
It is forked from PolyMC after a hostile takeover of PolyMC. It has all the same developers as PolyMC had.
Another thing that makes it unique is that it is packaged for a wide variety of platforms, including:
- Linux Flatpak
- Alpine Linux
- Arch Linux / Manjaro (AUR)
- CentOS / Alma / RHEL (Copr)
- Fedora (Copr)
- Debian / Ubuntu (MPR)
- Gentoo
- NixOS
- openSUSE
- Raspbian
- macOS and macOS legacy
- macOS homebrew
- Windows setup
- Windows portable zip
- Windows winget
- Windows Chocolatey
- Windows Scoop
The Flatpak means it's currently the only alternative Minecraft launcher that works on the Steam Deck and Fedora Silverblue without needing to use `pacman` or `rpm-ostree`.
I've never seen a desktop application made after 2010 that is simultaneously distributed for so many platforms before.
> The Flatpak means it's currently the only alternative Minecraft launcher that works on the Steam Deck and Fedora Silverblue without needing to use `pacman` or `rpm-ostree`.
ATLauncher exists as another feature-packed Minecraft launcher available on Flatpak.
It is actively updated by Mojang, and gets most of the same content features that Bedrock edition gets, but still has Java + OpenGL code using LWJGL (Lightweight Java Game Library) so it cannot ever integrate bedrock edition's graphics engine, including its support for RTX raytracing.
There is a lot of open source activity surrounding Minecraft, such as the Fabric, Forge, PaperMC, Sodium, and Modrinth projects. Most of this keeps up with the latest version of Minecraft Java edition, but some are still stuck behind playing 1.7, 1.8, 1.12, 1.16, etc due to mods that only existed on old versions.
Bedrock and Java edition are not interoperable, they have different save formats and multiplayer protocols. But there is a decent compatibility layer called GeyserMC that allows bedrock clients connecting to Java edition servers. It's a surprisingly polished experience but does cause bugs and incompatibilities.
Similar to MultiMC, it is a FOSS Minecraft launcher that only downloads Mojang code needed to login and shim the launch of the Minecraft java process, and is able to manage multiple instances with various different modding frameworks and version numbers involved. It even supports modding old versions using all the various old-school "jar mods" posted to the Minecraft forums around 2010-2011.
It is forked from PolyMC after a hostile takeover of PolyMC. It has all the same developers as PolyMC had.