Minecraft is one of those games that's so popular, that it can turn its player base into stars themselves. Sadly, one such star has been the subject of a lot of fan discussion lately when YouTuber Technoblade died a few days ago after a lengthy battle with cancer. With more than 13 million subscribers on his channel at the time of writing, his departure has left behind a large hole in the community, and while many mourn the loss, the official studio has paid a fitting tribute to him.
As noted by PC Gamer, Mojang appears to have subtly updated the loading screen for the Java version of Minecraft. Those who are not familiar with Technoblade, who's real name is Alexander, may not notice the recent change, but those who knew him well will be able to spot that the pig in the background has been changed. Upon its head now rests a golden crown sporting several jewels. This is almost certainly a nod to the YouTuber, whose avatar consists of a pig wearing royal clothes and the aforementioned crown.
The report from PC Gamer goes on to state that there's no way to know whether this is a permenant change, or just a temporary tribute. Of course, it would be nice if Technoblade remained a fixture on the loading screen forever. It should also be reiterated that the update has been for the Java edition of Minecraft rather than the Bedrock version. The change was spotted by the Twitter account Techno Updates, a profile that chronicles updates on Technoblade. Many on the thread have been leaving comments, touched by the tribute that Mojang has paid to the missed YouTuber.
He is also not the first of his kind to be missed by a growing community of fans. Last year, Minecraft streamer Bashurverse died after succumbing to COVID-19. It's very sad when content creators, especially those who have had an impact on the gaming community at large, are taken either suddenly or after a lengthy battle with a terminal illness.
Such stars as Technoblade may be gone, but they are certainly not forgotten. With Minecraft still one of the most played games around, despite it being more than a decade old at this point, the memories of those who have unfortunately passed away will live on in the blocky realm. Mojang altering the loading screen for the game shows that even the studio itself recognizes a terrible loss in the fan base.
Minecraft is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: PC Gamer