Hardcore

Hardcore is a variant of the Survival game mode where the world is locked to Hard difficulty and the player is unable to respawn after dying.

Hardcore can only be enabled in the Create new world screen; in Java Edition as a state of the "Game Mode" button, in Bedrock Edition as a separate toggle.

When creating a Hardcore mode world, "Allow Commands"/"Cheats", "Starting Map",‌^{[BE only]} and "Bonus Chest" world options are locked and disabled. In addition, Hardcore mode worlds are restricted to Hard difficulty which cannot be changed.

Hardcore cannot be disabled nor enabled for existing worlds. Realms or servers can use Hardcore by uploading existing Hardcore worlds to the server.

On the world selection menu, Hardcore mode worlds display a red Hardcore tag, and an icon.‌^{[BE only]}

The key feature of Hardcore mode is that the player is not given the option to respawn upon death as they would in other game modes. Instead, the player is given two options: to spectate the world, which sets the player's game mode to Spectator mode and respawns them at the world's spawn point, or return back to the title screen. Re-opening the world after death simply returns to the same death screen or the Spectator mode depending on the outcome.

• 👁 The Hardcore death screen in Java Edition, where it says "Game Over!" instead of "You Died!".
  
  The Hardcore death screen in Java Edition, where it says "Game Over!" instead of "You Died!".
• 👁 The Hardcore death screen in Bedrock Edition
  
  The Hardcore death screen in Bedrock Edition

Hardcore mode is specific to worlds, not players; the variable determining whether the world is in Hardcore mode is saved in level.dat.

In multiplayer, all players have Hardcore mode enabled — it is impossible to have some players in Hardcore and some not. Server operators can use the /gamemode command to change the game mode of themselves or another player. Players in Creative mode while on a Hardcore mode world still see Hardcore mode's death screen upon death.

It is normally impossible to toggle Hardcore mode once the world has been created, though it is possible to use external programs such as NBTExplorer to change it by setting the [Boolean] hardcore tag to either 1 (hardcore) or 0 (normal).

In Bedrock Edition, Hardcore can be switched on and off along with other world creation settings on any world by converting it to a world template and "re-creating" it. This will keep all world data, however, and even achievements can still be earned.

It is also possible to enable "Immediate Respawn" in Hardcore mode, allowing a player to skip the death screen and automatically switch to Spectator mode.

• 👁 The Hardcore mode button posted on Twitter by Notch
  
  The Hardcore mode button posted on Twitter by Notch
• 👁 Notch's first image of a Hardcore death screen
  
  Notch's first image of a Hardcore death screen

Issues relating to "Hardcore" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

• When Hardcore mode was announced, Notch jokingly posted an image of an 'ultra hardcore' mode where the premium status of the player's account would be revoked on death.^[8][9] This is not to be confused with the custom game mode of the same name.
• The longest Hardcore world record lasted for 5 years. It ended in April 2019 when a baby zombie and a spider killed the record holder in a cave. A splash text called "Ph1lza had a good run!" was added in reference of him.^[10]
• When a Hardcore mode world is loaded on a version released prior to Hardcore mode, the world is permanently converted into a Survival world.

• Tutorial:Hardcore mode
• Tutorial:Ultra Hardcore survival
• Tutorial:Restoring a Hardcore world