Miscellaneous Minecraft Matters

I wanted to host a Minecraft server for me and my daughter to be able to play on. After some research, using a docker container surfaced as the easiest way to do this. Also I wanted to use Steam Link to be able to play, so I needed to add a shortcut to Minecraft in Steam.

Below are the steps that I used to accomplish this

Minecraft Bedrock Docker Server

• https://github.com/itzg/docker-minecraft-bedrock-server
• find your players XUID
• I did this by starting the server connecting and looking at the server output
• create a docker-compose.yml file where OPS has your players XUIDs in a comma separated list and ALLOW_LIST_USERS has the player names and XUIDs that you want to be able to login

version: '3.4'

services:

    bds:

        image: itzg/minecraft-bedrock-server

        environment:

            EULA: "TRUE"

            GAMEMODE: creative

            DIFFICULTY: peaceful

            SERVER_NAME: "Our World"

            OPS: "1234,5678"

            ALLOW_CHEATS: "true"

            ALLOW_LIST: "true"
            ALLOW_LIST_USERS: "player1:1234,player with spaces:5678"

        ports:

            - "19132:19132/udp"

        volumes:

            - /storage/containers/minecraft/world1:/data

        stdin_open: true

        tty: true

• start the container
• docker-compose up
• A permissions.json file will be created giving the specified players ops powers
• Note: even though your server is local the Playstation/Xbox/Switch version will not be able to connect without a PS Plus/Xbox Live/Nintendo Online subscription
• https://bugs.mojang.com/browse/BDS-1634

Adding a shortcut to Minecraft in Steam

• Find out where Minecraft was stored
• Paste the following into an explorer window:
• %LocalAppData%\Packages\
• Find the folder like:
• Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_<seemingly_random_letters_and_numbers>
• The seemingly random letters and numbers are the app id, we will need them for later
• In Steam go to your Library and click "ADD A GAME" and then "Add a Non-Steam Game..."
• Navigate to C:\Windows and select explorer.exe
• You will see a new entry in your library called explorer
• Right click on it -> Properties
• Choose an appropriate icon
• Rename it
• Click "SET LAUNCH OPTIONS"
• type/paste in the following:
• shell:appsFolder\<your-app-id>!App
• Click "OK"
• Click "CLOSE"
• You should now be able to launch Minecraft from Steam

Appendix

Sources:

• https://linustechtips.com/topic/547779-add-universal-apps-and-purchased-windows-store-games-to-steam-library-and-how-to-pin-steam-games-to-windows-taskbar-and-start-menu/