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Can You Add More Than 10 People to a Minecraft Realm? The Definitive Guide

The short answer is: no, not directly. Officially, a standard Minecraft Realm supports up to two additional players, while a Realms Plus subscription bumps that number up to a maximum of ten additional players. So, in total, a 2 player realm means 1 person pays for the realm and only 1 other person can join, or the realm owner and 2 other people join the game. A 10 player realm means the realm owner and 10 additional people join, or the realm owner plus 11 people total in the realm world at once.

But don’t despair just yet! While the game mechanics don’t allow for more than 11 players in a Realm (including the owner), there are alternative options to consider if you’re looking to build a larger community within the Minecraft universe. Let’s delve deeper into Realms, their limitations, and what other avenues you can explore to accommodate more players.

Understanding Minecraft Realms and Their Limitations

Minecraft Realms are designed for convenience and simplicity. They provide a private, always-online world for you and a small group of friends to enjoy without the hassle of setting up and maintaining a dedicated server. This ease of use comes with some trade-offs, most notably the player limit.

Realms are hosted directly by Mojang (the makers of Minecraft), ensuring reliable uptime and automatic backups. There are two primary types of Realms:

Realms (2 players): This is the basic option, allowing the owner and two additional players to join the world.
Realms Plus (10 players): This premium subscription expands the player capacity to ten additional players and includes access to a rotating catalog of Minecraft Marketplace content, such as skins, texture packs, and adventure maps.

Unfortunately, neither of these options allows for exceeding the stated player limits through in-game commands or settings. The game code is simply built around these restrictions for Realms. That said, keep in mind that the game is still being updated and this could change.

Why the Player Limit on Realms?

The player limit on Realms is primarily a design choice made by Mojang. It’s likely due to a combination of factors, including:

Server Performance: Hosting a world for more players requires more server resources. Limiting the number of concurrent players helps ensure a smooth and lag-free experience for everyone.
Simplicity and Ease of Use: Realms are targeted towards casual players who want a simple and hassle-free way to play with friends. Managing a larger server with more complex configurations is generally a different experience.
Monetization: Offering a higher player limit might necessitate a significant price increase for the subscription. By offering multiple tiers, Mojang caters to different player needs and budgets.

Alternatives to Realms for Larger Player Counts

If you’re looking to host a Minecraft world with more than 11 players, you’ll need to explore alternative solutions:

Minecraft Servers: Setting up your own Minecraft server is the most common way to accommodate a large number of players. You can host the server on your own computer (if it’s powerful enough) or rent a server from a hosting provider. This option offers greater control over server settings, plugins, and mods, allowing you to customize the gameplay experience to your liking.
Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server: Minecraft Bedrock Edition has a dedicated server build for different operating systems like Windows, Ubuntu and Debian.
Third-Party Hosting Services: Numerous third-party services specialize in hosting Minecraft servers. These services offer various plans with different resource allocations (RAM, CPU, storage) to suit your needs. They often provide user-friendly interfaces for managing your server and installing plugins.
LAN Worlds (Limited Applicability): Technically, you can connect more than 11 players to a single world if you’re all on the same local area network (LAN). However, this is not practical for most scenarios, as it requires everyone to be physically located in the same place. This is a great way to Games Learning Society learners to collaborate in the same space!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Minecraft Realms

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the specifics of Minecraft Realms and related topics:

How do I upgrade my Realm to 10 players? According to the Minecraft Help Center, to change the size (go from 2 users to 10, or from 10 to 2), you must cancel the subscription to the Realm, wait until the remaining days expire, and then renew the Realm in the desired size.
What exactly do I get with a 10-Player Realm (Realms Plus)? With a Realms Plus subscription, you get all of the benefits of a Realms subscription and can also: Play online with up to 10 friends simultaneously and Access a catalog of more than 150 marketplace packs that rotates monthly to provide fresh content.
Does the setmaxplayers command work on Realms? No, the setmaxplayers command is exclusive to Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Education. It has no effect on Realms nor servers.
What are the key differences between Minecraft Java and Bedrock Editions? The biggest difference is that Java has cross-platform play on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Bedrock can be played on all of the aforementioned platforms but also PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and Fire OS.
What’s the difference between a Realm and a Server? A Realm is a server that you can use to play Minecraft with your friends! Minecraft Realms offer a smooth, safe, and straightforward Minecraft experience, ideal for younger players or those seeking simplicity. Private servers, in contrast, offer a platform for endless customization and community growth, appealing to the more tech-savvy and ambitious Minecraft enthusiasts.
Is it possible for someone to take over ownership of my Realm? The original owner of the world will need to download the world from the realm server. The owner needs to check in a specific file for the world and send it to the other one which needs to upload it to their own realm. It is a bit tricky but can be done.
What are the main disadvantages of Minecraft Java Realms? The only major drawback of the Java realms is crossplay. You can only play with Linux, Windows, and macOS players that are using the Java edition. You can’t play with Bedrock players.
Is it more cost-effective to buy a Realm or run a server? Minecraft Realms provide a hassle-free environment for you and your friends to enjoy the game. On the other hand, private servers offer an unparalleled level of control and customization, allowing you to mold your Minecraft world to your preferences. The decision to buy a realm or host a server will depend on your individual needs and the type of gameplay you’re looking to experience.
Do all players need to pay for Realms to join? No, your friends don’t need a Realms Plus subscription to join your Realm. You can invite any friend to join your Realm for free. Only the person creating the realm needs to pay.
How much does Realms Plus cost? A Realms Plus subscription costs $7.99 USD per month in the US.
Are Realm servers costly to maintain? For a fee of $7.99 per month or a one-time payment for 30-, 90-, or 180-day plans, Mojang sets up and hosts a private, always-online server for you and your friends.
Can I try Realms Plus for free? Subscribing to Realms or Realms Plus will give you access to one Realm. If you have never purchased Realms Plus before, you can start a free trial for Realms Plus for 30 days. After your trial is over, you will be charged the appropriate subscription fee every month.
How do I invite someone to a realm I don’t own? In Minecraft, select Play. Select the Edit button next to the Realm you want to invite your friend to. Select the Members button. Select the Share Link button.
Is there a limit to the spawn limit radius in Minecraft Realms? The maximum spawn radius is 99999999 but when rejoining the world, it resets to 128.
How many players can a Minecraft server handle? One minecraft server application can’t support more than about 20 players per gb of RAM. Beyond that critical point of ~200 players, however, it’s not the RAM that’s the problem, but the CPU.

Conclusion

While Minecraft Realms are a fantastic option for small groups seeking a simple and private gaming experience, they are limited to a maximum of 11 players (including the owner). If you need to accommodate more players, exploring Minecraft servers or third-party hosting solutions is essential. These options offer greater flexibility, customization, and scalability, allowing you to create the ultimate Minecraft community. Understanding these differences will greatly assist in picking the correct server option for your desired experience.

To learn more about the educational possibilities within gaming and virtual environments, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Final thoughts

For educators, a dedicated Minecraft server might provide the most flexibility and pedagogical options, allowing for controlled, customized learning environments for their students.

Can you add more then 10 people to a realm?