World size

This feature is exclusive to Legacy Console Edition and New Nintendo 3DS Edition.

World size is an option to change the size of the finite worlds in New Nintendo 3DS Edition and Legacy Console Edition (specific to Xbox One Edition, PlayStation 4 Edition, and Nintendo Switch Edition). By default, worlds generate at the largest size available in each edition.

Legacy Console Edition

Large world type selected in the World Options menu.

In the finite worlds of Legacy Console Edition, the edge of the Overworld is surrounded by an endless sea of water preceded by an invisible barrier. The outer two chunks of the usable world is usually a smooth transition from the main landmass/noise generation to the sea of water. The edge of the Nether is surrounded by a wall of bedrock. The End is not affected by world size. Worlds are able to generate with any of the biomes and generated structures available in the current version. The tile on each edge of the Overworld and the Nether is inaccessible, so the effective area is 2 tiles less on both axes.

After a world has been created, it can be expanded to a larger size. Larger worlds cannot be reverted to a smaller size. In this process, there is an option to "Overwrite World Edges", disabled by default. When enabled, newly-generated tiles overwrite the outer 32 tiles around the world. When disabled, increasing the world size does not replace any original tiles. Starting with a smaller world used to be beneficial, as one could choose to gradually expand when an update made changes to the world generation, and could therefore generate new chunks with new features. However, since updates were later discontinued on Legacy Console Edition, this benefit no longer exists.

Xbox 360 Edition, PlayStation 3 Edition, PlayStation Vita Edition, and Wii U Edition do not have the option for world size. All worlds generated in these editions are Classic size, although it is possible to expand them if they are transferred to an edition that supports larger world sizes. More villages, ocean monuments, swamp huts and woodland mansions attempt to generate in Classic and Small than in Medium and Large. Additionally, the stronghold generates much closer to spawn in Classic and Small sizes than in Medium and Large.

World size	Overworld area	Number of maps	Nether area	Nether-Overworld ratio
Classic	864×864 blocks: 746,496 blocks 54×54 chunks: 2,916 chunks	1×1 map: 1 map	288×288 blocks: 82,944 blocks 18×18 chunks: 324 chunks	1:3	Yes	Yes	Yes
Small	1024×1024 blocks: 1,048,576 blocks 64×64 chunks: 4,096 chunks	1×1 map: 1 map	352×352 blocks: 123,904 blocks 22×22 chunks: 484 chunks	1:3	Yes	Yes	Yes
Medium	3072×3072 blocks: 9,437,184 blocks 192×192 chunks: 36,864 chunks	3×3 maps: 9 maps	512×512 blocks: 262,144 blocks 32×32 chunks: 1,024 chunks	1:6	Yes	Yes	Yes
Large	5120×5120 blocks: 26,214,400 blocks 320×320 chunks: 102,400 chunks	5×5 maps: 25 maps	640×640 blocks: 409,600 blocks 40×40 chunks: 1,600 chunks	1:8	Yes	Yes	No

The end dimension is fixed to a 192x192 block area (36,864 blocks, 8×8 chunks, 144 chunks) centered at 0,0, and one outer end island the same size 2048 blocks away from 0,0 in a cardinal direction (Total: 73,728 blocks, 288 chunks) . On Xbox One Edition, PlayStation 4 Edition, and Nintendo Switch Edition, up to four outer islands the same size can generate on all cardinal directions 2048 blocks away from 0,0 (Total: 184,320 blocks, 720 chunks).

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

The finite worlds of the New Nintendo 3DS Edition are based on the Old world type from Bedrock Edition. The edges of both the Overworld and the Nether are surrounded by an invisible barrier, and the ratio of the Nether to the Overworld is 1:3 regardless of world size. It is not possible to change the size of a world after it has been created.

Unlike Legacy Console Edition, world size limits worlds are centered at the spawn point of the world seed, not centered at coordinate 0,0. Biome size is the same across all world sizes, matching that of default Pocket Edition worlds, unlike Legacy Console Edition where biome size scale can be changed independently of world size. Structure placement is also the same across world sizes.

Unlike the Nether and the Overworld, the End dimension is always centered at coordinate 0,0. This causes an invisible barrier to generate in the same location as the edge of the Overworld. In some cases, the barrier can cut through the central End island or outer End islands.

The map grid is not aligned to the world generation, unlike Legacy Console Edition, where its maps are aligned to world size.

World size	Overworld area/End area	Number of maps	Nether area	Outer End gateway coordinates
Small	672×672 blocks: 451,584 blocks 42×42 chunks: 1,764 chunks	~1-2	224×224 blocks: 50,176 blocks 14×14 chunks: 196 chunks	~256 blocks on both the X/Z axis in all four diagonal directions
Medium	1344×1344 blocks: 1,806,336 blocks 84×84 chunks: 7,056 chunks	~4-6	448×448 blocks: 200,704 blocks 28×28 chunks: 784 chunks	~368 blocks on both the X/Z axis in all four diagonal directions
Large	2016×2016 blocks: 4,064,256 blocks 126×126 chunks: 15,876 chunks	~4-6	672×672 blocks: 451,584 blocks 42×42 chunks: 1,764 chunks	~480 blocks on both the X/Z axis in all four diagonal directions

History

Java Edition Classic
0.0.12a							The Classic level format has a fixed area of 256×256 and a height of 64. The area outside the map is inaccessible.
0.0.12a							It is not possible to build against bedrock surrounding the map.
0.0.14a							At some point, map size selection added with Small (128×128), Normal (256×256), and Huge (512×512) options. The game can load maps with other dimensions, but the dimensions of a map can be changed only by externally editing the world file.
Java Edition Indev
0.31			20100106				Map shape added, which can alter the dimensions of a world beyond the map size.
Java Edition Infdev
20100227-1414							Map size and map shape effectively removed as the Indev level format has been replaced with the Alpha level format, which has infinite worlds.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
	CU1		1.00			1.0.1	Added Small, Medium, and Large world types. Large worlds are not available on Nintendo Switch Edition.
	CU1		1.00				The End dimension uses the same world sizes as the Nether dimension world sizes.
	CU6		1.11				Added World Resize option to expand smaller-sized worlds into larger-sized ones.
TU46	CU36	1.38	1.38	1.38	Patch 15		The End dimension has been downsized from previously using the Nether dimension world sizes for the single central island prior to this update. All End islands are now 192x192 block area centered at 0,0; with outer islands 2048 blocks away from the world origin in cardinal directions. Up to four outer End islands on consoles that support multiple world size options (Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch).
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							Added Small, Medium, and Large world types.

Gallery

Screenshots

Classic world type selected in the World Options menu in the Legacy Console Edition.
Small world type selected in the World Options menu in the Legacy Console Edition.
Medium world type selected in the World Options menu in the Legacy Console Edition.