What's New in Minecraft Preview: Backpacks, Trials, and PS5 Testing

Minecraft Preview is getting some seriously cool additions right now. The Herschel Supply collaboration brings themed backpacks with Trials-based upgrades like Auto Sort and tool repair, while Mojang continues testing a native PS5 version. Here's what you need to know about what's coming.

The Herschel Supply Partnership

Look, I didn't expect a backpack company to make such a splash in Minecraft, but here we're. Mojang teamed up with Herschel Supply to create a new line of themed backpacks, and yes, you can actually use them in-game. Not just cosmetic skins or textures either, but actual functional backpacks with their own mechanics.

There are several designs to choose from. There's a bright green Creeper version that's instantly recognizable. There's an Enderman design with those purple eyes that somehow manage to be unsettling even in a Herschel backpack. And then there's the rare Herschel Little America Cube with a custom print designed to look like a dirt block. That one sold out in real life (which tells you something about how seriously Minecraft players take their merch), but you can grab all the designs in-game through the Minecraft Marketplace right now.

Here's what's interesting: this isn't just a cosmetic release. All of this comes via the Minecraft Marketplace as a free Trials Add-On. You can download it right now if you're running Minecraft Preview. The fact that it's free is worth noting. Mojang could've charged for this. Instead, they released it free and made the upgrades something you earn through gameplay.

The Trials System Explained

Before we talk about the backpack features specifically, let me explain what Trials actually are, because they're becoming more important to Minecraft's recent updates. Trials are basically combat challenges with specific mechanics. You enter a challenge arena, face mobs or hazards, and if you complete the trial successfully, you get rewards. Nothing revolutionary on paper, but the execution changes things.

The Herschel backpack integrates with Trials by offering upgrades as you complete challenges. It's a rewards system layered on top of the existing Trials mechanic. You're not just getting loot drops or experience; you're unlocking new functionality for your backpack. This creates a reason to keep engaging with Trials beyond just the inherent challenge.

I tested the system on my own SMP server, and the upgrade progression feels deliberate. You can't just get everything immediately. The backpack grows with you as you play, which gives it a sense of progression that's missing from a lot of cosmetic content.

What the Upgrades Do

Alright, so what are you unlocking? The first major upgrade is Auto Sort. When enabled, items automatically organize themselves when you place them in the backpack. This might sound minor, but if you've ever spent five minutes digging through your inventory looking for that one block type, you'll understand why this matters. It's especially useful when you're mining and grabbing everything.

Auto Restock is the second big one. Your hand automatically refills with matching items from the backpack when you're building. Think about how construction usually works: you place blocks, your hand empties, you open your inventory, grab more blocks, close inventory, repeat. Auto Restock cuts that process down significantly. You open your inventory maybe once per stack instead of once per 64 blocks.

The third feature is tool repair. This backpack actually repairs your tools as you travel and use them. This effectively gives you a Mending enchantment that works even without experience orbs nearby. It's not unlimited (the backpack needs proper maintenance I assume), but it's a significant quality of life improvement for mining trips and construction sessions.

And honestly? All three of these upgrades change how you approach the game. On my server, we tested this and everyone immediately wanted it enabled. It's not overpowered; it's just helpful in ways that vanilla Minecraft isn't. That's what Preview is for, though, so Mojang can see if these features break anything or trivialize certain gameplay aspects.

The PS5 Native Version Situation

Switch gears for a moment. While the backpack stuff is interesting, there's something bigger happening on the console side. Mojang is testing a native Minecraft version for PlayStation 5, and this is actually important.

Context time: Xbox Series X and S got native, optimized Minecraft with 4K 60fps support years ago. PS5 players got the PS4 version running on PS5 hardware. It works, sure, but it's not optimized for the actual console capabilities. That's been a sore point in the community for a while (and rightfully so).

Now Mojang is finally developing a native PS5 version. It's currently in experimental testing. That means it's still being refined before the full release later this year. The studio has been clear that they're treating this as a continuation of their 'make sure everyone has a great experience' initiative. They want to add the feature parity that Xbox has, plus any performance improvements that native development unlocks.

What does that actually mean? Better frame rates, more stable performance, faster loading times, and support for higher resolution settings. For PS5 players who've been waiting, this is legitimately good news.

Understanding Minecraft Preview Builds

So how do you actually get your hands on these features? Let me explain how Preview builds work, because a lot of people aren't sure about the difference between Preview and regular Minecraft.

Preview (or Bedrock Edition Preview on Windows, PlayStation Preview on PS5) is basically Minecraft's public testing program. Mojang releases new features and updates to Preview first, gathers feedback, fixes bugs, and then pushes to the full release once it's stable. Features can be experimental, partially finished, or even completely overhauled before they reach the main game.

On Windows, Preview is a separate app in the Microsoft Store. On PlayStation, it's usually an opt-in program (check your console settings). On other Bedrock platforms, there are similar testing programs. You run these builds, test features, report bugs, and help shape what makes it into the main game.

That's why the Herschel backpack is available as a Preview feature. Mojang wants to see how players use it, if the upgrades are balanced, and if the Trials integration works smoothly. Based on feedback from the Preview community, they might adjust, expand, or scale back features before full release.

Getting the Most Out of Testing

If you're going to test Preview features, there are a few things worth knowing. First, Preview builds aren't always stable. You might hit bugs, especially with new features. That's expected. Report them.

Second, if you're running a server or playing multiplayer, you'll want to make sure everything's working properly. Look, you can check your server health with our Minecraft Server Status Checker, which gives you real-time information about whether your server is responding correctly. Sometimes new features introduce connection issues or latency problems, so monitoring matters.

Third, if you're experiencing connection instability while testing, it might not be a feature issue at all. Our Free Minecraft DNS is optimized specifically to help stabilize connections to Minecraft servers. If you're seeing weird lag or timeout issues in Preview builds, it's worth trying.

None of these tools are required, but if you're serious about testing, they help you separate feature issues from infrastructure issues.

My Take on What's Coming

Here's my honest assessment of both of these Preview updates. The Herschel backpack is a solid feature disguised as a cosmetic collaboration. If you're a builder who spends half your time managing inventory, the upgrades are absolutely worth testing seriously. Auto Sort and Auto Restock actually change how you approach construction. You're less bogged down in inventory management and more focused on the actual creative process.

Is it overpowered? Maybe a bit. Auto Restock especially changes the economy of building. But that's information Mojang needs. If this makes it to the full release, that's the kind of feedback that would inform whether they adjust it, keep it as-is, or make it part of an optional datapack instead of core Minecraft.

The PS5 version is straightforward: it's good that it's happening, and console players deserve native optimization. This testing phase will probably reveal edge cases and stability issues that need fixing, but the direction is right. Parity with Xbox is the bare minimum for a current-gen version, and it's overdue.

Neither of these features is revolutionary. But together they represent Minecraft's incremental improvement approach: take what works, refine it, test it thoroughly, and ship it when it's ready. Test them if you can. Report issues. Let Mojang know what works and what doesn't. That's how games get better.