Welcome to another instalment of Podcrash Dev Diaries!
This time, we sit down with the Lead Developer and Lead Artist behind our latest Add-On, BOATS, to talk about how the Add-On came together, the challenges along the way, and what surprised them most during development.
Joining us are Ilija, Lead Developer on BOATS, and Bojan, Lead Artist on BOATS.
My name is Ilija, and I am a Bedrock developer here at Podcrash.
When did you first join Podcrash?
I joined Podcrash in March 2025. BOATS is actually the first Add-On where I have been the lead developer. Before this, I worked on the MACHINES update, which is planned to release in early 2026.
How long have you been playing Minecraft?
I have been playing Minecraft since 2012, starting with version 1.3.1.
What was the first idea that sparked the creation of BOATS?
After the huge success of TRAINS, someone on the team floated the idea of a BOATS Add-On. Early in development, we quickly realised how many fun possibilities could come from it.
Which vessel or system was the most technically challenging to develop?
Probably the freighter. The vessel is made up of two parts, the ship itself and the container. Each part can be recolored independently, which is very unique for a Minecraft entity. It required two different models, and as you fill the container, the model updates to show more boxes inside.
How did you approach connecting BOATS with other Podcrash Add-Ons like TRAINS?
We started by identifying which systems needed to work together, with fuel being the first. From there, we had the idea to load and unload boats using cranes. Once we realised how cool it would be to transfer goods into other vehicles, we worked closely with the TRAINS developers to integrate this. That integration was released as part of the TRAINS Urban Update, so when BOATS launches, cranes will already support loading and unloading from TRAINS.
Which feature are you personally most proud of?
I am proud of the Add-On as a whole. Early on, we wanted boat collision to feel as accurate and reliable as possible. To achieve this, we developed a system using an invisible collision entity that rides along with the boat. It is a very unique solution, and I am really proud of how it turned out.
What was the most unexpected problem you ran into during testing?
The custom riding animation for the Seaglider. It was very temperamental and would randomly stop and start! It worked perfectly on my device, but several testers experienced issues. I had to fix it almost blindly since I could not reproduce the problem directly, but I managed to resolve it in the end.
Another funny bug was that the Cargo Crane would sometimes infinitely spin around without the ability to stop it!
What is next for BOATS?
We have lots of cool ideas and hope the community shares plenty of suggestions. I think expanding the boat roster and adding more underwater exploration would be amazing, but we will have to see what the future holds!
My name is Bojan, and I am the Lead Artist at Podcrash.
How long have you been playing Minecraft?
I have been playing Minecraft since around 2010, when multiplayer was first introduced.
What visual theme guided the overall look of the BOATS Add-On?
We wanted to cover a wide range of styles, drawing inspiration from both historical and modern vessels. The goal was to create designs that feel familiar while still fitting naturally into Minecraft.
Which vessel was your favorite to design and why?
Probably the freighter, since it was the first design I worked on for BOATS. It helped establish the visual direction and groundwork for the rest of the Add-On.
Which vessel or system was the most technically challenging to design?
The Fluid Crane was definitely the most challenging. It required a very different design approach compared to other models. We went through many concepts and iterations, working closely with multiple artists on the team. It went through a lot of prototypes before we landed on the final design.
Another challenging one was the mob boat. We explored several designs to make sure the ‘cage’ was large enough for animals to feel comfortable while remaining practical and functional.
Which model took the longest to make?
The pirate ship took the longest. A lot of time went into perfecting the silhouette, so it is easily recognisable across the ocean. The color design also required extra care, with intricate details inspired by pop culture.
Which model are you the proudest of?
The oil tanker stands out to me. Its design is very functional while maintaining a clean silhouette. It does not sacrifice visual appeal, even with all of its practical elements.
BOATS is available now on the Minecraft Marketplace.
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