Player Companions: Bringing Loyal Sidekicks to Your Minecraft World
Ever wished you had a faithful little friend trotting beside you while you explore distant biomes or mine deep underground? The Player Companions mod adds exactly that—adorable, interactive creatures that follow you on your adventures and bring a new layer of personality to your single-player worlds or multiplayer servers. Whether you're building a cozy farm or braving the Nether, these companions turn a lonely blocky journey into a shared experience.
What Is the Player Companions Mod?
Player Companions is a Minecraft mod designed to give you animal sidekicks that travel, idle, and react alongside your character. Unlike passive mobs that wander aimlessly, these companions are tied to you, offering a sense of camaraderie without altering core game mechanics like crafting or combat balance. The mod has been around for several versions, but the latest 7.x release marks a complete rewrite—a fresh foundation built from the ground up. This means a cleaner codebase, smoother performance, and a more intentional approach to companion behavior, though it also brings some important changes you need to know before updating.
What's New in the 7.x Beta
The 7.x branch is currently in beta and represents a new generation of the mod. Before you jump in, keep these critical points in mind: 7.x is not compatible with any 6.x or older versions. Your existing companion data from previous saves is not guaranteed to carry over, and companions you had before may be lost after updating. Always create a full backup of your worlds, servers, or modpacks before testing the beta. For extra safety, try it in a completely separate Minecraft instance first.
Current Companion Creatures
The beta intentionally launches with a limited roster while the new foundation stabilizes. Right now, you can befriend three companions:
- Pig companion – a cheerful, oinking pal that waddles behind you and sniffs out adventure.
- Rooster companion – a proud, early-rising bird that struts at your side and adds farmyard charm.
- Small Slime companion – a bouncy, translucent cube that leaves a tiny trail of goo as it hops along.
Each companion has its own movement patterns and idle animations, making them feel alive without overwhelming the game. More companions are planned for future updates as the rewrite matures.
How to Safely Test the Beta
Because this is a beta, a careful approach saves heartache. Start by backing up your entire saves folder and any server data. If you use a modpack, duplicate the instance before swapping versions. Testing in a separate creative world is the best way to see how the new companions behave without risking your long-term survival progress. For those who prefer a streamlined experience, the mod can be easily installed via the foxygame.net launcher—a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu. This makes spinning up a dedicated test instance incredibly quick, so you can try the pig, rooster, and slime companions without touching your main setup.
Legacy Features from Older Versions
Veteran players might remember that the 6.x releases included a wider range of companions and extra systems like inventory interaction or simple commands. Those features are not present in the 7.x beta yet. The developer has noted that some legacy content may return later, but the current focus is rebuilding the core architecture. If you rely on specific older companions, consider staying on a 6.x version until the beta expands. Treat the 7.x branch as a separate mod for now—it shares the same name but is built on a completely new framework.
Reporting Issues and Feedback
Beta testing thrives on player feedback. If you encounter bugs, crashes, or odd behavior, the mod author asks that you provide the exact mod version, your Minecraft version, the mod loader you use (Forge, Fabric, etc.), clear steps to reproduce the problem, and any relevant logs or crash reports. You can submit these details through the mod's GitHub issues page. Detailed reports help shape the stable release and bring back the features we all loved from earlier versions.
Conclusion: A New Generation of Companions
Player Companions 7.x is a bold restart that promises a more reliable and expandable companion system for future Minecraft updates. While the current beta feels slim with only three creatures, the fresh codebase sets the stage for richer interactions and smoother integration with other mods and mechanics. Whether you're a builder who wants a pig by your side while constructing a castle, or an explorer who enjoys the bounce of a slime through dark caves, these little sidekicks remind us that even a blocky world feels warmer with a friend. Just remember to back up your worlds, treat the beta as experimental, and keep an eye on future updates as the roster grows.