Figured I'd throw some extra info out there, because I felt like it.
Major updates typically happen once a year, but upgrades are usually significantly cheaper than buying a new license.
You don't have to buy the new major version right away.. As mentioned, once you buy a version of MC, it is NOT a subscription, but a regular software purchase (you can keep using it as long as you want). Also, you are entitled to all of the "point release" updates they put out for that major version. Here on the forum (or with the auto-updater set to "latest") this will typically happen every 1-2 weeks or so. If that is bothering you too much, leave the auto-updater set to Stable and it'll only bother you to upgrade a handful of times each year.
Also, unlike
so many applications these days, it isn't "locked" to any particular PC install, so if you buy a new PC, you can keep using it there (and the
Library Backup makes it easy to transfer your stuff). In fact, you can even use your license to run MC on all of the PCs you own (within reason). Platforms are licensed separately (so you have to buy a separate Mac vs Windows license, or the Master License if you want to use both), but if you have a desktop computer, a laptop, and a HTPC? That's cool with one purchase.
Usually, when a new major version is just released, it will be virtually identical to "last year's" version. Improvements and new features are added over time. Sometimes the builds for the first couple of months are pretty rough as they add new features and break things. If you don't want to play in the "latest" end of the pool, hold tight with your version till things settle down.
Even after a new major version of MC is released, they usually will still push out a few new "point release" builds for the old version with bug fixes and odds-and-ends improvements. Don't expect major changes, but it isn't abandoned right away either. When the new version gets going well enough and is stable enough for most people to use it, they'll usually "retire" the old version and then all new development effort gets focused on the new one.
And that's how they build MC. They listen to us, and improve it little by little, year after year, following that pattern. It works. It makes amazing things.
