• Dynamic arenas now use their saved world border and fresh world template automatically.
• Removed manual bounds and block regeneration requirements from dynamic arena setup.
• Fixed fake spectators being able to interact with players, inventories, or the arena world.
• Fixed fake spectators being able to take damage.
• Fixed fake spectators dying or leaving the arena when falling into the void.
• Fixed fake spectators remaining hidden or able to fly after a game ends.
• Fixed the spectator play again item saying the player was already in a game.
• Fixed ranking placeholders showing unknown player names after a server restart.
• Fixed the dynamic arena setup scoreboard showing raw placeholder text.
• Fixed dynamic arenas refusing to enable a game with a world not configured warning even after completing all setup steps.

• Updated support for Spigot/Paper 26.2. Current compatibility status:
  • Scoreboards are functional again.
  • GlowingEntities is still disabled until the external library is updated.
• Fixed module language migration so customized old language.yml values are preserved when updating modules that already include language/en.yml.
• Fixed arena inventory restoration after leaving, disconnecting, or rejoining, with safer pending restore handling.
• Fixed achievements.yml restoring removed achievement sections after admins customize the file.

API CHANGES

• Added module setup metadata APIs so modules can describe their install requirements, setup steps, setup commands, and setup status checks for admin tools.
• Added PersistentPlayerDataAPI for module-scoped player data that can be saved between sessions.
• Added LanguageAPI for locale-aware module translations, including translated string and list lookup, placeholders, locale checks, and available locale listing.
• Added ModuleAPI.getPersistentPlayerDataAPI() and ModuleAPI.getLanguageAPI().
• Added GameContext.getPersistentPlayerDataAPI() and GameContext.getLanguageAPI().
• Added GameContext.setPlayerSpectating(P, boolean) and GameContext.isPlayerSpectating(P) so modules can use Core-managed spectator behavior instead of relying on native platform spectator mode.
• Added ModuleConfigAPI translation helpers such as getTranslation(...) and getTranslationList(...), so modules can read their translated messages through the standard config API.
• Added GameModule.requiresSpawnCapacityValidation() so modules that do not use one spawn per maximum player can opt out of the default enable check.
• Deprecated ModuleConfigAPI.register(String, int). Use ModuleConfigAPI.register(String) instead. The old method remains available so 3.3 modules keep working.
• All API additions are source-compatible with existing 3.3 modules.
• Modules that directly used native Minecraft spectator mode should migrate to GameContext.setPlayerSpectating(P, true) so the - Core can apply spectator behavior consistently. For compatibility, 3.3 and older modules that set players to Minecraft spectator mode are adapted to the new fake spectator system at runtime.

CORE CHANGES

• Added a new multilingual system for Minecraft with per-player language detection, /ba lang, split language folders, automatic migration from old language.yml files, translated Core menus/items/store/achievements/signs, and module locale files.
• Added /baa arena status and /baa game <game_id> status to help admins review arena and module setup progress.
• Added an experimental static to dynamic arena migrator with /baa migrate <arena_id>, plus a startup notice and migration rationale at https://blueva.net/docs/blue-arcade/dynamic-arenas.
• Added /baa module help <module_id> for module-provided setup guidance.
• Dynamic setup scoreboards can now show module-provided setup step labels, expected inputs, and setup status checks.
• Game enable validation now checks spawn capacity against arena maximum players by default, while modules can opt out when their game does not require one spawn per player.
• Improved dynamic arena block handling so saved setup world block patterns resolve correctly in the active runtime world.
• Improved spectator mode with a fake spectator state, allowing spectators to use configured inventory items such as player teleport, stats, play again, leave, and store shortcuts.
• Empty raw module messages are now skipped consistently.

• Added a dynamic arena setup scoreboard that shows pending setup steps and the values already configured.
• Added optional proxy game server world preloading to reduce first join spikes when players are sent to arenas.
• Improved dynamic arena setup border detection so border changes appear much faster while building.
• Fixed dynamic arena setup not always keeping builders in Creative Mode when entering a setup world.
• Fixed dynamic arena world borders changing during matches instead of keeping the border saved during setup.
• Fixed console run quickjoin commands repeatedly telling the target player they are already in an arena.
• Fixed store category commands with a selected subcategory opening the parent category selector instead.
• Fixed the nonexistent /baa goto command appearing in admin command suggestions.
• Fixed waiting room items disappearing when joining arenas in another world while using world inventory plugins.
• Fixed core preparing player inventory and state before world inventory plugins could save the previous world state.
• Fixed saved core inventories overwriting inventories already restored by world inventory plugins.
• Fixed new dynamic arenas starting with default player limits already configured.
• Fixed dynamic arena setup allowing admins to advance before completing all required setup steps.

• Added support for Spigot/Paper 26.2. Current temporary limitations:
  • Scoreboards are disabled (until the external library is updated◊)
  • Teammate glow is disabled (until the external library is updated◊)
• Fixed shared winners not always receiving rewards.
• Fixed dynamic arenas on Paper 26.1 sometimes sending players to an empty void world or failing to load saved lobby worlds correctly.
• Fixed arena countdowns briefly showing the full waiting time before immediately switching to the faster start countdown.
• Fixed dynamic arenas reusing a modified world when the same minigame is selected in multiple rounds.
• Removed an unnecessary startup warning about missing in-game items.

◊ We are moving more compatibility work into our own bundled BlueAPI layer, so BlueArcade no longer has to depend on or wait for external libraries after Minecraft updates. BlueAPI will be included with the plugins, not installed separately. These changes will start being implemented from the next version.

• NEW MINIGAME: Speed Builders - Memorize the build, replicate it as fast as possible, and survive each round. The player with the lowest accuracy is eliminated until one champion remains - https://blueva.net/store/blue-arcade/modules/speed_builders
• New arenas are now created as dynamic by default when no arena type is specified.
• Reworked proxy mode so lobby servers can list arenas from shared game servers and send players with /ba join server:arena.
• Added new Redis and MySQL/MariaDB messaging options alongside socket mode.
• Added shared database profiles so stats sync and proxy SQL messaging can use the same database connection.
• Added configurable table prefixes for stats database tables.
• Added extra protection to keep user edited YAML files.
• Added a disabled state for join signs when their arena or proxy arena is unavailable.
• Improved the join menu so party arenas appear as one Party Games entry, and single category setups open the arena list directly.
• Fixed join menu category clicks in proxy lobbies.
• Fixed join signs showing Restarting too early when an arena is still in the finishing phase.