Player object text components in server status messages (MotD) are no longer replaced by fallback text

Thank you for helping us improve Minecraft! We saved your files:

Can confirm:

How to Reproduce:

• Make sure you have Python installed

• Save this following script as a .py file:

  import socket
  import json
  
  def encode_varint(value):
      result = bytearray()
      while True:
          byte = value & 0x7F
          value >>= 7
          if value != 0:
              byte |= 0x80
          result.append(byte)
          if value == 0:
              break
      return bytes(result)
  
  def decode_varint(data, pos=0):
      result = 0
      shift = 0
      while pos < len(data):
          byte = data[pos]
          pos += 1
          result |= (byte & 0x7F) << shift
          shift += 7
          if not (byte & 0x80):
              return result, pos
      raise ValueError("Ran out of data reading VarInt")
  
  def encode_string(text):
      encoded = text.encode('utf-8')
      return encode_varint(len(encoded)) + encoded
  
  def build_packet(packet_id, data=b''):
      id_bytes = encode_varint(packet_id)
      content = id_bytes + data
      return encode_varint(len(content)) + content
  
  def recv_exact(sock, n):
      data = b''
      while len(data) < n:
          chunk = sock.recv(n - len(data))
          if not chunk:
              raise ConnectionError("Client disconnected early")
          data += chunk
      return data
  
  def recv_packet(sock):
      length_bytes = bytearray()
      while True:
          byte = recv_exact(sock, 1)[0]
          length_bytes.append(byte)
          if not (byte & 0x80):
              break
          if len(length_bytes) >= 5:
              raise ValueError("VarInt too long")
      length, _ = decode_varint(bytes(length_bytes))
      content = recv_exact(sock, length)
      packet_id, offset = decode_varint(content)
      payload = content[offset:]
      return packet_id, payload
  
  STATUS_JSON = {
      "description": [
          {"player": {"name": "alex"}},
          {"sprite": "block/stone"}
      ],
      "players": {"max": 20, "online": 0},
      "version": {"name": "26.1 Pre-Release 2", "protocol": 1073742123},
      "enforcesSecureChat": True
  }
  
  def handle_client(conn, addr):
      print(f"\n[+] Client connected from {addr}")
      try:
          packet_id, payload = recv_packet(conn)
          if packet_id != 0x00:
              return
          pos = 0
          protocol_ver, pos = decode_varint(payload, pos)
          addr_len, pos = decode_varint(payload, pos)
          server_addr = payload[pos:pos + addr_len].decode('utf-8')
          pos += addr_len
          server_port = int.from_bytes(payload[pos:pos+2], 'big')
          pos += 2
          next_state, pos = decode_varint(payload, pos)
          if next_state != 1:
              return
          packet_id, _ = recv_packet(conn)
          json_str = json.dumps(STATUS_JSON)
          response_packet = build_packet(0x00, encode_string(json_str))
          conn.sendall(response_packet)
          print(f"    Payload sent: {json_str}")
          try:
              packet_id, ping_payload = recv_packet(conn)
              if packet_id == 0x01:
                  conn.sendall(build_packet(0x01, ping_payload))
          except Exception:
              pass
      except Exception as e:
          print(f"    Error: {e}")
      finally:
          conn.close()
          print(f"[-] Client disconnected.")
  
  def main():
      server = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
      server.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_REUSEADDR, 1)
      server.bind(('0.0.0.0', 25565))
      server.listen(5)
      print("Mock server running on port 25565. Add 127.0.0.1 in Minecraft.")
      print("Press Ctrl+C to stop.")
      try:
          while True:
              conn, addr = server.accept()
              handle_client(conn, addr)
      except KeyboardInterrupt:
          print("\nStopped.")
      finally:
          server.close()
  
  if __name__ == '__main__':
      main()

• Open Command Prompt or Powershell and run the .py file: python _.py

• Launch Minecraft Java Edition 26.1 Pre Release 2

• Go to Multiplayer and add the following server address: 127.0.0.1

• Click done and observe the MOTD displayed under the server name in the list.

Expected Result:

• {"player": {"name": "alex"}} should render as fallback text ([alex]), as player objects are no longer permitted in Motd’s

• {"sprite": "block/stone"} should render as a visible block sprite icon.
  

Observed Result:

• {"player": {"name": "alex"}} renders as a player head sprite, it is not being blocked as the changelog states it should be

• {"sprite": "block/stone"} renders as the fallback text [block/stone], the sprite is not rendering.