Minecraft had a launcher before Microsoft bought them, but like OP mentioned, it's mainly for mods/easily install modpacks. Never heard of PolyMC, but I also haven't played Minecraft since 1.17.10, really. Always used MultiMC.
PolyMC is a fork from MultiMC when MultiMC announced they couldn't download modpacks anymore. Individual mods are still fine, but full modpacks became impossible. PolyMC just went 'Fuck that noise' and continued on.
Some copyright issue? How lame. The modding scene, from what I can tell, has gone to complete shit. 1.17.10 was the golden age, IMO. It lasted for so long. Now, there's a new version of Minecraft out like every other week. It's ridiculous.
The PC version of minecraft is so heavily modded that launchers are often needed to sort out which mods and modpacks are being used to integrate with the Java version.
I find that I have to use one if I want to play with friends just so that we can ensure we're using the correct versions of the correct mods and these launchers make it fairly easy.
Why does Minecraft need a launcher? I thought Microsoft made one when they bought it.
Mod management.
Minecraft had a launcher before Microsoft bought them, but like OP mentioned, it's mainly for mods/easily install modpacks. Never heard of PolyMC, but I also haven't played Minecraft since 1.17.10, really. Always used MultiMC.
PolyMC is a fork from MultiMC when MultiMC announced they couldn't download modpacks anymore. Individual mods are still fine, but full modpacks became impossible. PolyMC just went 'Fuck that noise' and continued on.
Some copyright issue? How lame. The modding scene, from what I can tell, has gone to complete shit. 1.17.10 was the golden age, IMO. It lasted for so long. Now, there's a new version of Minecraft out like every other week. It's ridiculous.
The PC version of minecraft is so heavily modded that launchers are often needed to sort out which mods and modpacks are being used to integrate with the Java version.
I find that I have to use one if I want to play with friends just so that we can ensure we're using the correct versions of the correct mods and these launchers make it fairly easy.