In this episode of Realm News Podcast, we sit down with the talented Mickey Joe, a pixel artist and YouTuber from the Netherlands, to dive deep into the colorful world of Minecraft. Join us as Mickey Joe shares his journey as a content creator, his passion for Minecraft modding, and the artistry behind pixel art.

We explore the evolution of Minecraft's texture packs and resource features, reflect on the game's cultural impact, and discuss the creative tools that fuel the community. Plus, hear our take on the direction of official game updates, community feedback, and exciting possibilities like copper and steel materials. This episode blends technical insights with heartfelt stories and creative philosophies; perfect for any Minecraft enthusiast!

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“Mickey Joe Alpha.” YouTube, www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ygfoH6_Y8FJt8j63KMCHA. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

“Mickey Joe’s “Barely Default” - Minecraft Resource Pack.” Modrinth, 2026, modrinth.com/resourcepack/mickey-joes-relatively-improved-default/versions. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

MickeyJoe. ““Barely Default” by Mickey Joe.” CurseForge, 2026, www.curseforge.com/minecraft/texture-packs/mickey-joes-relatively-improved-default. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

---. “Barely Default Pack Update V19 - Minecraft 1.21.11.” Youtu.be, 2026, youtu.be/zrCjqzF4aLk?si=MvrKTkSl2gPtejAl. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

---. X (Formerly Twitter), 2026, x.com/MushirMickeyJoe?s=20. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Https://Docs.google.com/Document/D/1kSjHyrZ60fVfBGip9Ho6QbFmMZ1CCtDfqIQLVj4hFvM/Edit?Pli=1&Tab=T.ozo3c9j31537.

In this episode of Realm News Flash, The Dark Lord dives into the controversial launch of osu.ai, a generative AI tool developed by TSM that automates Minecraft builds, raising concerns over the erosion of creativity in gaming. The episode also explores TSM's shift from esports to SaaS models following financial struggles post-FTX collapse. Additionally, the show uncovers a troubling issue with Minecraft Realms double-charging customers for years. Wrapping up, there's an engaging sneak peek of an upcoming interview with pixel artist and Minecraft content creator Mickey Joe, discussing his creative journey and insights into the Minecraft community.

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Work Cited

Andrew (Toycat). “Realms Scam.” X (Formerly Twitter), 2026, x.com/ibxtoycat/status/2022724234078740603?s=20. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

ArmFlambe. “Realms Basically Double Charged Me for a Subscription.” Reddit.com, 2020, www.reddit.com/r/realms/comments/exv75x/realms_basically_double_charged_me_for_/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Dong, Ke. “After the Glory Days: Exploring the Continuing Challenges and Declining Performance of TSM.” https://www.researchgate.net/Publication/383328322_After_the_Glory_Days_Exploring_the_Continuing_Challenges_and_Declining_Performance_of_TSM, 2024, www.researchgate.net/publication/383328322_After_the_Glory_Days_Exploring_the_Continuing_Challenges_and_Declining_Performance_of_TSM.

“How to Pronounce Osu - Google Search.” Google.com, 2023, www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=how+to+pronounce+osu&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

“Lucy 2.0 Demo | Decart AI.” Decart.ai, 2026, lucy.decart.ai. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Nicholson, Jonno. “TSM Launches AI-Powered Minecraft Building App.” Esports Insider, 13 Feb. 2026, esportsinsider.com/2026/02/tsm-ai-minecraft-building-app-launch. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

“Oasis 2.0.” Decart.ai, 2026, oasis2.decart.ai. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

osu.ai. X (Formerly Twitter), 2026, x.com/OSUAIapp?s=20. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

“OSU: Type It. Build It. Play It.” Osu.ai, 2026, osu.ai. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

r/antiai. “There’s Now AI That Creates Minecraft Builds Now…” Reddit.com, 2026, www.reddit.com/r/antiai/comments/1r3i8ke/there’s_now_ai_that_creates_minecraft_builds_now/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

TSM. “Owns Osu.ai.” X (Formerly Twitter), 2026, x.com/TSM?s=20. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Vignesh Raghuram. “TSM Launches AI Minecraft App That Builds Structures Automatically | Outlook Respawn.” Outlook Respawn, 15 Feb. 2026, respawn.outlookindia.com/gaming/gaming-news/tsm-osuai-minecraft-ai-app-automatic-builds. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Join me in the latest dystopian story created by yours truly. This story falls in with the Copperverse that I have created starting with Copper Bot.

Description:

In a world where optimism is mandatory, Employee 2487’s life revolves around digging for copper and reporting his daily "level of optimism." A routine performance review triggers revelations about labor, compliance, and autonomy’s erosion. This dystopian tale explores how hope can be weaponized, reducing people to mere metrics within the Copperverse.
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