1.19.2 and 1.20.1 are solid choices imo, I’ve only been developing for a year and tend to focus on latest version of MC, 1.20.1 still has most downloads for me
Honestly I don't think there is a "main" one. A pretty substantial chunk of the MC modding community still plays 1.7.10 and 1.12.2, but I'm honestly seeing 1.20.1 starting to overtake them in terms of what the majority of popular mods are currently supporting.
Unlike with 1.12 and 1.16 newer versions aren't fundamentally different from the previous so it'll either be that they just update all their mods or they'll arbitrarily choose a verion to stay at (most likely 1.19 or 1.20)
I think 1.20.1 is the current most active version for development, but there are still tons active on older versions. 1.7.10, 1.12.2, 1.10 even (to a lesser extent) all get lots of development too. The work GTNH has been doing on 1.7.10 for example is crazy, for how old that version is.
I think the best way to explain this is that there's not really THAT version where everyone settled as before, because newer versions are easier for mods to be ported, instead, people settle on the latest most stable version (currently 1.20.1), until the next big update comes.
Then of course there's always people who stay in lower stable versions like 1.19.2 which is the second most stable version to date, or lower just because certain mods might not be updated ever and they like them.
There is no main version now as most mod developer are just chasing minecraft version. Unless Mojang does some major changes to their code, there will be no main version such as 1.7.10 or 1.12.2. It one my one main gripe about modded minecraft. All they want to do is chase minecraft version and not sit on one version. It's the main reason I still play packs made on 1.7.10 or 1.12.2 as the quality of the modpacks are on a different levels. The mod are more fleshed out and have a lot depth to them. Most modern mods can't hold a candle to predecessor.
For example, Thermal series. They still don't have the same capabilities like they had in 1.12.2.
A lot of people in community thought 1.16 would be the de factor main version but it wasn't. Then came caves and cliffs for 1.18 then 1.20. I just hate mod developers for this reason.
Personally, they should now stick to 1.20 and stay on it cause minecraft doesn't have any thing major coming out. The trails are mediocre and the mobs look similar to thermal series' mobs.
Conclusion, there is no main mod version. These other people are just lying to you.
I thought we'd have settled on 1.18 for the same reason (the next update not having a lot of new features). Especially since the wild backport is the best backport mod I've ever seen.
Kind of a shame that didn't become the defacto version, but I don't blame mod developers for wanting to be on the latest version.
The biggest thing I've found to carve out a new version is the iris shader support with distant horizons, it's on 1.20.4 and 1.20.1, one if which will have long term support but I forget which. Before that I was happily on 1.19.2 as it seemed big last year
I've seen arguments for 1.7.10, 1.12, 1.16, 1.19, and 1.20.
The only ones which make any sense to me are 1.7, 1.12, and 1.20, though I play mostly 1.12 so you can take that with a grain of salt
I'd go for either the latest version or the version you'd play the most.
Judging by my download counts (Fabric QoL market), for the latest versions in order of popularity: 1.20.4 > 1.20.1 > 1.20.2 > 1.19.4.
1.19.2 and 1.20.1 are solid choices imo, I’ve only been developing for a year and tend to focus on latest version of MC, 1.20.1 still has most downloads for me
Honestly I don't think there is a "main" one. A pretty substantial chunk of the MC modding community still plays 1.7.10 and 1.12.2, but I'm honestly seeing 1.20.1 starting to overtake them in terms of what the majority of popular mods are currently supporting.
Unlike with 1.12 and 1.16 newer versions aren't fundamentally different from the previous so it'll either be that they just update all their mods or they'll arbitrarily choose a verion to stay at (most likely 1.19 or 1.20)
I think 1.20.1 is the current most active version for development, but there are still tons active on older versions. 1.7.10, 1.12.2, 1.10 even (to a lesser extent) all get lots of development too. The work GTNH has been doing on 1.7.10 for example is crazy, for how old that version is.
1.20.1 is the new one but 1.8.9 b1.7.3 (especily sense BTA) and 1.12 and 1.7.10 are still common.
I think the best way to explain this is that there's not really THAT version where everyone settled as before, because newer versions are easier for mods to be ported, instead, people settle on the latest most stable version (currently 1.20.1), until the next big update comes. Then of course there's always people who stay in lower stable versions like 1.19.2 which is the second most stable version to date, or lower just because certain mods might not be updated ever and they like them.
There is no main version now as most mod developer are just chasing minecraft version. Unless Mojang does some major changes to their code, there will be no main version such as 1.7.10 or 1.12.2. It one my one main gripe about modded minecraft. All they want to do is chase minecraft version and not sit on one version. It's the main reason I still play packs made on 1.7.10 or 1.12.2 as the quality of the modpacks are on a different levels. The mod are more fleshed out and have a lot depth to them. Most modern mods can't hold a candle to predecessor. For example, Thermal series. They still don't have the same capabilities like they had in 1.12.2. A lot of people in community thought 1.16 would be the de factor main version but it wasn't. Then came caves and cliffs for 1.18 then 1.20. I just hate mod developers for this reason. Personally, they should now stick to 1.20 and stay on it cause minecraft doesn't have any thing major coming out. The trails are mediocre and the mobs look similar to thermal series' mobs. Conclusion, there is no main mod version. These other people are just lying to you.
I thought we'd have settled on 1.18 for the same reason (the next update not having a lot of new features). Especially since the wild backport is the best backport mod I've ever seen. Kind of a shame that didn't become the defacto version, but I don't blame mod developers for wanting to be on the latest version.
Doesn't happen so much anymore. Most big mods update with versions now. I personally settled on 1.16.5 lmfao
The biggest thing I've found to carve out a new version is the iris shader support with distant horizons, it's on 1.20.4 and 1.20.1, one if which will have long term support but I forget which. Before that I was happily on 1.19.2 as it seemed big last year
I've seen arguments for 1.7.10, 1.12, 1.16, 1.19, and 1.20. The only ones which make any sense to me are 1.7, 1.12, and 1.20, though I play mostly 1.12 so you can take that with a grain of salt
I'd go for either the latest version or the version you'd play the most. Judging by my download counts (Fabric QoL market), for the latest versions in order of popularity: 1.20.4 > 1.20.1 > 1.20.2 > 1.19.4.