

So, the server core will be on 1.12 and new features of this version would be unlocked on the server side.

If an issue with PVP will be resolved just I like said above, we may switch higher version (most likely 1.12 as it's the most stable) but will keep the ability to join from lower version starts with 1.8. We also might make as many tweaks as possible to make it work like 1.8 is used to be. I'm not really quite sure in that but I assume it is will work like that. However, if we will remember that Mineplex uses custom PVP system which doesn't work like vanilla mechanics and most likely we won't notice all these combat issues after switching to high version because the vanilla system will be replaced with Mineplex's. A lot of people are used to 1.8 PVP and don't want to learn new 1.9 mechanics. I'd definitely agree that Mineplex should switch on high version but this decision can cause a lot of complications by players due to PVP issues and information mods. To sum up the situation, swapping to the higher versions of Minecraft is not out of the question or at least it wasn't a few years ago. In today's age, that number could have changed, with the release of 1.12 Labymod the number could have shifted more in the newer versions favor but with the Badlion client, that number could have shaken up again. Back then (this is the don't quote me part) I am pretty certain that they said around 65% of players were using a client that was 1.9 or above, even though this is the majority it is still too low of a percentage and they want to wait until that number is pretty much 100% for obvious reasons. The issue is with the number of people using those versions to see if it would be worth dropping 1.8 support. There would be new mechanics like the levitation potion or the elytra and of course, all the new blocks come with that. Of course, moving to newer versions of the game would unlock so many features which would help the server stand out among the competition. Don't quote me on this, but I am pretty sure this was answered two years ago at an Owner/Admin QnA on the Mineplex Twitch.
