There are two Minecrafts. Java Edition runs on PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) and is the one with the huge modding and plugin scene. Bedrock Edition runs on phones, tablets, consoles, and as the Windows 10/11 app, and is built on a completely different codebase. They are not the same game under the hood, and that has real consequences for servers.
Why they can’t just play together
Because the two editions are separate codebases, they speak different network protocols - a Bedrock client can’t connect to a Java server any more than a web browser can open an email as a website. They also differ in the details: redstone timing, combat, some blocks and mechanics behave differently. A world isn’t directly portable between them either.
What Geyser does
Geyser is a clever bridge that translates between the two protocols, letting Bedrock players join a Java server as if they were Java clients; a companion called Floodgate lets them do so without needing a Java account. It works well for vanilla-ish gameplay, though the mechanical differences mean it isn’t perfect. Crucially, Geyser needs its own public network port (Bedrock uses UDP) exposed for the server.
What this means on Levyathan today
Levyathan hosts Java Edition servers, and anyone on Java Edition - on any operating system - can join by default. For crossplay, pick the "Paper + Geyser" server type when creating your server: it bundles Geyser and Floodgate automatically, and allocates a dedicated Bedrock connection port for you (visible in the Settings tab once the server exists). Bedrock, mobile and console players connect using that address - not your normal Java address - and don’t need a linked Java account to join, thanks to Floodgate.
Which should your friends use?
Create your server as "Paper + Geyser" if any of your friends are on Bedrock, mobile, or console - everyone else on Java joins normally, and Bedrock players use the separate crossplay address from the Settings tab. For a purely Bedrock-only group, a Bedrock-native host is still a reasonable alternative, but crossplay with a mix of Java and Bedrock players works today.