diff --git a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/default.nix b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/default.nix
index 02054f1ad8b5..f1ab122ffe0e 100644
--- a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/default.nix
@@ -1,40 +1,17 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, nixosTests, jre_headless }:
-stdenv.mkDerivation {
-  pname = "minecraft-server";
-  version = "1.18.1";
+{ callPackage, lib }:
+# if you add more versions make sure to add to all-packages.nix
+let
+  versions = lib.importJSON ./versions.json;
+  latestVersion = lib.last (builtins.sort lib.versionOlder (builtins.attrNames versions));
+  escapeVersion = builtins.replaceStrings [ "." ] [ "_" ];
 
-  src = fetchurl {
-    url = "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/125e5adf40c659fd3bce3e66e67a16bb49ecc1b9/server.jar";
-    # sha1 because that comes from mojang via api
-    sha1 = "125e5adf40c659fd3bce3e66e67a16bb49ecc1b9";
-  };
-
-  preferLocalBuild = true;
-
-  installPhase = ''
-    mkdir -p $out/bin $out/lib/minecraft
-    cp -v $src $out/lib/minecraft/server.jar
-
-    cat > $out/bin/minecraft-server << EOF
-    #!/bin/sh
-    exec ${jre_headless}/bin/java \$@ -jar $out/lib/minecraft/server.jar nogui
-    EOF
-
-    chmod +x $out/bin/minecraft-server
-  '';
-
-  dontUnpack = true;
-
-  passthru = {
-    tests = { inherit (nixosTests) minecraft-server; };
-    updateScript = ./update.sh;
-  };
-
-  meta = with lib; {
-    description = "Minecraft Server";
-    homepage = "https://minecraft.net";
-    license = licenses.unfreeRedistributable;
-    platforms = platforms.unix;
-    maintainers = with maintainers; [ thoughtpolice tomberek costrouc ];
-  };
+  packages = lib.mapAttrs'
+    (version: value: {
+      name = "minecraft-server_${escapeVersion version}";
+      value = callPackage ./derivation.nix { inherit (value) version url sha1; };
+    })
+    versions;
+in
+packages // {
+  minecraft-server = builtins.getAttr "minecraft-server_${escapeVersion latestVersion}" packages;
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/derivation.nix b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/derivation.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8f0d5a02a838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/derivation.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, nixosTests, jre_headless, version, url, sha1 }:
+stdenv.mkDerivation {
+  pname = "minecraft-server";
+  inherit version;
+
+  src = fetchurl { inherit url sha1; };
+
+  preferLocalBuild = true;
+
+  installPhase = ''
+    mkdir -p $out/bin $out/lib/minecraft
+    cp -v $src $out/lib/minecraft/server.jar
+
+    cat > $out/bin/minecraft-server << EOF
+    #!/bin/sh
+    exec ${jre_headless}/bin/java \$@ -jar $out/lib/minecraft/server.jar nogui
+    EOF
+
+    chmod +x $out/bin/minecraft-server
+  '';
+
+  dontUnpack = true;
+
+  passthru = {
+    tests = { inherit (nixosTests) minecraft-server; };
+    updateScript = ./update.py;
+  };
+
+  meta = with lib; {
+    description = "Minecraft Server";
+    homepage = "https://minecraft.net";
+    license = licenses.unfreeRedistributable;
+    platforms = platforms.unix;
+    maintainers = with maintainers; [ thoughtpolice tomberek costrouc ];
+  };
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/update.py b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/update.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..ef54bcae6d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/update.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env nix-shell
+#!nix-shell -i python3 -p python3Packages.requests python3Packages.dataclasses-json
+
+import json
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
+
+import requests
+from dataclasses_json import DataClassJsonMixin, LetterCase, config
+from marshmallow import fields
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Download(DataClassJsonMixin):
+    sha1: str
+    size: int
+    url: str
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Version(DataClassJsonMixin):
+    id: str
+    type: str
+    url: str
+    time: datetime = field(
+        metadata=config(
+            encoder=datetime.isoformat,
+            decoder=datetime.fromisoformat,
+            mm_field=fields.DateTime(format="iso"),
+        )
+    )
+    release_time: datetime = field(
+        metadata=config(
+            encoder=datetime.isoformat,
+            decoder=datetime.fromisoformat,
+            mm_field=fields.DateTime(format="iso"),
+            letter_case=LetterCase.CAMEL,
+        )
+    )
+
+    def get_manifest(self) -> Any:
+        """Return the version's manifest."""
+        response = requests.get(self.url)
+        response.raise_for_status()
+        return response.json()
+
+    def get_downloads(self) -> Dict[str, Download]:
+        """
+        Return all downloadable files from the version's manifest, in Download
+        objects.
+        """
+        return {
+            download_name: Download.from_dict(download_info)
+            for download_name, download_info in self.get_manifest()["downloads"].items()
+        }
+
+    def get_server(self) -> Optional[Download]:
+        """
+        If the version has a server download available, return the Download
+        object for the server download. If the version does not have a server
+        download avilable, return None.
+        """
+        downloads = self.get_downloads()
+        if "server" in downloads:
+            return downloads["server"]
+        return None
+
+
+def get_versions() -> List[Version]:
+    """Return a list of Version objects for all available versions."""
+    response = requests.get(
+        "https://launchermeta.mojang.com/mc/game/version_manifest.json"
+    )
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    data = response.json()
+    return [Version.from_dict(version) for version in data["versions"]]
+
+
+def get_major_release(version_id: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Return the major release for a version. The major release for 1.17 and
+    1.17.1 is 1.17.
+    """
+    if not len(version_id.split(".")) >= 2:
+        raise ValueError(f"version not in expected format: '{version_id}'")
+    return ".".join(version_id.split(".")[:2])
+
+
+def group_major_releases(releases: List[Version]) -> Dict[str, List[Version]]:
+    """
+    Return a dictionary containing each version grouped by each major release.
+    The key "1.17" contains a list with two Version objects, one for "1.17"
+    and another for "1.17.1".
+    """
+    groups: Dict[str, List[Version]] = {}
+    for release in releases:
+        major_release = get_major_release(release.id)
+        if major_release not in groups:
+            groups[major_release] = []
+        groups[major_release].append(release)
+    return groups
+
+
+def get_latest_major_releases(releases: List[Version]) -> Dict[str, Version]:
+    """
+    Return a dictionary containing the latest version for each major release.
+    The latest major release for 1.16 is 1.16.5, so the key "1.16" contains a
+    Version object for 1.16.5.
+    """
+    return {
+        major_release: sorted(releases, key=lambda x: x.id, reverse=True)[0]
+        for major_release, releases in group_major_releases(releases).items()
+    }
+
+
+def generate() -> Dict[str, Dict[str, str]]:
+    """
+    Return a dictionary containing the latest url, sha1 and version for each major
+    release.
+    """
+    versions = get_versions()
+    releases = list(
+        filter(lambda version: version.type == "release", versions)
+    )  # remove snapshots and betas
+    latest_major_releases = get_latest_major_releases(releases)
+
+    servers = {
+        version: Download.schema().dump(download_info)  # Download -> dict
+        for version, download_info in {
+            version: value.get_server()
+            for version, value in latest_major_releases.items()
+        }.items()
+        if download_info is not None  # versions < 1.2 do not have a server
+    }
+    for server in servers.values():
+        del server["size"]  # don't need it
+
+    for version, server in servers.items():
+        server["version"] = latest_major_releases[version].id
+    return servers
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    with open("versions.json", "w") as file:
+        json.dump(generate(), file, indent=2)
+        file.write("\n")
diff --git a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/update.sh b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/update.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 433a12a9caf6..000000000000
--- a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/update.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env nix-shell
-#!nix-shell -i bash -p curl jq common-updater-scripts
-
-BASEDIR="$(dirname "$0")"
-
-# get current release version
-versions=$(curl -s 'https://launchermeta.mojang.com/mc/game/version_manifest.json')
-version=$(echo $versions | jq .latest.release)
-url=$(echo $versions | jq -r ".versions[] | select(.id == $version) | .url")
-
-# get current server.jar
-versions=$(curl -s $url | jq .downloads.server)
-sha1=$(echo $versions | jq .sha1)
-url=$(echo $versions | jq .url)
-
-echo $version: $url:$sha1
-
-# change default.nix
-sed -i "s/version = \"[0-9.]*\";/version = ${version};/g" "$BASEDIR/default.nix"
-sed -i "s+url = \"[a-zA-Z0-9/:.]*/server.jar\";+url = $url;+g" "$BASEDIR/default.nix"
-sed -i "s/sha1 = \"[a-zA-Z0-9]*\";/sha1 = ${sha1};/g" "$BASEDIR/default.nix"
diff --git a/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/versions.json b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/versions.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..238f8af9eef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/games/minecraft-server/versions.json
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+{
+  "1.18": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/125e5adf40c659fd3bce3e66e67a16bb49ecc1b9/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "125e5adf40c659fd3bce3e66e67a16bb49ecc1b9",
+    "version": "1.18.1"
+  },
+  "1.17": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/a16d67e5807f57fc4e550299cf20226194497dc2/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "a16d67e5807f57fc4e550299cf20226194497dc2",
+    "version": "1.17.1"
+  },
+  "1.16": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/1b557e7b033b583cd9f66746b7a9ab1ec1673ced/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "1b557e7b033b583cd9f66746b7a9ab1ec1673ced",
+    "version": "1.16.5"
+  },
+  "1.15": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/bb2b6b1aefcd70dfd1892149ac3a215f6c636b07/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "bb2b6b1aefcd70dfd1892149ac3a215f6c636b07",
+    "version": "1.15.2"
+  },
+  "1.14": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/3dc3d84a581f14691199cf6831b71ed1296a9fdf/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "3dc3d84a581f14691199cf6831b71ed1296a9fdf",
+    "version": "1.14.4"
+  },
+  "1.13": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/3737db93722a9e39eeada7c27e7aca28b144ffa7/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "3737db93722a9e39eeada7c27e7aca28b144ffa7",
+    "version": "1.13.2"
+  },
+  "1.12": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/886945bfb2b978778c3a0288fd7fab09d315b25f/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "886945bfb2b978778c3a0288fd7fab09d315b25f",
+    "version": "1.12.2"
+  },
+  "1.11": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/f00c294a1576e03fddcac777c3cf4c7d404c4ba4/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "f00c294a1576e03fddcac777c3cf4c7d404c4ba4",
+    "version": "1.11.2"
+  },
+  "1.10": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/3d501b23df53c548254f5e3f66492d178a48db63/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "3d501b23df53c548254f5e3f66492d178a48db63",
+    "version": "1.10.2"
+  },
+  "1.9": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/edbb7b1758af33d365bf835eb9d13de005b1e274/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "edbb7b1758af33d365bf835eb9d13de005b1e274",
+    "version": "1.9.4"
+  },
+  "1.8": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/b58b2ceb36e01bcd8dbf49c8fb66c55a9f0676cd/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "b58b2ceb36e01bcd8dbf49c8fb66c55a9f0676cd",
+    "version": "1.8.9"
+  },
+  "1.7": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/4cec86a928ec171fdc0c6b40de2de102f21601b5/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "4cec86a928ec171fdc0c6b40de2de102f21601b5",
+    "version": "1.7.9"
+  },
+  "1.6": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/050f93c1f3fe9e2052398f7bd6aca10c63d64a87/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "050f93c1f3fe9e2052398f7bd6aca10c63d64a87",
+    "version": "1.6.4"
+  },
+  "1.5": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/f9ae3f651319151ce99a0bfad6b34fa16eb6775f/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "f9ae3f651319151ce99a0bfad6b34fa16eb6775f",
+    "version": "1.5.2"
+  },
+  "1.4": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/2f0ec8efddd2f2c674c77be9ddb370b727dec676/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "2f0ec8efddd2f2c674c77be9ddb370b727dec676",
+    "version": "1.4.7"
+  },
+  "1.3": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/3de2ae6c488135596e073a9589842800c9f53bfe/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "3de2ae6c488135596e073a9589842800c9f53bfe",
+    "version": "1.3.2"
+  },
+  "1.2": {
+    "url": "https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/d8321edc9470e56b8ad5c67bbd16beba25843336/server.jar",
+    "sha1": "d8321edc9470e56b8ad5c67bbd16beba25843336",
+    "version": "1.2.5"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 5a010ae9f29e..91683111a354 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -30810,7 +30810,25 @@ with pkgs;
 
   minecraft = callPackage ../games/minecraft { };
 
-  minecraft-server = callPackage ../games/minecraft-server { };
+  inherit (import ../games/minecraft-server { inherit callPackage lib; })
+    minecraft-server_1_2
+    minecraft-server_1_3
+    minecraft-server_1_4
+    minecraft-server_1_5
+    minecraft-server_1_6
+    minecraft-server_1_7
+    minecraft-server_1_8
+    minecraft-server_1_9
+    minecraft-server_1_10
+    minecraft-server_1_11
+    minecraft-server_1_12
+    minecraft-server_1_13
+    minecraft-server_1_14
+    minecraft-server_1_15
+    minecraft-server_1_16
+    minecraft-server_1_17
+    minecraft-server_1_18
+    minecraft-server;
 
   moon-buggy = callPackage ../games/moon-buggy {};