The specific designation "12601" or has evolved into a centerpiece of Minecraft horror folklore, particularly the Errorbrine creepypasta. According to these fictional stories:
This version was never officially released for free by Mojang. Downloading it from unofficial archive sites (like Omniarchive or BetaCraft) is technically abandonware/piracy , though many players use it for historical preservation. This review covers the gameplay of that specific patch. minecraft alpha 12601 free