In previous versions of Minecraft, I have been able to do /gamerule randomTickSpeed with some absurd number like 10000000 with no problem - block ticks will occur insanely frequently, as anticipated.

Now, when I plug in that number, the chatbox responds that the game rule has been updated, though rather than increasing block ticks it turns them off.

Trying to reset it to /gamerule randomTickSpeed 1 will freeze the game: I'm able to move around and queue the pause menu, but trying to actually do anything - whether it be placing a block or hitting "save and quit to menu" - won't work. Nothing shows up in the chatbox to confirm that it has done anything. And hitting that "save and quit to menu" button freezes the game entirely. The only way out at that point is to force quit the game.