Thu, 5 Nov 2026
Gaming Report

Minecraft reveals The Sift dimension and a new ice cave biome

Mojang showed a fourth dimension planned for Java and Bedrock in 2027, plus a separate game drop with ice caves and a frozen zombie.

Osamah Ismail · Founder & Editor-in-Chief
· 2 min read · Updated:
Minecraft reveals The Sift dimension and a new ice cave biome
Official Minecraft Live artwork via Xbox Wire.

At Minecraft Live on 26 September 2026, Mojang showed two additions with different release plans. The Sift is a new dimension coming to Minecraft Java Edition and Bedrock Edition in 2027. Ice caves, meanwhile, are an underground biome featured in a separate upcoming game drop. The presentation offered a first look at both, giving players a clearer idea of what they will be able to explore and when.

The Sift appears in Dungeons II first

Mojang plans to make The Sift the fourth dimension in the main game, alongside the Overworld, the Nether and the End. It would be the first new dimension added to Minecraft in more than 14 years. During the broadcast, Mojang previewed the setting and showed one of its inhabitants. The company gave a year for the Java and Bedrock release but did not provide an exact date.

Players will have an earlier chance to explore The Sift in Minecraft Dungeons II, which Mojang had scheduled for 29 September. The sequel moves from the original game’s level-based missions to a connected world. Rifts found during exploration lead to The Sift, where Mojang previewed areas including the Meadow and the Carapace. That is the route into the dimension shown for Dungeons II. Mojang has yet to say how players will enter it in the main Minecraft editions.

Ice caves add new building materials and a hazard

The next game drop takes players underground into a frozen biome. The preview showed ice and calcite blocks, with icicles hanging from the ceiling and ice crystals growing on the ground. The crystals give off a soft light. For builders, the distinction matters: ceiling formations add detail overhead, while ground crystals offer a way to light a space and keep the frozen look.

Mojang also showed a frozen zombie variant. Its attacks cause damage and a freezing effect, and some can throw ice balls. The creature did not have a final name at the event. The presentation established what its attacks can do, while leaving details such as final balancing for later announcements.

What players should look for

The 29 September date applies to Minecraft Dungeons II. The ice caves belong to an upcoming update for the main game. The Sift’s arrival in Java and Bedrock is planned for 2027. Players running a shared world can use those distinctions to follow the release notes for their own edition before making changes to an existing world.

Sources

Sources: Minecraft, Xbox Wire
Osamah Ismail

Founder and editor-in-chief of Kurd Developers. Phone and tech news on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.