Minecraft announces The Sift, first new dimension in over 14 years

Mojang Studios announced The Sift at Minecraft Live on September 26, 2026, marking the game's first new dimension in over 14 years. The Sift joins the Overworld, the Nether, and the End as the fourth dimension in Minecraft, arriving in Java and Bedrock Edition in 2027.

Details about The Sift remain limited ahead of its full release. Mojang confirmed the dimension features its own areas, mobs, and hazards. Two areas have been named so far: the Meadow and the Carapace. The broadcast revealed a portal to The Sift within the main game world, along with blue bunnies inhabiting the dimension. An exact 2027 release date and which game drop will include it have not been announced.

Players can experience The Sift before its full release through Minecraft Dungeons II, which launches on September 29, 2026. In Dungeons II, rifts open throughout the interconnected world, and entering them transports players to The Sift. According to Mojang, players must fight their way through the dimension and save the world. The game features an interconnected world replacing the first game's level-based missions, introduces jumping for the first time in the series, and supports up to four players in co-op.

Minecraft Dungeons II will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Game Pass. Minecraft itself arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, 2026, running better and looking better than the original Switch version.

Minecraft Live also unveiled the next game drop for the main game, featuring Ice Caves and a frozen zombie variant. Ice Caves are a rare underground biome appearing beneath cold surface biomes, containing ice, calcite, icicles on the ceiling, and glowing ice crystals that function as light sources. The frozen zombie is a new variant whose melee attacks freeze players, with some throwing ice balls. Regular zombies turn into frozen zombies when exposed to powder snow.

Beyond game announcements, Mojang revealed additional projects. Minecraft World, a themed attraction at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in London, opens in 2027 and will include a Minecraft World Hotel with themed rooms and a deep-sea diner, alongside Escape the Nether, the first Minecraft rollercoaster with indoor and outdoor sections. Mojang also described a new creator platform aimed at making content creation, management, and sharing easier for creators of all experience levels. Sound Effects Packs for the Minecraft Marketplace, allowing players to customize world sounds, will arrive later in 2026.

Minecraft Education reached its 10-year milestone, and Mojang redesigned its feedback site for player suggestions. A community challenge invites players to place 50 million straw beds and 200 million cushions across the Overworld.