Minecraft is getting its first new dimension in 15 years. At Minecraft Live on Saturday, Mojang announced The Sift, a fourth dimension that will join the Overworld, the Nether and The End when it launches on Java and Bedrock editions in 2027 — but players will get to visit it much sooner, when Minecraft Dungeons II arrives on September 29.
A Fourth Dimension, 15 Years in the Making
The Overworld got company in 2010 with the Nether, and The End followed in 2011. Then… nothing — for more than a decade, Minecraft’s dimensional map stayed fixed at three. The Sift breaks that long silence, and per PC Gamer it is “riotously pink,” with tufts of pink grass beneath a turquoise sky and bunny-like creatures that walk rather than hop. As a full dimension, it brings its own suite of biomes, mobs and blocks.
“Minecraft Live revealed that the newest Minecraft dimension isn’t just finding its home in Dungeons 2, it’ll also be coming to Minecraft Java & Bedrock Edition next year,” Mojang teased. “This will be the first new dimension in over 14 years — joining the Overworld, the Nether and the End as our fourth dimension. During the broadcast, you got a glimpse into this dimension in Minecraft — and even one of the mobs that calls it home. But surely that’s not enough! Luckily you can experience it for yourself in Minecraft Dungeons 2 — coming September 29, 2026.”
Minecraft Dungeons II Arrives September 29
That September 29 date belongs to the sequel to 2020’s co-op hack-and-slash, which lands on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud and other platforms. The follow-up stays true to the original’s isometric formula but adds a much more colorful art style, a new story themed around the Deep Dark and Ancient Cities — Warden fans, be warned — and, at long last, the ability to jump. Armor is split into the main game’s traditional four pieces plus talismans for passive effects, and levels are now bigger and interconnected, letting you pick your own route instead of selecting missions from an over-map.
Ice Caves, Frozen Zombies and a Switch 2 Port
Minecraft Live also showed off new ice caves coming to the main game: a rare underground extension of cold biomes, heavy with ores and glowing ice crystals that double as a light source. The biome introduces the frozen zombie, which lobs ice balls and can freeze you with its melee attacks — ice balls you can throw right back, or craft into freezing potions. Seasoned players are already plotting farms: expose a vanilla zombie to powdered snow and you have your own frozen zombie generator.
Beyond the game itself, Microsoft confirmed Minecraft is finally coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27 with graphics more familiar to Xbox and PS5 players, while a Minecraft World attraction is set to open at the UK’s Chessington World of Adventures Resort in 2027. New Marketplace sound effect packs, which let players re-skin the game’s entire soundscape, are due later this year.
Sources
- Kotaku — Everything We Saw At Minecraft Live, Including The First New Dimension In 15 Years
- Eurogamer — Minecraft is getting its first new dimension in 14 years, and it’s called The Sift
- PC Gamer — Minecraft is getting its first new dimension in 15 years, and it is riotously pink
- Xbox Wire — Minecraft LIVE Fall 2026 Recap