Minecraft is a live, multi-platform franchise with a major sequel to Minecraft Dungeons launching September 29, 2026, a Switch 2 edition due in 2026, and an ongoing series of content updates including the Chaos Cubed update and the Dappled Forest biome. Mojang has also raised Java Edition's minimum memory requirement to 8GB and is reissuing and expanding physical merchandise.
Minecraft continues to expand on multiple fronts. The core game received the Chaos Cubed update on June 17, 2026, adding the Sulfur Cave biome and the block-absorbing Sulfur Cube mob. A June 24 snapshot introduced the Dappled Forest biome with poplar trees and abandoned camps, and an August 8 snapshot added concrete stairs and slabs in all 16 colors. The Java Edition's system requirements were raised for the first time in roughly 17 years, with minimum memory jumping from 2GB to 8GB, a change Mojang tied to the game's growth and planned Vulkan-based graphical upgrades. A peer-to-peer play feature tested in a snapshot was removed before release.
The franchise's biggest near-term event is Minecraft Dungeons II, launching September 29, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Game Pass support. The sequel drops the original's mission-based structure for a single interconnected world, adds a jump function, divides armor into four slots, and introduces Talismans and a new rarity tier. It also addresses multiplayer pain points with auto-matchmaking and a shared-screen inventory that does not pause the action. Ahead of launch, the original Minecraft Dungeons hit an all-time Steam concurrent player record in June, and a Nintendo Switch Online Issai Trial event offered free play and discounts in late July and early August.
The franchise also extends into film and merchandise. The sequel to the 2025 Minecraft movie is titled A Minecraft Movie Squared, scheduled for a July 23, 2027 release in the United States, with Kirsten Dunst cast as Alex and Jack Black and Jason Momoa returning. A Minecraft Switch 2 edition, announced during a June 9 Nintendo Direct, will launch in 2026 with save-data transfer from the original Switch version. Physical products continue to roll out, including a second FOSSIL watch collection, new Inforenz collectibles, and a reissue of Bandai's Ender Dragon battle gashapon figures.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/minecraft.
CC BY 4.0.
When a claim about Minecraft was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.
BESTNET-GSERVER, the game server hosting service run by BESTNET LLC, started Forge modpack hosting for Minecraft Java Edition on September 7, 2026. Users pick the Forge and Java versions in the game panel and pull Server Packs straight from a URL. Pricing starts at 2,980 yen per month excluding tax (3,278 yen including tax), with no initial fee, no minimum contract period, and no cancellation fee.
FOSSIL announced a limited Minecraft watch collection on Aug 28, 2026, with pre-sale at its official online store. Three models draw on the Nether, The End, and Minecraft Dungeons II, following the 2025 collab that produced the Glass Block and Deepslate chronographs plus wallets and accessories. Direct stores Takamatsu Mitsukoshi and Piore Himeji sell from Sept 1, and authorized dealers take reservations from Sept 1 with sales from Sept 8.
GAME Watch previews Minecraft Dungeons II ahead of its September 29 release. The game adds 4-player local multiplayer with individual inventory screens that do not pause the action, plus a full auto-matchmaking system for online play. Matchmaking uses item level and progression, preset phrases, per-player drops, mid-game join and leave, and cross-platform support.
During the XBOX @ gamescom Broadcast 2026 Day 1, Xbox Game Studios revealed new details on Minecraft Dungeons II. Gameplay footage showed four-player multiplayer, equipment upgrades at the blacksmith, and weapon effect enchanting. The game is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Game Pass support.
Inforenz opened preorders for seven new official Minecraft items. The lineup includes a blind-box excavation kit, an Enderman motion sensor light, a Creeper crane game, two mini pinball machines, and two GOO JIT ZU squishy figures. Prices run from 2,640 yen to 47,520 yen for the box set, with release dates from late September 2026 to mid-January 2027.
Jimothy, a round raccoon found in Seattle on July 13, 2026, has become a viral meme. Game studios and fans have created tributes in World of Warcraft, Old School RuneScape, Dead by Daylight, The Sims, Halo, Among Us, and more. Fan-made content includes a browser game, a Stardew Valley pet mod, and a Minecraft add-on.
Minecraft's latest Java snapshot introduces concrete stairs and slabs in all 16 colors, plus maps in some abandoned camp chests that lead to new camps and structures. Both features are available in the Java snapshot, with Bedrock beta and preview support coming soon.
Nintendo announced that Minecraft Dungeons will be the next game in the Issai Trial event for Nintendo Switch Online members, playable free from July 27 to August 2. A sale on the game and DLC runs through August 9, with discounts up to 50 percent. The sequel, Minecraft Dungeons II, launches September 29.
Microsoft announced on July 28 that it will bring an Xbox booth to gamescom 2026, held in Cologne, Germany from August 26 to 30. The booth, located in Hall 7 at A-0.61, will feature 25 upcoming games across 140 playable stations. Attendees can get hands-on time with early builds of 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4,' 'Fable,' 'Minecraft Dungeons II,' 'Gears of War: E-Day,' 'METRO 2039,' 'STRANGER THAN HEAVEN,' and 'Alien: Isolation 2,' among others. The booth will also host the first public playable demo of the 'Gears of War: E-Day' campaign, ahead of its October 6 release, and a live demo theater presentation for 'Fable' by developer Playground Games. From 23:00 Japan time on August 26, the community event 'Xbox FanFest' will be streamed on YouTube and Twitch, featuring developer interviews, first looks at gameplay, and new trailers. The stream will include American Sign Language and English audio description support. The booth is wheelchair accessible, with adaptive controllers available on request, and quiet rooms for users who prefer reduced sensory stimulation.
Mojang Studios updated the system requirements for Minecraft Java Edition on July 21, 2026, for the first time in roughly 17 years. The minimum memory requirement jumps from 2GB to 8GB (12GB for integrated GPUs), and the recommended memory rises to 16GB. The new minimum specs target 1080p at 30fps on the Performance preset, while recommended specs target 1080p at 60fps on the Fancy preset. The update also requires a Vulkan 1.3-compatible GPU, replacing the aging OpenGL graphics API. Mojang cited the game's growth over 17 years, expanded world sizes, new features, and the need to modernize internal technology as reasons for the change. The studio warned that systems below the new minimum may still launch the game for now, but performance is not guaranteed, and future Vulkan transitions could make the game unplayable on older hardware. The company also noted that the requirements remain relatively low compared to modern AAA titles and do not demand a high-end gaming PC.
Bandai is reissuing the Minecraft Figure Assort ~Ender Dragon Battle~ gashapon set in July 2026. The five-type capsule lineup includes a big-size Ender Dragon, Steve with Netherite equipment, Steve with Diamond equipment, an End Crystal, and an Enderman. Each capsule costs 300 yen. The reissue is identical to the December 2025 release.
Minecraft's latest snapshot adds the Cushion block, a placeable item with 16 color variations that can be placed on any flat surface including fences and chests. Players have discovered it can hide pressure plates, activate switches when sat on, and have its height adjusted with snow. Social media reactions include surprise and praise, with some calling the update 'the best' and a 'revolution'.
At a California Senate hearing on the 'Protect Our Games Act,' ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons interrupted a lawmaker to state that community servers for 'Minecraft' and 'Call of Duty' are 'illegal' and constitute piracy. The bill, which aimed to keep games playable after service termination, passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate. The ESA later clarified its position on private servers in an email to Kotaku.
Kayak Co., Ltd. published six-year trends from its annual elementary school gaming survey on June 29, 2026. Minecraft leads at 31.8%, Roblox jumps to 2nd at 12.7%, and Fortnite drops from 1st to 5th at 4.9%. The data shows a shift from competitive battle games to creation and social play.
Mojang released a new snapshot and preview for Minecraft on June 24, adding the Dappled Forest biome inspired by Michigan autumn colors. The update includes poplar trees with red, orange, and yellow leaves, wool stairs and slabs, and a new structure called the Abandoned Camp. All additions were previously shown at Minecraft Live in May 2026.
Mojang released the Chaos Cubed update for Minecraft on June 17, 2026. The update adds the Sulfur Cave biome with geysers, sulfur crystal pillars, and new building blocks. A new mob, the Sulfur Cube, changes its properties based on the block it absorbs, with examples including cherry wood, magma cubes, and TNT.
Elecom is sponsoring a free summer event where up to 1,000 elementary school students build cities in Minecraft. The event runs July 18 to August 16 at e Stadium Izumi and other venues in Osaka. Participants will use Elecom's KEY PALETTO keyboard, designed for children new to PCs.
Mojang and Double Eleven have set a September 29, 2026 release date for Minecraft Dungeons 2, the sequel to the blocky hack-and-slash spin-off. The game was announced during Minecraft Live in March 2026, and a new trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 confirmed the launch window. A preview event allowed journalists to play the game and interview the developers. The sequel abandons the mission-based stage selection of the original in favor of a single interconnected world. A new jump function adds vertical exploration and jump attacks. Armor is now divided into four slots instead of one, and a new item type called Talismans provides passive effects that level up over time. A new rarity tier, Special, sits between Rare and Unique. The game supports cross-platform multiplayer from launch on Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and PS5. Cooperative play has been overhauled: all players can open their inventory simultaneously, dropped items are color-coded per player, and a teleport-to-ally button is available. The development team said the changes are designed around comfortable group play. The demo also featured a boss that wiped out a group of experienced journalists, indicating a higher difficulty than the original.
Microsoft Japan announced during the June 9 Nintendo Direct that a Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Minecraft will launch in 2026. The new version features enhanced lighting and shadow effects, described by sources as a visual upgrade. Players will be able to transfer their save data from the original Nintendo Switch version. Both physical and digital editions will be available. The announcement was accompanied by footage showing the improved rendering of underwater scenes, plains, caves, deserts, and jungles. The game, originally released in 2011 by Mojang Studios, has appeared on numerous platforms and is now set for release on Nintendo's next-generation console.
Minecraft Dungeons reached a new peak of around 4,700 concurrent players on Steam on June 8, 2026, breaking its previous record. The surge follows a steep discount on the Ultimate Edition and the announcement of Minecraft Dungeons II, set for release on September 29.
Mojang Studios announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 on June 8 that Minecraft Dungeons II, the sequel to the action RPG spin-off set in the Minecraft universe, will release on September 29, 2026. The game supports up to four-player cooperative play, where players explore dungeons and battle bosses. It will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch, and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass. A promotional video shown during the showcase offered glimpses of combat, equipment, and story elements. The announcement marks the first new entry in the Minecraft Dungeons series in six years, following the original 2020 release.
McAfee Labs has issued a warning about a large-scale Malware-as-a-Service campaign called WeedHack targeting Minecraft players. The malware is disguised as mods or game clients and has already infected over 110,000 devices, stealing account credentials and personal data. The attackers and victims are primarily teenagers and young adults.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has posted a rating for a native version of Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2. The listing includes an E10+ rating and platform designation, though no port details have been announced. The current Switch 2 backward compatibility does not support enhanced graphics features.
Mojang Studios broadcast MINECRAFT LIVE from TwitchCon on May 31, 2026, revealing the new Dappled Forest biome with autumn-colored Poplar Trees and an Abandoned Camp structure. The show also detailed Minecraft Dungeons II, including the Twisted Warden boss, a new Lego set, and confirmed the second film's title as A MINECRAFT MOVIE SQUARED with Kirsten Dunst cast as Alex.
Mojang and Warner Bros. have announced the official title for the sequel to the 2025 film "Minecraft: The Movie." The film will be called "A Minecraft Movie Squared" and is scheduled for release in the United States on July 23, 2027. The title was revealed during the "MINECRAFT LIVE - MAY 2026" event on May 31, 2026. Alongside the announcement, a behind-the-scenes video confirmed that Kirsten Dunst will play the character Alex. Jack Black returns as Steve, and Jason Momoa returns as Garrett. Matt Berry, who voiced Nitt Wit in the first film, will appear in an undisclosed role. The video also showed that filming is taking place in New Zealand, as it did for the first film. Director Jared Hess and Mojang executive Jens Bergensten announced a building contest called the "Minecraft Movie Build Challenge." Winning entries may appear in the film or its credits. The first film grossed $310 million at the opening box office.
Mojang Studios released Minecraft Java Edition 26.2 Pre-Release 1, which removes the peer-to-peer connection feature introduced in the previous snapshot. The feature let players join games from their friend list without a dedicated server, but Mojang said it was not an ideal experience for all players and is not ready for official release. The update also includes UI changes, model updates, and performance fixes.