Mojang has announced the Sift, the first new dimension for Minecraft in over 14 years, during its Minecraft LIVE September 2026 broadcast. The Sift will debut in the spin-off Minecraft Dungeons 2, which launches on September 29, and will come to Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions in 2027, according to Mojang. At the same gaming event, the studio also confirmed a Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Minecraft for October 27, 2026.
The Sift joins the Overworld, the Nether, and the End as the fourth dimension players can reach in Minecraft. The Nether was added in 2010, which makes the Sift the first entirely new dimension in more than a decade.
What Mojang Revealed About the Sift
Mojang did not go deep into the mechanics of the Sift. The studio shared a short teaser trailer showing its environments and a new mob. The dimension uses a vivid mix of neon blue and pink, and Mojang describes it as beautiful, vibrant, and teeming with souls. Developers said the Sift has its own environments, inhabitants, dangers, and gameplay.
Players who want to see the Sift before it reaches the main game can find it in Minecraft Dungeons 2. The sequel has an interconnected world, expanded combat, deeper character customization, and improved multiplayer.
Players help villagers find a new home in the town of Bravehaven while dealing with a soul corruption spreading through the Overworld. Jumping is also new, including small parkour sections and jump attacks. Mojang says post-launch DLC is planned for Dungeons 2.
Jens Bergenström, Chief Creative Officer at Mojang Studios, opened the show by ruling out an update to the End. He also announced a new creator platform intended to make it easier to build experiences inside Minecraft.
Other Minecraft LIVE Announcements and Dates
The next game drop is Ice Caves, a rare underground extension of cold biomes filled with glowing ice crystals. The crystals can be placed vertically or horizontally and work as a light source.
A new hostile mob, the Frozen Zombie, applies a stacking freezing effect with melee attacks and throws ice balls that deal damage and knockback. Regular zombies turn into Frozen Zombies when exposed to powder snow. Ice balls drop from the mob, can be crafted by players, and can be brewed into a freezing potion.
The key dates and additions from the show:
- Minecraft Dungeons 2 launches on September 29 with the Sift.
- Minecraft arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, 2026, with enhanced performance and visuals.
- Sound Effects Packs come to the Minecraft Marketplace later this year.
- The Sift reaches Java and Bedrock editions in 2027.
- A Minecraft hotel and the Escape the Nether rollercoaster open at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in 2027.
Mojang says Minecraft has sold more than 425 million copies, and that over 300,000 people play it for the first time on an average day.
Mojang has not given a release date for the Sift in Java and Bedrock beyond 2027, and has not said when Ice Caves will ship as a game drop.
