September was a big month for Minecraft. Minecraft Dungeons II arrived, Minecraft Live revealed the first new dimension in over 14 years, and the Wilderness Bound game drop gave builders a stack of new cosy blocks to play with. Here is everything worth knowing, plus a look at what is coming next. If you missed the last one, you can catch up on our March 2026 Minecraft roundup.
Minecraft Dungeons II Is Out Now
Minecraft Dungeons II launched on September 29 for Windows, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It is a direct sequel to the 2020 dungeon crawler, built by Mojang Studios and Double Eleven. On Xbox and PC, the standard edition is included with Game Pass.
The biggest change is the structure. Instead of picking missions off a map screen, you now explore an interconnected overworld, and rifts lead you into The Sift, the brand new dimension at the heart of the story. Gear is more granular too, with armour split into separate pieces, and co-op supports up to four players online, on the couch or a mix of both.
What the Critics Think
Critics have been largely positive. Many describe it as a bigger, more polished version of the original rather than a reinvention, with a loot system that feels better and an open structure that makes exploring more rewarding. The most common praise is for co-op, and the most common complaints are repetitive play and some thin village upgrades.
Launch was a little bumpier for players. Steam reviews sat at Mixed in the first days, driven mostly by Microsoft account linking problems, crashes and a lack of Linux support. Some players have also said builds feel more restrictive than the first game because weapons carry a single enchantment. Mojang has said post-launch DLC is planned.
Playing It Yourself
We will be covering Dungeons II in more depth in dedicated posts once we have spent proper time in The Sift. If you are heading in on Xbox, note that online console multiplayer needs an active Game Pass subscription, while couch co-op does not.
Minecraft Live: The Big Announcements
Minecraft Live on September 26 packed in a lot. The headline was The Sift, which joins the Overworld, the Nether and the End as the fourth dimension. It debuts in Dungeons II and is coming to Minecraft Java and Bedrock in 2027, although Mojang has not shared mechanics yet.
Ice Caves Are the Next Game Drop
The next drop for the base game adds Ice Caves, a rare underground biome that generates beneath frozen biomes, full of icicles and glowing ice crystals. Strays and a new frozen zombie called the frostbite spawn there. The frostbite throws ice balls and applies a new Freezing effect, and ice balls can also be crafted and brewed into a freezing potion.
Bedrock Preview players have been able to test the biome since September 30, and Java details should follow. There is no confirmed release date yet, so this is one to look forward to rather than plan around. If you enjoy scouting new terrain, our biome exploration checklist is a handy thing to keep open while you wait.
Minecraft World at Chessington
The Merlin Entertainments Minecraft land at Chessington World of Adventures Resort is on track to open in 2027. Mojang revealed the first official Minecraft hotel and named the resort’s rollercoaster Escape the Nether. Both are confirmed for next year.
Creator Platform and Sound Packs
Mojang also announced a creator platform, an initiative meant to make it easier to create, manage and share Minecraft content. There are no specific tools or dates yet, so treat it as a statement of direction rather than a product. Sound Effects Packs are also coming to the Minecraft Marketplace later this year, giving creators a way to customise in-game audio.
A Milestone
Xbox’s CEO shared that more than 300,000 people play Minecraft for the first time on an average day, and that the franchise has now passed 425 million copies sold.
Wilderness Bound Is Live
The Wilderness Bound game drop released on September 15. It centres on the dappled forest biome and adds poplar trees in three leaf colours, a new wood type and new natural blocks. Explorers get abandoned camps to find, along with improved maps that point you towards different biomes.
For builders, the best additions are the comfort items. Concrete and wool now have stairs and slabs, and cushions and straw beds join the decorating options. If you want to make the most of them, our guides to creating the perfect Minecraft bedroom sanctuary and advanced Minecraft furniture are a good place to start.
Coming Up
Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2
Minecraft arrives natively on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27. Vibrant Visuals, the biggest graphical upgrade the game has had, will be the default graphics setting. The Super Mario Mash-Up pack is also getting an update to take advantage of it. If you are changing platform, our platform-by-platform controls guide can help you settle in.
Testing Builds
Java Edition 26.4 Snapshot 2 landed on September 29. It focuses on improved fog, chunk fade-in and a refreshed F3 debug screen rather than new content, and the Ice Caves biome was not part of it.
A Minecraft Movie Squared
The sequel to the 2025 film now has its full title, A Minecraft Movie Squared, and is scheduled for release in the United States on July 23, 2027. Filming took place in New Zealand earlier this year.
What to Watch Next Month
Keep an eye out for more Ice Caves details as testing continues, plus the Switch 2 launch on October 27. We will also be sharing our first proper impressions of Dungeons II. Let us know in the comments what you are playing and building this month.
