Minecraft to add fourth dimension, the Sift, in 2027

Mojang revealed at Minecraft Live that Minecraft will gain a fourth playable dimension called the Sift. The studio plans to add the Sift to Java and Bedrock editions in 2027. Players can access the Sift earlier in Minecraft Dungeons 2, which launches September 29.

The Sift expands the game’s world beyond the Overworld, the Nether and the End, the three dimensions present since the 1.0 release in 2011. In Minecraft Dungeons 2, the Sift appears through rifts on the map and uses a magical color palette and a calmer visual style. The environment is described as serene but still hazardous; Illagers target the Sift during the events of Dungeons 2, creating risks for players who explore it.

Måns Olson, Creative Director for Minecraft Dungeons 2, explained the team wanted a setting with scale and life and that the Sift should “feel meaningfully different from everything that existed in Minecraft.” Olson said the Overworld feels familiar while the Nether and the End are imposing; for the Sift the team aimed for a more peaceful aesthetic without removing in-game threats.

Design Director Laura de Llorens described collaboration between the Dungeons developers and the main Minecraft team to ensure the new dimension fit the wider franchise. Jens Bergensten, Mojang’s chief creative officer, noted during the presentation that new dimensions expand the Minecraft universe and that multiple teams contributed to the Sift’s development.

Alongside the Sift announcement, Mojang previewed The Frozen Caves game drop, which will add an Ice Caves biome to underground cold regions. The Ice Caves will include glowing ice crystals, exposed ore veins, and hazards such as icicles that can break when exposed to light and heat. A frozen Zombie variant can spawn in the Ice Caves and may carry throwable Ice Balls; defeating one can yield Ice Balls that can be used to craft a Freezing Potion.

Mojang also said sound-effect packs will arrive in the Minecraft Marketplace in 2026 to provide more customization options. The Sift’s integration into Java and Bedrock editions is scheduled for 2027, while Minecraft Dungeons 2 offers players an earlier opportunity to experience the new dimension.

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