Minecraft's Next Drop Adds Ice Caves and Frozen Zombies
Mojang announced Minecraft's next game drop at Minecraft Live, featuring ice caves, a new Frozen Zombie mob, and a 2027 dimension.
Mojang announced the next Minecraft game drop during Minecraft Live on September 26. The update is expected to release in December 2026 and centers on Minecraft's cold biomes.
The headline addition is ice caves, a rare underground extension of the game's existing cold biomes. Inside, players can collect ice crystals for decoration; the crystals also produce light.
A new hostile mob called the Frozen Zombie will appear underground. Its melee attacks apply a stacking freezing effect, and it can throw ice balls that deal damage and knock players back. A regular Zombie must be exposed to powdered snow to create one. Frozen Zombies drop ice balls when killed.
Ice balls are not just drops. Players can craft them and use them as weapons, or brew them into a potion that applies a freezing effect.
Mojang also announced that the first new Minecraft dimension in 15 years will be released in 2027. Gamespot reported the announcements from Minecraft Live.
Quick answers
When does the next Minecraft game drop release?
It is expected to release in December 2026.
How do you get a Frozen Zombie in Minecraft?
A regular Zombie must be exposed to powdered snow to create a Frozen Zombie.
What can you do with ice balls in Minecraft?
They can be crafted and used as weapons, or brewed into a potion that applies a freezing effect.