Minecraft's next big update Caves & Cliffs launches summer 2021 Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Minecraft's next big update Caves & Cliffs launches summer 2021 While Dungeons gets more DLC this year. News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Published on 3 Oct 2020 6 comments This year brought a big update to Minecraft's Nether regions. Next year, it's the turn of its Caves & Cliffs. Announced today during Minecraft Live for release in the summer of 2021, Microsoft acknowledged the update would take a little longer than usual, and there would be no update to Minecraft this Christmas as has become the norm. "This is a massive update with a large variety of features to truly have something for all players, and we're excited to release it for all supported platforms next summer," Mojang said. "Due to the massive size of the update, the team needs more time to work on it than usual, which is why there will not be a traditional game update this holiday." So, what do we have to look forward to? Well, lots of caves, obviously. Expect new cave types filled fresh blocks, mobs, items and more. Copper ore is being added as a new resource you can mine and craft into items such as the new lightning rod block. Crystal geodes will also be added, letting you craft a telescope. These geodes sound rare - Mojang describes them as "near-mystical". Stalactites (they're the ones pointing down) and stalagmites (pointing up) will also be added. These pointy blocks will cause damage if you touch them. Expect caves to vary more in sizes and shapes, featuring enormous caverns, underground lakes and waterfalls to raft down. A new archeology system was also mentioned, which will let you discover buried ruins you can dust off to find artefacts. These new areas will be inhabited by several new mobs. The Warden is a hostile enemy which will sense your movement. Axolotl fish will meanwhile be friendly, and can even help in fights. Above ground, cliff faces are being redesigned to look more like actual mountains. Oh, and there will be mountain goats. Over on the Minecraft Dungeons side of things, Mojang's Diablo-lite dungeon crawler will get another free update and a third paid DLC later this year. Howling Peaks will bring in a new biome area, a new boss, missions, items and enemies. The free update due at the same time will add an even harder "Apocalypse Plus" option with 20 new difficulty levels, fresh enchantments and even more unique items to grind for. The long-awaited Minecraft Dungeons cross-platform play was also shown, and promised for launch by the end of the year. Watch on YouTube Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 3 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 10 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 3 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store