Brr! Minecraft just got colder. Preview 26.60.29 (released September 30, 2026) gives us our first hands-on look at the winter game drop, and it’s all about ice.
Table of Contents
What’s Minecraft New at a Glance?
All of this needs the Drop 4 of 2026 experimental toggle.
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ice Cave | New cave biome under cold biomes, made mostly of Packed Ice and Calcite |
| Ice Crystals | Glowing blocks and the only light source in Ice Caves |
| Icicles | Grow up to 5 blocks long and can fall and hurt you |
| Frostbite | New zombie variant that throws ice balls |
| Ice Ball | Projectile that deals 4 damage with knockback |
| Freezing effect | Shakes you, lowers jump height, then deals damage |
Ice Caves: Beautiful but Dangerous
Ice Caves have icicles on the ceiling, large Packed Ice spikes and occasional snow patches. There’s no Glow Lichen, so Ice Crystals light the way. In addition to normal cave mobs, Strays and Frostbites can spawn here.
Watch your head. Icicles only grow away from light, but in bright conditions they can drop and damage anything below them. Mojang notes the crystals are currently smaller than intended, a known issue.
Meet the Frostbite
The Frostbite is a zombie that switches between throwing ice balls at range and freezing you in melee. It drops Rotten Flesh and Ice Balls, can stand on Powder Snow, and is immune to freezing. Zombies and Husks also transform into Frostbites inside Powder Snow.
Freezing Effect and Potions
Freezing slowly freezes you as if you’re in Powder Snow. Leather armor stops the freezing but doesn’t remove the effect. Mobs vulnerable to freezing take five times damage. You can also brew Splash, Lingering and Freezing potions from Ice Balls, and craft an Arrow of Freezing.
Other Changes
Fixes include an item duplication bug and a Slime splitting issue. Mojang is also rolling out a refreshed main menu.
Want more? Check our latest gaming news and our Minecraft updates. New to the game? Read about Minecraft.
FAQs
How do I try the Ice Caves?
Join Bedrock Preview and enable the Drop 4 of 2026 experimental toggle.
What does the Frostbite do?
It throws Ice Balls from range and applies Freezing with melee hits.
