Minecraft 1.21 Update: Features, Release Date and More

Whether you hop on the most popular Minecraft 1.20 servers or any gaming subreddit, the next Minecraft update is the talk of the town. There is so much to speculate, guess, and figure out that the community is working overtime. In line with this excitement, we are here to share everything there is to know about Minecraft 1.21 update. From exciting new features to the expected release date and parity concerns, we aim to cover it all. So, without any delay, let's jump in!

Minecraft 1.21 Update

Update (20 Sept): Added reference to the hinted Potion of Glowing along with the features of upcoming Minecraft 1.20.3 update.

When is Minecraft 1.21 Coming Out?

At the moment, there is no official announcement or teaser for the release date of the Minecraft 1.21 update. But, let's take a look at the recent major releases to make a fair estimate:

Trails & Tales update: June 2023
Wild update: June 2022
Caves & Cliffs (Part II): November 2021
Caves & Cliffs (Part I): June 2021

As you can notice, most major updates in the recent year only came out in June of the year following the announcement. So, if we follow this trend, it is reasonable to expect the release date of the Minecraft 1.21 update in June 2024.

However, please take this release window with a pinch of salt. The game development process is quite complex and unexpected delays can occur. Moreover, if the developers plan the next update in parts, we might not see it in its final form by the end of next year.

How Did Minecraft 1.20 Change Release Cycles

During the announcement of Minecraft's 1.20 update, the developers hinted at a shift away from the traditional update system. Instead of massive annual updates, they want players to enjoy a bunch of smaller updates that eventually merge into a larger update. This approach was evident in the unveiling, testing, and implementation of features of the Minecraft 1.20 update.

Considering this new approach, it's likely that the Minecraft 1.21 update will follow the same pattern. So, you can expect the release of some features for the next major update alongside the official announcement. Meanwhile, the remaining features of the Minecraft 1.21 update are likely to come out gradually over the following weeks.

Minecraft 1.21: Release Date & Platforms

At the moment, there is no official release date for Minecraft 1.21 update. However, the update will likely be available on all platforms currently supported by the game. These include:

Xbox
PlayStation
Nintendo Switch
iOS
iPad OS
Android
ChromeOS (with Android support)
Windows
macOS*
Linus*
*Java Edition

It is worth noting that ChromeOS is the latest entry in the list of platforms that the game supports. You can use our dedicated guide to easily install Minecraft on Chromebooks and be ready to play the next update when it releases.

When is Minecraft Live 2023 Happening

Players are expecting all the major announcements around Minecraft 1.21 during Minecraft Live 2023. The event is happening live on October 15th, 2023. For more details about the event, you can refer to our linked guide. But, currently, there is no concrete information about what announcements will be in the event.

One thing that's surely happening is the entry of a new mob through the community mob vote event. The poll features three unknown mobs in it, the details of which will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Speculated Features of Minecraft 1.21

Over the years, Minecraft has teased and announced a bunch of features that haven't made it into the game yet. Here are some of these features that might finally release with Minecraft 1.21:

Glowing armor trims
Savanna or Badlands revamp
Swamp and jungle villagers
Bundles
Emerald items, tools, and gear
Functionality for Fletching Table

If you want to dive into the details, you can explore our dedicated list of features we want to see in the Minecraft 1.21 update. Notably, some of these features have a very promising chance of being included in the game.

Potion of Glowing - Hinted Feature

In a recent blog post discussing Minecraft Lofi music, the writer, Linn Viberg, described their ideal day in the game. Towards the end of the description, Viberg mentions something interesting:

Their description was amazingly soothing, but what truly stands out is its end. Here's what Viberg mentions:

"I whip out my fishing rod again and soak up the view. Some soul lanterns and a Potion of Glowing would top this off well. I think me and my new soundtrack will like it here."

As you can notice, the description mentions a Potion of Glowing, which doesn't exist in the game. But, the game already has a Glowing status effect as well as a glow ink sac. All that's left is a potion-brewing recipe which might be coming in the Minecraft 1.21 update.

Pending Java & Bedrock Parity Changes

Even after a decade of its release, Minecraft still struggles to maintain equality and parity in both of its editions. However, with each major update, many of these parity issues get resolved. Let's go over some features that might get into sync with the Minecraft 1.21 update.

Biomes and World Generation

There are a bunch of quality-of-life features that make the world of Minecraft better, but only in one edition. These include:

Fallen and dying trees*
Cauldrons with potions*
Bamboo areas in sparse jungles*
Stronghold beneath villages of Minecraft*
Huge mushrooms in swamps*
Denser crimson forests^
Variants of azalea trees^
Villages in super flat mode^
More grass in jungles, savannas, plains, meadows, and Cherry Groves

*Features that are exclusive to Minecraft Bedrock

^Features that are exclusive to Minecraft Java

Other Major Differences

One of the most common differences between Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions lies in the crafting recipes of items like boats. But, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Let's explore some of the significant distinctions that exist between these two editions of the beloved sandbox game:

Combat Parity: It's been ages since the Java edition got a combat overhaul that altered every weapon in the game. But Bedrock players are still waiting on the same.
Command compatibility: There are a bunch of commands and command functionality that are exclusive to the Java edition. For example, the Ride command had extended customizability.
Hardcore mode: The no respawn hardcore game mode is only supported by Minecraft Java.
Debug Screen: A panel that showcases all the technical details is only on Java.
Marketplace: Only players on Bedrock can download official content from the official marketplace.

Minecraft 1.20.2 Update

Sticking to their promise, developers are releasing new features in minor updates before the Minecraft 1.21 update. While a lot of them revolve around the Villager Trade Rebalance in Minecraft, there are a bunch of new mechanics too. Here are the ones you need to know about.

Updated Armorer Trades

As a part of the trading revamp, armorers now offer fresh and more balanced trades. This completely changes how you interact with one of the powerful types of villagers in Minecraft. The major change includes needing diamonds to unlock diamond armor trades. Earlier, players could skip searching for diamonds and farm diamond gear using armorers.

Furthermore, the other changes include:

Master-level armorers can buy iron blocks
Chainmail armor is now only available as a trade for jungle and swamp villagers
Savanna armorers sell diamond gear at cheaper prices but with cursed enchantments
Taiga armorers can swap one piece of diamond armor for another

New Locations to Find Enchanted Books

You can now find the following enchanted books in these structures:

Mending in Ancient City
Efficiency in Mineshaft
Quick Charge in Pillager Outpost
Unbreaking in Desert Temples and Jungle Temples

New Maps with Cartographer Trades

Cartographers in Minecraft now sell 7 new maps, each revealing directions to a nearby village. The list includes:

Desert Village Map
Jungle Explorer Map
Plains Village Map
Savanna Village Map
Snow Village Map
Swamp Explorer Map
Taiga Village Map

Thanks to these maps, you can go on wandering from one village to another. They also allow you to find a bunch of biomes more easily than ever before. You can refer to our dedicated guide to easily learn how to use village maps in Minecraft.

Balancing of Mob Attacks and Height

Overhauling the entire combat system of Minecraft, snapshot 23W33A is changing mob attacks in many ways. The changes include:

While riding animals like a horse, smaller mobs (like baby zombies) cannot reach or attack you.
Ravagers can no longer attack you through thick walls. Though, they can still harm you through thin walls, like the ones made out of fences.
If you want to escape an Enderman in Minecraft, you need to be at least 3 blocks above the ground, not just 1.5. In general terms, you have to be higher than the complete height of the Enderman and not just its arms.
When you step into the bottom part of the hitbox of mobs, it gives them the ability to harm you.

Player Skin & Name Reporting

Promoting a sense of inclusivity and security, Minecraft now allows players to report inappropriate names and skins. Getting reported can not only get rid of your name or skin but can even get you banned from playing the game altogether.

Biome-Based Enchanted Books with Librarian Trades

With Minecraft 1.20.2, the librarian villagers offer unique enchanted books, based on their village's biome. What's even more intriguing is that each biome's master-level librarian has exclusive enchantments.

Interestingly, this mechanic also includes swamp and jungle villagers who don't have a village yet. This signals that developers are actively considering these villages and might put them on the list of Minecraft 1.21's features.

Better Wandering Traders

Putting an end to years of complaining, we can now witness the reworked versions of Wandering Traders in Minecraft. Instead of selling only environmental blocks, they now offer useful trades including pickaxes, logs, and even potions.

Moreover, they also have the ability to buy items, giving you a new way to get emeralds in Minecraft. Though, their desire to shop is only limited to water, hay, baked potatoes, milk, and fermented spider eye.

Deepslate Diamonds

To get a balanced Minecraft 1.20 ore distribution, the diamond ores now spawn more frequently in the deepslate layers. This change aims to make mining in deeper and more dangerous areas more rewarding.

Everything You Need to Know About Minecraft 1.21 Update

With that, you are now familiar with the next big Minecraft update. But, this doesn't mean you have to wait till its release to enjoy some exciting new features. There are a bunch of great Minecraft modpacks that can transform your game with a single click. Though, if you only want visual changes, the best Minecraft texture packs might be a better pick. Paired with OptiFine, these packs can alter your game beyond recognition. However, let's not venture too far from the topic at hand. What do you think should be the Minecraft 1.21 update? Drop your guesses on our Discord server! You never know which random entry might reach a Mojang developer.