‘The Nether Update’ for Minecraft: The 1.16.2 update, and everything new you need to know
At long last, the Nether is getting rekindled with fresh flames. Here’s what we know about the Nether Update.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
For those who don’t know,the Netheris an otherworldly dimension that players can access inMinecraftbycrafting a nether portalout of obsidian blocks. The Nether is far more dangerous than the Overworld, typically, with swarms of aggressive monsters, dangerous nether fortresses, and environmental hazards like lava. Unlike the Overworld, however, the Nether has become a bitoutdatedover the years, not receiving meaningful content or updates for quite a while. That all changes with ‘the Nether Update,’ which Microsoft and Mojang are aiming to ship before the end of the year.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Nether Update in one cheat sheet
Available everywhere you play.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It’s also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox One, Windows 10, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Play with anyone, and play anywhere.
What features will be in the Nether Update for Minecraft?
The Nether Update will bring fresh mechanics, mobs, and biome features to the hellish dimension. With the many, many snapshot and beta releases showing off some of the changes we can expect, we now have a better idea of what’s coming with the Nether Update. Mojang may also have some additional changes planned that we still don’t know about, but we’ll tackle that as it comes!
Related: How to prepare your old worlds for the Nether Update
Here’s what we do know is coming:
Mobs
Update, June 29, 2020:Out of nowhere, Mojang Studios is adding an all new mob to the Nether Update in a beta build for the Bedrock Edition—after the Nether Update is officially released and finished. The piglin brute is a super aggressive, very tough hostile mob that lives alongside piglins inside of bastion remnants. More information can be foundhere.
The Nether Update is introducing at least three new mobs, complete with new mechanics and features. Other mobs will be getting new homes as well, so that the entire dimension will feel more organized and alive. Here’s what we know so far:
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Related: How to find piglins in the Nether Update
Related: How to trade with piglins in the Nether Update
Related: How to find hoglins in the Nether Update
Related: How to find striders in the Nether Update
Locations
Locations are often looked over versus more exciting additions like new mobs and biomes but are still a valuable addition to provide players with more to do and see. So far, two new locations are being added in the Nether Update, and both can offer valuable loot if you look hard enough.
Biomes
One of the most obvious changes coming to the Nether is the entirety of the landscape. A bunch of new biomes of different colors, purposes, and forms are coming, and it’s going to make the Nether a very different place from before. As of now, there arefourdifferent biomes being added. Here’s what we know:
Related: How to find all the biomes in the Nether Update
Related: How to tame and breed hoglins in the Nether Update
Related: Check out the new basalt delta biome and what people have been doing with them
Blocks and items
If I included every tiny change and improvement coming in the Nether Update, we would be here for averylong time. Instead, let’s tackle the important points:
Netherite
One of the biggest new changes coming in the Nether Update is indubitably the inclusion of a new ore, one that promises to usurp diamond as the best in the game… Netherite! This elusive ore will be far more dangerous and difficult to obtain, but will return tools, weapons, and armor that are more durable, more efficient, more damaging, more resistant to knockback, and able to withstand greater levels ofenchanting.
What can netherite do? Well:
Music, effects, and everything else
Update, June 29, 2020:Two features that were present in the Nether Update that didn’t make themselves known were Achievement rewards and emotes. Players can now be rewarded with character creation cosmetic items or emotes when completing certain Achievements, and can also express themselves with emotes. New premium emotes will also be made available through the Marketplace. More informationhere.
Update, June 29, 2020:Just under a week before the Nether Update was officially released, Mojang Studios released the official soundtrack, complete with all the new music being added in the Nether Update, to Spotify for everyone to access and enjoy. If you’re interested, you can find our full news postheredetailing the release, with links to the playlist.
I always love to see the attention to detail in games, especially when it comes to the atmospheric qualities, like the soundtrack. Mojang isn’t letting us down here, with new music to come, as well as a lot of other improvements.
Related: Composer Lena Raine makes beautiful music for the Nether Update
Related: The complete changelog for the Nether Update, all in one place
Related: Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is closer in parity to the Java Edition than ever before
We’re also now know what Advancements (Achievements on Xbox and Trophies on Playstation) will be added with the Nether Update, which is exciting. We don’t know how many points or gold the new Achievements will be worth, but it means that Mojang has effectively locked in all the features they plan to add in the Nether Update, and are now focusing on polish.
Here are all the Advancements added in the Nether Update:
Here are all the Achievements / Trophies added in the Nether Update:
Features and changes in 1.16.2
1.16.2 is a smaller update that sits under the Nether Update banner, and won’t make any significant alterations to Minecraft. However, it does aim to make the Nether Update even better, with further polish, refinement, improvements on top of the original 1.16 launch. The new features list is small, with 1.16.2 focusing mostly on bug fixes and tweaks, but there are a few things to talk about here:
There will no doubt be more features as we get closer to launch, and we’ll detail further as more information becomes available. Speaking of which…
When will the Nether Update release for Minecraft?
Update, June 29, 2020:As promised by Mojang Studios, the Nether Update began its gradual rollout to both the Bedrock and Java Editions of Minecraft starting June 23, 2020. Players all over the world should begin receiving the update, and can now jump in and enjoy the fruits of Mojang Studios' intense labor over the last six months. It’s been a wild journey. More detailshere.
Update, June 15, 2020:With Minecraft: Java Edition getting its third Pre-Release build in the Nether Update branch, it was revealed that we’re only a few weeks out from release. We’ll keep you posted once we hear an exact date, but we’re awfully close now. Original posthere.
Microsoft says the Nether Update will ship during the first half of 2020, following the Buzzy Bees update, whichlaunched on December 11, 2019. We’ll updatethis articleas soon as we have more information!
Related: When does the Nether Update release for Minecraft?
Release date for 1.16.2
The 1.16.2 update won’t take more than a few weeks to release for the Nether Update, before Mojang Studios begins discussing the next major update (which could bethe Mountain Update). I’d expect sometime in August, although it could be as soon as August 11, 2020 ifthis Java Edition snapshot is anything to go by. We’ll keep you posted.
The timeline for the Nether Update’s development
If you want to follow along with how the Nether Update has changed and evolved, here are all the articles you need.
The Nether Update’s 1.16.2 timeline
If you want to follow along with the 1.16.2 update for the Nether Update, which features new mobs, changes, and improvements to the original release, here are all the articles you’ll need:
Are you excited for the Nether Update? What features and changes do you want Mojang to make to Minecraft? Let us know in the comments below!
Available everywhere you play.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It’s also available on every platform imaginable, including Xbox One, Windows 10, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Play with anyone, and play anywhere.
Xbox
Main
Awesome Minecraft merch
We love Minecraft just as much as you do. These are some of our favorite Minecraft accessories.
Minecraft Guide Book Collection($25 at Amazon)
Want to learn more about the intricacies of Minecraft? These awesome books make for a great gift, or learning experience for a younger loved one!
Minecraft Creeper T-shirt(From $7 at Amazon)
For the creeper in your life!
Creeper Hat($14 at Amazon)
The spookiest hat of them all. Thankfully, it doesn’t explode.
Minecraft Pig Plushie($18 at Amazon)
Creepers too ugly? Try this cutesy plushie instead!
Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter@BoddyZachary.
