Minecraft ‘Caves and Cliffs Update’: 1.17 Part One, release date, features, and everything we know
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Minecraft, as one of thebest games on Xbox, is a constantly evolving game, gaining meaningful new features and changes continuously over the years since its debut. The Minecraft of today is not the same game as ten years ago, or even last year. This means we’re always looking to the next chapter in Minecraft’s long and colorful story. After the colossal success that isthe Nether Update, we now know what the next major update for Minecraft will be. The 1.17 and 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update will be two separate releases under the same umbrella and theme, dramatically changing Minecraft in 2021.
The Caves and Cliffs Update is heading to Minecraft in two parts later this year. As the name implies, this update will focus on revamping the tallest peaks and the lowest caves in Minecraft with new ways to play and a whole lot more.
Here’s everything we know (and everything you should know), from new features to release dates, about the 1.17 and 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft.
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 is the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
The Caves and Cliffs update was officially announced atMinecraft Live 2020and combines massive changes for two integral parts of Minecraft: caves that tunnel deep underground and mountains that tower high into the air. The first part of this has been heavily requested by the Minecraft players for years, while the latter was already known about when the community voted for mountains to be updated atMinecon 2019.
Mojang Studios decided to shake things up this time around, however, by forgoing a smaller “in-between” update like theBuzzy Bees Updateand instead leaped from the massive Nether Update to the evenmore extensiveCaves and Cliffs Update. The Caves and Cliffs Update will still be split into two parts, however.
Source: Mojang Studios
The Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft has two primary goals:
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The Caves and Cliffs Update aims to do this with massively altered world generation for mountain biomes and cave systems, brand-new cave biomes, and a whole suite of brand-new features, mobs, ores, items, and so much more. The Caves and Cliffs Update’s headlining features are enough to excite any Minecraft player on their own, but countless more minor additions and improvements surround them.
Because of the Caves and Cliffs Update scale, however, it’s going to take longer than average for this update to be completed. Mojang Studios is already hard at work on the Caves and Cliffs Update and is testing numerous features throughMinecraft: Bedrock Edition betasandMinecraft: Java Edition snapshots. We, the players, will be able to witness the Caves and Cliffs Update develop over time and even help shape its path with feedback.
When is the release date for the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
Update: As of April 14, 2021, theCaves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft has been split into two parts and delayed. The below section has been updated to reflect this.
The Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft, previously one major release containing a mind-boggling number of new features and content, is now two separate releases spread out over the course of a year. Just as Mojang Studios is always looking forward to how to improve Minecraft next, Minecraft players are always looking forward to the next update for their favorite game. We’ll keep this section updated constantly as we learn new information about release dates for both halves of the Caves and Cliffs Update.
You can also bookmark our ultimate guide towhen the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft will releasefor faster access to the information you’re looking for.
1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One
Part One of the Caves and Cliffs Update, which falls under the 1.17 version number umbrella, is the smaller and less ambitious half of the larger Caves and Cliffs Update. Unlike Part Two, which wasmassively delayed by the Caves and Cliffs Update split, Part One is actually arrivingearlierthan many players speculated it would. It’s official:the 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One releases for Minecraft on June 8, 2021, and will bring with it a ton of new features and enhancements for players to look forward to.
This shirks expectations from the update’s earlier release window of “Summer 2021,” which suggested to many a July or August release frame. Instead, Mojang Studios has already finalized the feature set for 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update and will release it for all platforms simultaneously on June 8, including Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition.
As for what kinds of features players can expect in Part One of the Caves and Cliffs Update, the first half is understandably less exciting on the surface. There’s still a lot to look forward to, however, as the 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One release will add three new mobs to the game and up to 91 new blocks and items, most of which will be discoverable and obtainable in regular Minecraft Survival mode. This includes axolotl, mountain goats, deepslate, new copper ore, crystals, and craftable items like spyglasses and more.
We won’t see any new cave or mountain biomes in this update, and the world generation isn’t being updated with the gorgeous new cave systems or mountain vistas. Still, you’ll be able to acquire new items and blocks from these biomes, like the lush cave biomes, through other means!
The 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One contains more than enough sweet new content and quality-of-life improvements to tide players over until the arrival of the much more grand 1.18 Part Two arriving at the end of this year.
1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two
Part Two of the Caves and Cliffs Update, the larger and arguably more exciting half, falls under the 1.18 version number umbrella. The second half of the Caves and Cliffs Update was split away from the initial release and delayed until near the end of the year, or Winter 2021. As of right now, there isno definitive release date, and only a generic window in which we can look for more information. When 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two does arrive, however, it will include the vast majority of the new features that players are looking forward to in the largest release for Minecraft yet.
While it may be frustrating that Part Two of the Caves and Cliffs Update was delayed,delays for video games in general are much more commonin recent times. A look atevery major video game delayshows a long list of projects that players will have to wait longer for, and that’s alright. Mojang Studios is working hard to deliver 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two to Minecraft players all over the world, with the quality and stability they expect. To make this happen (and protect the health of Mojang employees), it’s going to take a little while longer.
If you’re looking for a quick recap for what’s expected to be included in 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two, there’s a lot to unpack. The biggest new features will be massive updates to world generation, including doubling the size (height and depth) of Minecraft worlds, adding incredible amounts of variation for mountain biomes, and introducing several new types of cave generationsandcave biomes like lush and dripstone caves. There will also be more new mobs, blocks, craftable items, and more features than you can shake a stick at.
One thing that’s not expected with Part Two of the Caves and Cliffs Update is the intriguing archaeology system, which has unfortunately been indefinitely delayed. Mojang Studios has confirmed that this completely new mechanic for Minecraft isn’t arriving with the Caves and Cliffs Update at all, and no new release window or release date has been provided (although we’re expecting it to come sometime in 2022, possibly as a smaller release of its own).
The 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two by itself is already one of the most significant releases for Minecraft in recent years, and it arrives near the end of 2021. Mojang Studios is already working on it in the background and has tested several features with insiders over the last few months.
How can I watch the trailers for the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
Caves and Cliffs Update first look
Caves and Cliffs Update art
Ask Mojang #11: All About Caves & Cliffs
How We Make Minecraft: Caves, Cliffs, & Other Updates
Ask Mojang #14: Coding to the Classics
Dev Diaries: World Generation
Caves and Cliffs Update split & delay
Dev Diaries: Caves & Cliffs Mobs
Caves and Cliffs Update Special: Blocks
Caves and Cliffs Update Special: Mobs
Caves and Cliffs Update Special: Looking Forward
Caves and Cliffs Update Part One official release trailer
What new features & changes are in 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One for Minecraft?
While Part One of the Caves and Cliffs Update may be the considerably skinnier half of the Caves and Cliffs Update duo, don’t believe for a moment that there’s nothing here worth getting excited about. Mojang Studios still made sure to pack this release with lots of new features, including some that will still affect your Minecraft experience when underground or atop mountains. Mostly, expect new mobs and a huge list of new blocks and items.
Here’s an overview of all the new features and changes coming in 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One for Minecraft.
Mobs
One of the biggest additions heading to Minecraft with the 1.17 release of the Caves and Cliffs Update arethreebrand-new mobs for players to discover and find unique uses for. All three mobs comfortably subscribe to the “caves and cliffs” theme of Minecraft’s newest update, and each provides reasons for players to seek them out.
Axolotl
Source: Mojang Studios and Mojang Studios | Twitter
Axolotl are passive mobs that are vying for the spot of “cutest mob in Minecraft” (move aside bees?) with their adorable faces and assortment of colors. Axolotl come in a variety of different colors, including an extremely rare “blue” variety.
Mountain goats
Source: Mojang Studios
Another new mob being added in the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft is the mountain goat. Mountain goats conclude the trifecta of new features arriving with the Caves and Cliffs Update for mountains, alongside powder snow and fancy new world generation. If you’re very lucky, you may find a rare goat variant that “screams.”
Glow squid
Source: Mojang Studios | Twitter
The victor of the Minecraft Live mob vote, the glow squid is the latest mob addition to the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft. This swimmy boi shines brightly underwater, and is an entirely passive mob.
Blocks & items
Alongside some exciting new mobs to join the growing Minecraft ecosystem, 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One is also adding up to 91 new blocks and items for players. Despite many of these blocks being tied to future Caves and Cliffs Update features, like the lush cave biome, you can still find many of these blocks and items in Survival mode of Minecraft through different means. The ones you can’t find naturally will be available in Creative mode until Part Two of the Caves and Cliffs Update.
Caves blocks
Source: Mojang Studios and Mojang Studios | Twitter
It may be the CavesandCliffs Update, but it certainly feels like the caves are getting the majority of the new blocks and features. Even in the first half of the Caves and Cliffs Update, before the massive changes to the world generation, a ton of new blocks and items are arriving.
Lush Caves blocks
Source: Mojang Studios and Mojang Studios | Twitter
Like most of the other new cave biomes, Lush Caveswill notbe appearing in Caves and Cliffs Update Part One. However, the vast majority of the new blocks that are coming with Lush Caves can still be found in the first half of the update, even in Survival mode. If you spot a moss block in a cave (more on it below), be sure to use bone meal on it to cause Lush Cave blocks to bloom in the surrounding area.
Mountain blocks
Source: Mojang Studios
Mountains aren’t getting anything too exciting in Part One of the Caves and Cliffs Updates, relegated down to one new mob and one new block without the beautiful updated world generation expected in 1.18 Part Two. Still, the one new block that is coming to mountains in the Caves and Cliffs Update is definitely worth a second look, especially if you’re planning any trips to higher elevations in Minecraft.
Crafted items
Source: Mojang Studios and Mojang Studios | Twitter
The addition of lots of new blocks in Minecraft also, of course, signifies the arrival of lots of new crafting recipes to master and find new uses for. 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One does not disappoint in this aspect, with a ton of new items being added based on all the new blocks. Players can expect new ways to build, meaningful and helpful additions, and more.
Other changes & additions
Source: Mojang Studios
Image gallery
There are lots of images from 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One that we just couldn’t fit in above, but you can check them all out below.
What new features & changes are in 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two for Minecraft?
The 1.17 Part One release of the Caves and Cliffs Update is certainly worth your excitement all on its own, but Mojang Studios still has something more ambitious and grand planned for Minecraft players with the 1.18 Part Two half of the Caves and Cliffs Update. Coming near the end of 2021, a lot of the more significant and in-depth changes that were originally planned to arrive with the initial release of the Caves and Cliffs Update have been moved to the second half. This is because many of these features are massive, and could seriously affect performance and compatibility if not given proper time for development and testing.
Here’s an overview of all the new features and changes coming in 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two for Minecraft.
Caves
Caves haven’t changed all the much since their inception in Minecraft, despite being a core pillar of the Minecraft experience (literally putting the “mine” in “Minecraft”). Fans of Mojang Studio’s open-world sandbox have been clamoring for a caves-centered refresh for ages, and we’re finally getting what we’ve been asking for. The Caves and Cliffs Update absolutely appears to focus more on the “caves” side of things with lots of new features, ways to play, and entirely new gameplay systems.
Improved cave generation
Source: Mojang Studios
One of the biggest changes in the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft is world generation. Players can expect caves to become exceptionally more diverse and natural-looking without taking away from the mining experience. Mojang Studios is updating quite a few factors when it comes to generating caves in Minecraft, which will dramatically alter one of Minecraft’s central features.
New cave biomes
Alongside much-improved world generation for caves and more room underground, Mojang Studios is introducing brand-new cave biomes in the Caves and Cliffs Update. This is a big addition, as caves have previously not had biomes (nor have they ever been considered biomes). This further adds to the diversity being brought with the Caves and Cliffs Update. Right now, there are three new biomes that we know of.
Source: Mojang Studios
Source: Mojang Studios and Mojang Studios | Twitter
New mobs
Source: Mojang Studios
Cliffs
While caves are definitely receiving the brunt of major changes and additions in the Caves and Cliffs Update, Mojang Studios is still introducing some key changes to mountains in Minecraft. Mountains will be much more dramatic, and feel more alive and dynamic in your Minecraft worlds. This also hopefully lays the foundation for even more mountain-related changes in the future.
Improved mountain generation
Source: Mojang Studios
Other changes & additions
There are also going to be lots of changes like new items and gameplay improvements that aren’t explicitly “Cave” or “Cliff” sided. These are the changes that will make Minecraft feel fresh and fun even if you’re not in one of the two newly updated biomes, and seek to add on top of Minecraft’s already-deep gameplay mechanics. Since these features aren’t headlining additions, we’re more likely to see newcomers in this section as we get closer to release.
Redstone
Source: Mojang Studios
Other
Source: Mojang Studios
Image gallery
There are lots of images from 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two that we just couldn’t fit in above, but you can check them all out below.
Are there any delayed or removed features in the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
Sometimes the unfortunate happens, and features need to be delayed or even permanently removed from updates and games before release. As part of the split and partial delay of the Caves and Cliffs Update, Mojang Studios had to make some tough decisions in this regard. One of the more exciting (and completely different) additions to Minecraft in recent times, for example, has been indefinitely delayed.
Here’s an overview of all the features and changes we know have been delayed or removed in the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft.
Archaeology
Source: Mojang Studios
One of the wild cards from the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft is the new archaeology system. This is an all-new game system that completely upheaves the traditional “break stuff with pickaxe” mining system that’s existed in Minecraft since its creation. Instead, archaeology has players use copper brushes to carefully sweep away blocks to reveal ceramic shards, emeralds, diamonds, and more. Unfortunately, archaeology has been indefinitely delayed and may not appear in the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft at all (although it’s still apparently planned to arrive at some point).
Will there be Xbox Series X|S Optimizations in the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
Ever since the debut of the ultra-powerfulXbox Series XandXbox Series S, there has been constant buzz from the Minecraft community about whenMinecraft will become Xbox Series X|S Optimized. More specifically,when will Minecraft with ray tracing arrive on Xbox Series X|S?.
The Xbox Series X|S consoles are significantly more powerful than the previous generation of Xbox consoles, and possess the hardware and technology to supportMinecraft with ray tracingwith DirectX 12 Ultimate, DirectX Ray Tracing, and hardware-acceleration. Despite this, and the fact thatMicrosoftdemoedray tracing on the Xbox Series X|S with Minecraft, we’ve heard absolutely nothing from Mojang Studios and Microsoft about upgrading Minecraft for the Xbox Series X|S.
I’ve previously written about why this development and (most importantly) the lack of communication from Mojang Studios has led toMinecraft on Xbox Series X|S being an unfortunate disappointment.
There has been speculation that this visual upgrade will arrive with the 1.17 or 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update, but unfortunately, there hasn’t been any confirmation. Minecraft with ray tracing is still relatively young on Windows 10, and it’s unclear how much work needs to be done to port that technology over to the Xbox Series X|S and have it run and look acceptable. In all honesty, it’s unclear if Mojang Studios hasanyplans to bring Minecraft with ray tracing to the Xbox Series X|S.
As of right now, wedo nothave any reason to believe that Minecraft with ray tracing is heading to the Xbox Series X|S with the Caves and Cliffs Update. It’s almost certainlynotarriving with 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One, although it’s still possible for Mojang to surprise Minecraft players by adding Xbox Series X|S Optimizations in the 1.18 Caves and Cliffs Update Part Two.
We’ll constantly update this section if we learn anything new.
What is our wishlist for the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
The Caves and Cliffs Update is clearly already packed to the brim with tons of new features and additions. That being said, I’d still like to take a moment to discuss some of the features I’d love to see come to Minecraft in the Caves and Cliffs update. Bear in mind that this is simply ourwishlist, and none of these features are confirmed for Minecraft in any way. In fact, Mojang Studios likely already has many of the features they’d wish to implement in the Caves and Cliffs Update planned out.
Our wishlist for the Caves and Cliffs Update (or any future updates) for Minecraft includes:
Of course, this is just a fun list of features we’d love to see in Minecraft at some point and happen to fit with the theme of the already-too-large Caves and Cliffs Update. Do you have any ideas you’d love to see added to Minecraft at some point? Let us know in the comments!
What is the development timeline for the Caves and Cliffs Update for Minecraft?
The Caves and Cliffs Update will conquer the attention of Mojang Studios and Minecraft players for many months, especially now that the update is being split into two parts and released over the course of an entire year. With so many teases, updates, announcements, and tests, it can be easy to lose track of the latest news for Minecraft and the Caves and Cliffs Update. To help ensure you never get left behind, I’ve compiled a complete timeline of the Caves and Cliffs Update up until this point.
News & info
Betas & snapshots
Minecraft has absolutely secured its place as one of thebest Xbox Game pass gamesand can boast of a huge following of dedicated players. Show your love for Minecraft or find the perfect gift for a fellow Minecrafter with our list of Best Minecraft merch, toys, and gifts. You can also ensure you get the best possible experience out of Minecraft, especially when playing in co-op, with one of thebest Xbox Series X|S headests.
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.
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.
