Minecraft reveals the first features of the next game release

Even though 2026 has just begun, Mojang has already revealed new content to come Minecraft in the first game drop of the year. The latest game release will introduce eight new versions of baby farm mobs, and Minecraft players can test these features and more in Java snapshot and Bedrock beta/preview now.

Minecraft coming after a busy 2025. Not only did it A Minecraft movie was released in theaters on April 4, but the game suffered four game declines during the year. Things kicked off with the Spring to Life update in March, with new animal variants based on temperature. This was followed by Chase the Skies in June and The Copper Age in September, bringing things like Happy Ghast and Copper Golems to the game. 2025 was capped off by Mounts of Mayhem in December, which introduced new mobs and the spear.

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Minecraft reveals new versions of Baby Farm Mobs for its first Game Drop in 2026

Fortunately, Mojang wants to keep the momentum going in 2026 and reveal its first features for the next game release. While a name for the content update has not been revealed, the developer did announce that new versions of baby farm mobs are coming to Minecraft. Specifically, players can expect to see new, adorable designs for wolf pups, kittens, piglets, calves, baby chickens, baby ocelots, lambs, and baby bunnies. Although the game already has baby farm mobs, they are scaled down versions of regular adult mobs, except with disproportionately large heads. However, Game Director Agnes Larsson has said that the new versions coming in the next game release will have “unique textures and models that give each baby mob its own adorable look and identity!”

All new versions of Baby Farm Mobs

Wolf pup
Kitten
Piglet
Calf
Baby chicken
Baby Ocelot
Lamb
Baby rabbit

The redesigns for the baby farm mobs are noticeable, with the new look being significantly cuter. In particular, the development team pointed out the change in the eyes. As noted by Larsson, most mobs in Minecraft has two pixel eyes. But the baby mob only has one, which she described as “adorable”. It's worth noting that there are variations for each baby animal to match the adults. For example, there are nine wolf pup variants and 11 kitten variants. The development team also added unique sounds for piglets, wolf puppies and kittens, enhancing their charm. In addition to these eight new versions of baby farm mobs, Mojang has also redesigned the adult rabbits, giving them fluffy tails. They also added new animations for the rabbit, such as the mob standing on its hind legs and tilting its head.

Minecraft makes name tags craftable

With many more mobs likely to populate players' farms in the coming months, Mojang has made it easier to name them. With the new game release, it will be possible to create name tags using paper and any metal nugget. Previous name tags in Minecraft must be found in the world, either through generated loot, fishing, or trading with a librarian. This new update should come as a welcome change for those who like to keep track of their favorite in-game pets.

Although there is no release date for the upcoming one Minecraft game drop, last year's release cadence may provide a clue. Year 2025, the first Minecraft This year's game drop, Spring to Life, launched in March. A similar pattern could happen in 2026, but fans will have to wait for official confirmation from Mojang to know for sure. In the meantime, players can try out these new features right now.

It's worth noting that features in the current Java snapshot and Bedrock beta/preview are still work in progress. With this in mind, things may change before the game release is fully released. Also, Mojang asks Minecraft players to give their feedback on the features, so that the upcoming launch can be as smooth as possible. While it remains to be seen what other content will come in this game, the upcoming update will make the Overworld significantly more adorable.