Game drop

A game drop^[1] (or simply drop)^[2] is a type of named update containing a number of features related to a theme. Three to four game drops are released each year in a quarterly schedule.

Game drops are loosely planned up to two years at most in advance, give or take, depending on community feedback.^[3] A game drop can be small, like Bats and Pots, or large, like Chaos Cubed. Game drops can have any number of features, and can tackle any feature types.^[4]

The game drop system was first announced with the release of Armored Paws. Bats and Pots was then retroactively called a drop.

For the most part, one game drop is released in each business quarter of a year.

Name	Release date	Versions		Main features
		JE	BE
Bats and Pots	December 5, 2023	1.20.3	1.20.50	Updated bat model and texture Improved decorated pot mechanics

Name	Release date	Versions		Main features
		JE	BE
Armored Paws	April 23, 2024	1.20.5	1.20.80	Armadillo and Wolf Armor 8 new wolf variants
Bundles of Bravery	October 22, 2024	1.21.2	1.21.40	Bundle Hardcore for Bedrock Edition and Java Realms
The Garden Awakens	December 3, 2024	1.21.4	1.21.50	Pale Garden and Pale Oak wood set Creaking Heart and Creaking Resin block set

Name	Release date	Versions		Main features
		JE	BE
Spring to Life	March 25, 2025	1.21.5	1.21.70	New nature blocks New farm animal variants for warm and cold biomes Increased chances for specific sheep colors for warm and cold biomes Falling leaf particles Desert and badlands ambient sounds Updated wandering trader and cartographer trades More distinctive spawn egg textures
Chase the Skies	June 17, 2025	1.21.6	1.21.90	Locator bar Happy Ghast Improved lead mechanics Made saddles craftable Vibrant Visuals‌[BE only] Music Disc Tears and Lava Chicken
The Copper Age	September 30, 2025	1.21.9	1.21.111	Copper Golem and Copper Chest Copper tools, weapons, and armor New copper decoration blocks Shelf More distinctive dye textures
Mounts of Mayhem	December 9, 2025	1.21.11	1.21.130	Spear Nautilus and Nautilus Armor Zombie Nautilus and Zombie Nautilus Jockey Improved zombie horse and Zombie Horseman Camel Husk, Parched, and Camel Husk Jockey Netherite Horse Armor

Name	Release date	Versions		Main features
		JE	BE
Tiny Takeover	March 24, 2026	26.1	26.10	Updated baby models and textures Golden Dandelion Updated rabbit model and textures Made name tags craftable
Chaos Cubed	June 16, 2026	26.2	26.30	Sulfur Spring and Sulfur Caves Sulfur and Cinnabar block sets Sulfur Cube Music Disc Bounce
Third Drop 2026	Expected Q3 2026	26.3	26.50	Dappled Forest and Poplar wood set Abandoned Camp, Straw Bed and Cushion Wool stairs and slabs Concrete stairs and slabs Improved maps

Game drops can be classified into four types, based on which Northern Hemisphere season they are released in:

• Spring Drop
• Summer Drop
• Fall Drop
• Winter Drop

Although it is no longer the primary classification for game drops, Mojang Studios has used this nomenclature on several occasions:

• The Garden Awakens has explicitly been referred to as the "Winter Drop" during its experiment phase in Java Edition.
• Spring to Life and The Copper Age were respectively referred to as "Spring drop" and "Fall drop" in the manifest.json file of their respective experimental packs in Bedrock Edition.^[5][6]
• Chase the Skies was named "Summer drop" by a Mojang employee.^[7]
• Some files on Minecraft.net use season to refer to drops in their names; for example:
  • MCV_SpringDrop_testing_Jan8_Wildflowers_8a_1280x720.jpg uses "SpringDrop".^[8]
  • MCV_Su25_VibrantVisuals_April2_Overworld_2_1280x720.jpg uses "Su25" for "Summer 2025".^[9]
  • MCV_FA25_July22_02_Feature_CopperGolemStatue_C_DotNet_1280x720.jpg uses "FA25" for "Fall 2025".^[10]

• Major update
• Named update
• Version types
• Version history