Minecraft Adds 'The Sift' as First New Dimension in 15 Years
Mojang announced a fourth dimension, The Sift, at Minecraft Live. It arrives first in Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29, 2026, and will come to the main Java and Bedrock editions in 2027.
Minecraft is getting its first new dimension in over 14 years. Called The Sift, it will join the Overworld, the Nether, and the End as the game's fourth realm.
Mojang Studios confirmed the addition during its Minecraft Live event on September 26, 2026. Lead designer Jens "Jeb" Bergensten stated the team aimed for The Sift to fit alongside existing dimensions while offering distinct visuals and gameplay. The dimension promises new dangers, discovery, and mystery.
Initial Access Through Dungeons II
The first way to experience The Sift will be through the action spin-off game Minecraft Dungeons II. That title launches on September 29, 2026, across multiple platforms.
| Platform | Release Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | September 29, 2026 | |
| Xbox Series X\ | S | September 29, 2026 |
| PlayStation 5 | September 29, 2026 | |
| Nintendo Switch | September 29, 2026 | |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | September 29, 2026 | |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | September 29, 2026 |
Within Dungeons II, players can reach The Sift by encountering rifts that appear in the game's connected world as they progress through the main story campaign. The Minecraft Wiki also lists two specific entry methods: a Deep Dark portal powered by a Note Block Machine, and rifts torn open by the Grand Illusioner's staff.
What The Sift Contains
The new dimension features a unique aesthetic built from red and orange stone, bright green plants, ichor, and sculk. It is described as the origin place for corrupted sculk, though healthy sculk still grows there. Mojang has confirmed the inclusion of brand-new biomes, with two named so far: Meadows and Carapace.
The Meadows biome shows pink grasslands under a turquoise sky, inhabited by rabbit-like creatures. Carapace is a desert-style area filled with large bone structures resembling Nether fossils. The Sift will introduce new mobs, blocks, and materials, with some blocks being hazardous. One new enemy shown is an ice zombie.
Main Game Release in 2027
Access to The Sift within the core Minecraft experience-Java and Bedrock editions-is not available yet. Xbox Wire confirmed the dimension will be added to these versions in 2027. Mojang has not provided an exact release date, and no snapshot, preview build, or portal recipe has been revealed.
Accounts differ on the exact timeframe since the last dimension was added. Some sources state it has been 14 years, others say 15. The End dimension arrived with Minecraft's Adventure Update, version 1.0, in 2011.
Xbox has warned that The Sift's representation in Minecraft Dungeons II may differ from its final implementation in the main game next year. The company hopes most assets can be carried over. In the meantime, any method claiming to access The Sift in vanilla Minecraft currently relies on community mods, not official content.
Other Minecraft Live Announcements
The event also revealed other upcoming projects. A Minecraft-themed rollercoaster will open at Chessington World of Adventures in 2027. Also, Minecraft will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 from October 27, 2026.
