Minecraft Live revealed the Ice Caves, a new underground biome beneath cold biomes, featuring glowing ice crystals, icicles, and natural ice formations that illuminate caves.

The Ice Caves update was announced as part of Minecraft LIVE on September 26, 2026, highlighting an ice-filled underground extension with ore-rich deposits and a chilly exploratory atmosphere.

Testing for Ice Caves will begin soon, with early previews expected and potential traversal methods such as boats under consideration.

Lighting in the Ice Caves requires care: placing too many torches can cause icicles to fall and harm players, so light management is essential.

A new enemy, the Frozen Zombie, appears in the biome and can stack a freezing effect with melee attacks; exposure to powder snow can transform regular zombies into Frozen Zombies, which drop Ice Balls on death.

Ice Balls serve both as ranged projectiles and potion ingredients, enabling crafting of Freezing potions and influencing combat strategy in the biome.

The Ice Caves generation adds stone and deepslate patches for mining alongside new environmental hazards.

All features are subject to Minecraft snapshots and previews before the official live release.

Ice Crystals glow to provide light and decoration, while Icicles create vertical ice formations; both interact with the environment and enhance cave aesthetics.

Ice Crystals can be placed horizontally or vertically, expanding lighting and build options within the Ice Caves.

Mojang emphasizes that Ice Caves will boost environmental variety and underground exploration challenges, not just beauty.

The update will bring features to both Java and Bedrock Editions, including the Ice Caves biome, Frozen Zombie, Ice Balls, the Potion of Freezing, Ice Crystals, and Icicles.