The short version: The Sift is Minecraft’s fourth dimension. It debuted in Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29, 2026, and Mojang confirmed at Minecraft Live on September 26 that it is coming to Java and Bedrock in 2027. No release date, no portal recipe and no snapshot yet.
- 4thDimension, after the Overworld, Nether and End
- 14+Years since the last one (the End, 2011)
- 2027Planned arrival in Java and Bedrock
- 2Biomes shown so far: Meadows and Carapace
What is the Sift?
It’s a new dimension Mojang first teased through rifts in Dungeons II at Gamescom in August 2026, then revealed properly at Minecraft Live. Strange rifts tear open across the Overworld and lead into it. In Dungeons II, the story turns on a threat from the Illager High Council and the corrupted energy leaking out of those rifts.
Mojang has shown two biomes: Meadows and Carapace. The rest is being kept secret on purpose, so players can discover it themselves.
When is the Sift coming to Minecraft Java?
Mojang says 2027 and nothing more precise. It said future Minecraft Live shows would bring more detail and an arrival date. Game drops usually appear in snapshots weeks or months before release, so Java players should see it there first.
What we know and what we don’t
| Question | Status |
|---|---|
| Is it coming to Java and Bedrock? | Yes, confirmed for 2027 |
| Do I need Dungeons II? | No. Dungeons II is just the first place to visit it. |
| How do you get there? | Not announced. In Dungeons II it’s through rifts. |
| Will it match the Dungeons II version? | No. Mojang says the main-game version will differ, without saying how. |
| New mobs and blocks? | Expected. Mojang showed a brief in-development look running in Minecraft. |
| Release date? | Not yet |
Why it’s a bigger deal than a normal drop
Since late 2024 Minecraft has moved to smaller, more frequent game drops. A whole dimension is the opposite: new terrain rules, new progression and probably a reason to rethink endgame bases, farms and travel. The last time this happened, the End came with the Ender Dragon and gave survival worlds an ending. Whatever the Sift is for, it will reshape what a “finished” world looks like.
Not everyone loves the rollout. Some coverage and players have questioned why a spin-off game gets the dimension a year early. Mojang’s answer is that Dungeons II is a preview and the main game gets the full sandbox version later.
Also announced at Minecraft Live
The same show confirmed the Ice Caves drop with its frozen zombie and the Switch 2 edition release date. Everything else is in our Minecraft Live 2026 guide.
