Java Edition 1.16

1.16, the first release of the Nether Update, is an upcoming major update to Java Edition set to release in 2020, which will overhaul the Nether. This update was announced at MINECON Live 2019. The update will not include the announced features for the mountains biome.

Blocks

 * Basalt.png Basalt
 * Makes up speleothems.
 * Generates in Soul Sand Valleys.


 * Blue Fire.gif Blue Fire
 * Acts the same as regular fire.
 * Fire lit on soul soil will be blue fire regardless of dimension.
 * Will burn forever, similar to regular fire on netherrack.
 * Generates naturally in the soulsand valley biome in the Nether.


 * Nether Fungi.pngBlue Nether Fungi.pngSmall Blue Nether Fungi.png Nether Fungi
 * Generates in both netherwart forest biomes.


 * Soul Soil.png Soul Soil
 * In clips of the soulsand valley, blocks with a similar color scheme to soul sand can be seen, alongside conventional soul sand.
 * Fire lit on soul soil will be blue fire.
 * Will not slow the player more than soulsand.


 * Target Block.png Target Block
 * Emits a redstone signal when shot with an arrow.
 * Signal is stronger depending on how close the arrow is to the center of the block. The signal strength goes up to 15.


 * Blue Nether Wart Block.png Blue Nether Wart Block


 * A variation of the nether wart block.
 * Generates in the blue netherwart forest as part of the Nether trees.


 * Unnamed light block.png Unnamed light block
 * A light-emitting block which closely resembles glowstone can also be seen.
 * Appears to correspond to the spots seen on new mushrooms, due to how it appears as part of large fungal structures in the netherwart forest.


 * Red Nether Mushroom.pngBlue Nether Mushroom.png Red and Blue Nether Mushrooms


 * At least two new types of mushroom will be added to the netherwart forests.
 * Can be used to breed hoglins.


 * Red Nether Grass.pngBlue Nether Grass.png Red and Blue Nether Grass


 * Resembles grass blocks.
 * Grows on top of netherrack.
 * Comes in red and blue.
 * Not known if these are separate blocks or biome coloration variants like with grass blocks.


 * Nether Vine.png Unnamed Nether vine
 * Generates under red nether trees in the red netherwart forest.


 * Red Nether Wart Trunk.pngBlue Nether Wart Trunk.png Unnamed Nether stems


 * Blocks that comprise trunks in the netherwart forest
 * Red and blue variants
 * Have animated textures

Items

 * Spawn eggs
 * At least two new spawn eggs, implied to be that of the piglin and hoglin due to its appearance in the footage.
 * An unnamed food item
 * Will be dropped by hoglins.

Mobs
Have a baby variant.
 * Hoglin.png Hoglins
 * Found in the Nether.
 * Are naturally hostile towards the player.
 * Appear to have a higher melee range than most mobs.
 * Can be bred using the new mushrooms and used as a source of food in the Nether.
 * Appear to drop raw beef, though this is a placeholder.
 * Name has been chosen by the community to be "Hoglin" (previously known as "Piglin Beast" as a placeholder name).
 * Has an attack that flings the target into the air, similar to iron golems.


 * Piglin.png Piglins
 * Found in the Nether.
 * Have an adult and baby variant, as zombie pigmen and hoglins.
 * Are naturally hostile towards the player, unless the player is wearing gold armor.
 * Even if the player wears gold armor, piglins will become aggravated towards the player if they open a chest containing any item crafted with or related to gold near the piglin.
 * They can wield gold swords or crossbows.
 * Will drop arrows if wielding a crossbow.
 * Will be able to "barter" (similar to trading) with the player.
 * To barter with piglins, players have to throw them a gold ingot and piglins will throw them an item in exchange.
 * Will attack wither skeletons and adult hoglins.
 * Will be able to spawn with golden armor.

More mobs will get added in the nether update.

World generation

 * Biomes
 * The Nether will get at least three new biomes:
 * The Soulsand Valley is a vast grotto composed of uncovered fossils, soul sand, soul soil, large speleothems made of basalt, blue fog and blue fire.
 * The Netherwart Forest Red is a dense forest with trees made of nether wart blocks. These blocks and fungi are found in patches on the ground and red vines are found under the trees.
 * The Netherwart Forest Blue is a color variation of the Netherwart Forest Red, but with somewhat different vegetation and particle, fog effects.


 * Bastions
 * Fortifications built by piglins that are found in the Nether.


 * Unnamed tree-like structures


 * Tree structures resembling the new mushrooms that generate in netherwart forests.
 * The tree structures will be resistant to fire.
 * The blue nether structures will be called blueshrooms.


 * Speleothems
 * Floor to ceiling speleothems that generate in soulsand valleys made out of Basalt.

Blocks

 * Bone blocks
 * Now generates in Soulsand Valley biomes.


 * Nether wart blocks
 * Now generates in Netherwart Forest biomes.


 * Soul sand
 * Now generates in Soulsand Valley biomes.

Mobs

 * Zombie pigmen
 * Will be renamed to zombified piglins.

Gameplay

 * Respawning
 * Players will be able to respawn in the Nether.
 * How is currently unknown. This may be indicative of the return of the crying obsidian.

Unconfirmed features
These features were mentioned during the development of Java Edition 1.16 or earlier, or during MINECON Live 2019, but have not been confirmed to be added in this update.


 * Smithing Table and Fletching Table
 * May get functionality. It was mentioned during the development of Village & Pillage that it would be added in "...the next major themed update..."


 * Illusioners
 * May be added to raids.


 * Pigs
 * The feature of pigs transforming to zombie pigmen when struck by lightning may be removed.


 * Nether wood types
 * Maria Lemón stated that she likes the idea of implementing new types of woods. However, it is unknown if they're going to be implemented.