Java Edition 1.16

1.16, the first release of the Nether Update, is an upcoming major update to Java Edition, 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

 * Blue Fire.png Blue fire
 * Acts the same as regular fire.
 * Fire lit on soul sand blocks will be blue fire regardless of dimension.
 * 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.


 * 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.


 * Red Nether Mushroom.pngBlue Nether Mushroom.png Unnamed mushrooms
 * At least two new types of mushroom will be added to the netherwart forests.


 * Blue Nether Wart Block.png Unnamed blue nether wart block
 * A variation of the nether wart block.
 * Generates in the blue netherwart forest.


 * Red Nether Wart Trunk.pngBlue Nether Wart Trunk.png Unnamed nether wart stems
 * Blocks that comprise trunks in the netherwart forest
 * Red and blue variants


 * Red Nether Grass.pngBlue Nether Grass.png Unnamed nether grass
 * Resembles grass blocks.
 * Grows on top of netherrack.
 * Comes in red and blue.


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


 * Unnamed soul sand block.png Unnamed soul sand block
 * In clips of the soulsand valley, blocks with a similar color scheme to soul sand can be seen, alongside conventional soul sand.
 * These blocks can be seen with blue fire atop them, confirming their relationship to conventional soul sand.


 * 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.


 * Unnamed stalactite block.png Unnamed speleothem block
 * This unidentifiable block makes up speleothems.

Items

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

Mobs

 * Piglin.png Piglins
 * Found in the Nether.
 * 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" (similiar to trading) with the player.
 * To barter with piglins, player have to throw them a gold ingot and piglins will throw them an item in exchange.
 * Will attack wither skeletons and hoglins.


 * 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 and used as a source of food in the Nether.
 * Appear to drop raw beef, though this is likely a placeholder.
 * Name has been chosen by the community to be "Hoglin" (previously known as "Piglin Beast" as a placeholder name)

World generation

 * Biomes
 * The Nether will get at least three new biomes:
 * The Soulsand Valley includes uncovered fossils, soul sands, large speleothems, blue fog, and blue fire.
 * The Netherwart Forest Red is a dense forest with trees made of nether wart blocks, with nether fungi found and red veins on the ground.
 * The Netherwart Forest Blue is a variation of the red netherwart forest.


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


 * Nether Trees
 * Trees resembling the new mushrooms that generate in netherwart forests.


 * Speleothems
 * Floor to ceiling speleothems that generate in soulsand valleys made out of a new block.

Mobs

 * Zombie pigmen
 * Will be renamed to zombified piglins.

Gameplay

 * Respawning
 * Players will be able to respawn in the Nether.
 * How is currently unknown.

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. However, a similar behavior may be implemented in a different way.