Java Edition 1.9

, known as The Combat Update, is an upcoming update to Minecraft with no set release date, although a lot of fans are speculating that it will be released on May 23rd, 2015, or “World Turtle Day”. However, it may or may not be released on this date.

Planned additions

 * Animations / Entity Models
 * Could possibly include model changes within the NBT data.
 * Would be implemented via resource packs.
 * Will make better use of code so that map/mod makers can create better/new mobs.
 * Same as the block data changes in 1.8.
 * May not be 100% finished.
 * Blocks
 * New block type.
 * New dark colored block.
 * Cannot be obtained and does not naturally generate.
 * Has a visual effect on the world.
 * Grass Path
 * A 15/16 block tall grass-like "path". It features a similar texture to the grass block.
 * Items
 * Quivers
 * Can hold arrows.
 * At least 4 new arrow types.
 * Shields
 * Captions / Subtitles
 * Subtitles which display for each sound for the hard of hearing/deaf.
 * An example would be "[creeper hissing]".
 * Generated Structures
 * A new type of dungeon with new blocks and mobs.
 * Related to the "new dark colored block"
 * Added support to rotate and mirror structures.

Planned changes

 * Bosses
 * Proper support for multiple bosses' health bars, so they show at the same time without obstructing each other.
 * Ender dragon boss fight
 * A redo of the ender dragon's boss fight, making it similar to the fight in Console Edition.
 * Some obsidian pillars will have iron bars surrounding the ender crystal.
 * The ender dragon now breathes purple particles.
 * The dragon will respawn without resetting the End if it has already been killed.
 * Clouds
 * New cloud rendering system.
 * Command blocks
 * New GUI
 * Will contain tab to complete.
 * A way for mod/plugin makers to implement new commands and register them in a simple way.
 * Death messages
 * Death messages will now be displayed on the death screen instead of just in the chat.
 * Shaders
 * Switch away from using fixed-function OpenGL to using Shaders.