Java Edition 1.9

1.9 is an upcoming update to Minecraft with no set release date, currently only listed in the bug tracker as "Far Future Version - 1.9+", as well as mentioned by the Minecraft Developers. It was originally announced that 1.9 snapshots will begin being published in January of 2015, but later it was said that they will begin releasing in February.

Planned additions

 * A way for mod/plugin makers to implement new commands and register them in a simple way.
 * Animation / Entity Models
 * Could possibly include model changes via NBT.
 * Would be implemented via resource packs.
 * This will make better use of changes in the code, so map makers/mod makers can create better/new mobs
 * Basically what had happened with the block data change in 1.8
 * May take some time before it is fully finished

Pressed Dirt
 * Pressed Dirt.png
 * A 15/16 block tall grass-like "path". It features a similar texture like the grass block.

Planned changes

 * Command blocks
 * New GUI
 * Will contain tab to complete.
 * Clouds
 * New cloud rendering system.
 * Shaders
 * Switch away from using fixed-function OpenGL to using Shaders.
 * Wither
 * A new bar for when there are multiple withers.
 * Ender Dragon
 * A redo of the Ender Dragon's boss fight, being similar to the fight in Console Edition.
 * The dragon will respawn without resetting the End if he has already been killed.