Java Edition 1.9

, known as The Combat Update, is an upcoming update to Minecraft with no set release 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.
 * New arrow types.
 * Shields
 * Captions / Subtitles
 * Subtitles which display for each sound for the hard of hearing/deaf.
 * An example would be "[creeper hissing]".

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.

Trivia

 * The official name for the update, the Combat Update, was discovered on April 1, 2015 by reddit user 3dDeters who found a QR code hidden in the snow falling pattern of the April Fools 15w14a snapshot.