Java Edition 1.8

General
Difficulty Adventure mode Commands Performance improvements Server list
 * Difficulty can be locked for each world.
 * Once locked you can never change it to a different difficulty.
 * This is so you don't open a world meant for easy difficulty (or higher) on peaceful difficulty by accident.
 * This also is to avoid temptation to change to an easier difficulty in hairy situations.
 * No more global difficulty option (can't change it if no world is loaded)
 * Hitboxes of blocks appear in Adventure mode only if the block can be interacted with (chests, levers, etc.).
 * You can no longer place any blocks in adventure mode.
 * Possibility to break certain blocks, with the help of certain modified tools.
 * The breakable blocks of a certain item are shown in its tooltip.
 * Created with the tag "CanDestroy".
 * New @e function for commands which can be used for entities.
 * If you did then it will give you a list of all the entities.
 * If you do /tp @e[r=5] ~ ~5 ~ then any entity within a radius of five, will be teleported five blocks in the air.
 * You can now kill specific entities, /kill @e[r=5,type=Villager] which will kill all villagers in a range of 5.
 * New command . It will be able to modify NBT data at a specific coordinate. The  will merge with the block at that position.
 * Usage format:
 * Capability to detect entities in the same fashion as blocks.
 * Overworld, Nether, and End are all loaded on different world files / threads.
 * Now showing server platform (like CraftBukkit)

Gameplay
Enchanting
 * Has separate XP level requirement, XP level cost and resource cost. For example, an enchantment may have an XP level requirement of 13, meaning it will only become available for enchanting after reaching 13 levels of experience, but will only cost 2 XP levels and 2 of a resource.
 * Only one randomly chosen enchantment will be displayed in the tooltip.
 * This means that additional enchantments could still be applied, even if they aren't mentioned in the tooltip. For example, if it says "Sharpness" in the tooltip when enchanting a sword, you know the enchantment can't include Smite or Bane of Arthropods, since they are not compatible with each other. However it may still add Knockback or Fire Aspect.
 * Enchantments only cost 1-3 XP levels.
 * Each additional XP level adds a tier of enchantment.
 * The list of possible enchantments is not reset until you enchant an item.
 * In multiplayer, the individual player will have to enchant an item in order for his/her own enchantment list to update.
 * Levels are harder to obtain.

Anvil
 * Anvils will be re-balanced to meet the new enchanting system.
 * Renaming costs only one level.
 * Repairing costs are "flattened" for all items.

Trading
 * There are more villager professions.
 * Farmers, Fishermen, Fletchers and Shepherds use the farmer skin.
 * Butchers and Leatherworkers use the butcher skin.
 * Blacksmiths, Armorers, Tool Smiths and Weapon Smiths use the blacksmith skin.
 * Clerics use the priest skin.
 * Librarians use the librarian skin.
 * There are many new trading offers, and some existing offers have been rebalanced.
 * Villagers have 2 trades unlocked by default.
 * All villagers of the same profession have the same offers, in the same order, but with different prices.
 * Trading any offer will unlock up to 3 new trades or reactivate old ones.
 * Villagers display their profession in the trading interface.
 * Trading gives XP.

Blocks and Items
Tools
 * Added an NBT tag for what block it can break

Door
 * They are stackable up to 64
 * The crafting recipe for doors now gives 3 doors instead of one.

Stone Variants
 * Jeb said that working with stone variants was on his list for 1.8.
 * This includes Granite, Diorite, and Andesite so far.

Granite
 * A pink-brown stone
 * Comes in two variants: "Raw"(like cobblestone) and "Polished"

Diorite
 * A whitish stone
 * Comes in two variants: "Raw"(like cobblestone) and "Polished"

Andesite
 * A grayish stone
 * Comes in two variants: "Raw"(like cobblestone) and "Polished"

Slime Block
 * A slime block that if jumped on or landed on it will cause you to bounce.
 * Also works with carpets and slabs.
 * Falling on it will still result in damage.

Chiseled and Mossy stone bricks
 * Both are now craftable
 * Two stone brick slabs for chiseled stone brick.
 * Stone brick and vines for mossy stone brick.