All new features in Minecraft New Year update

Since Minecraft’s 2009 release, we’ve been blessed with many updates, from the ominous Nether Update to 1.14’s Village and Pillages. Now that 2025 has begun, it’s time to test out the Minecraft New Year update, featuring all-new content for crafters to uncover.

What to expect in Minecraft New Year update

The Minecraft New Year update brings a host of new features, all ready for you to explore. Whether you’re on Java SnapShot or Bedrock Beta/Preview (with four features available for this version), these updates are designed to be accessible to all players. Once downloaded, you’ll be able to dive into the following features:

• Two new pig variants: Cold Pig and Warm Pig
• Falling leaves
• All Overworld trees will have matching leaf particles falling down
• Leaf litter
• Wildflowers
• Update to lodestone recipe

If you’re a Java Edition user, download the Minecraft Launcher and enable Snapshots via the Installation tab to find the latest content. Bedrock players must also enable the test version through Minecraft Preview.

New Pig variants in Minecraft New Year update

Image by Destructoid

Cold and Warm Pig variants can be found around various places on the map. As you may expect, Cold Pigs roam in sub-zero climates, like the Snowy Plains, while Warm Pigs linger in hotter areas like the Desert or Savanna.

All Minecraft falling leaves and wildflower features

Image by Destructoid

The addition of three ambient features will truly bring biomes to life. The falling leaves, in particular, are a personal favorite. They add a touch of realism to the forest, dark forest, and wooded badland biomes. As they accumulate, they produce leaf litter you can walk on, creating a unique crunching sound. It’s the perfect decorative block to give you that Fall season feel any time of the year.

In addition to the leaves, you can frolic through wildflowers in meadows, birch forests, and old-growth birch forests. To craft them yourself, utilize the distinct dyes of yellow and white flowers to customize your own patterns with blocks. You can either wait it out with the wildflower’s four growing stages or use bonemeal to further it along. Remember that Bedrock users won’t have access to leaf litter and wildflowers initially, but they will soon be available.

Update to lodestone recipe

Image via Mojang Studios

Hints about a lodestone upgrade have been floating around with Mojang Studios’ rock teaser. We finally know what they mean with the Minecraft New Year update, which presents a more accessible way to craft the lodestone recipe. In the previous version, builders gathered eight chiseled stone bricks and one Netherite ingot to craft the item. With the latest update, the lodestone recipe only requires an iron ingot and eight chiseled bricks.

While the rumors of a lodestone magnet were exciting, the new, simpler recipe is a welcome change. Getting Netherite was a challenge, requiring a journey into the formidable Nether. Now, with the use of the more accessible iron, crafting a lodestone is a breeze, allowing you to create unique compasses without the previous level of difficulty.

Destructoid is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy