When does the ‘Nether Update’ release for Minecraft? (update)

The next major update to Minecraft has been officially dubbed ‘the Nether Update,’ and it’s the first time the Nether will receive any kind of meaningful change since its initial debut on Halloween back in 2010. With the first snapshot being released to the public, players are just now getting their hands on the many new features and improvements Mojang is making. An important question remains in everyone’s minds, though: when does the Nether Update officially release? Here’s what we know.

When does ‘the Nether Update’ release for Minecraft?

Update March 16, 2020: While an official release date still hasn’t been announced, the first Beta for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is finally here, meaning we’re getting closer and closer to the official release date. Judging by previous releases, we could be as little as two months away from the official release. We’ll continue to update this space as we learn more.

While we don’t have a definite release date for the Nether Update quite yet, Mojang has divulged their general plans to the public. At Minecon 2019, Mojang committed to releasing the Nether Update to Minecraft in the first half of 2020. Since the Buzzy Bees update was released to the public on December 11, this gives Mojang right about six months to deliver on their promise.

Mojang also just released the first snapshot that features some of the changes coming in the Nether Update to the Java Edition of Minecraft, showcasing a little bit of what we can expect.

Related: Everything we know about Minecraft’s “Nether Update”

Snapshots for major updates can start popping up 3 to 4 months away from the update’s actual release date, to give Mojang plenty of time to polish, tweak, and fix before the public gets their hands on it. From this, one can speculate an early-to-mid summer release later this year. Hopefully, Mojang will release more concrete information, the closer we get to the actual date. When that happens, we’ll be sure to update you as quickly as humanly possible!

Are you excited about the Nether Update for Minecraft? When do you think it will come out? Sound off in the comments below!