Minecraft Dungeons II's new Sift dimension is coming to Minecraft in 2027

Mojang Studios has confirmed that the Sift will come to Minecraft in 2027. The new dimension first appears in Minecraft Dungeons II and will later be added to both Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

The announcement came during Minecraft LIVE, just days before Minecraft Dungeons II launches on September 29. The Sift will join the Overworld, Nether and End as Minecraft's fourth dimension. It will also be the game's first new dimension in more than 14 years.

Players will get their first full look at the Sift through Minecraft Dungeons II. Strange events begin affecting the Overworld early in the game, including new enemies and souls appearing throughout the environment.

Rifts found across the interconnected world can transport players into the new dimension. The first Minecraft Dungeons separated its world into individual missions. The sequel instead gives players a more connected world with different areas to explore.

The Sift has its own ecosystem, mobs and environmental rules. Mojang has revealed locations including the Meadows and Carapace, while other parts of the dimension are being kept secret until launch.

Players will also encounter hazardous blocks and shifting tides that can affect both characters and creatures around them. Those mechanics are designed to make the Sift feel different from simply exploring another biome in the Overworld.

Mojang showed an early in-development version of the Sift running inside the main Minecraft during Minecraft LIVE. One of its mobs also appeared briefly, offering an early glimpse at what the Sift could look like in the main game.

The studio has not explained exactly how players will enter the Sift in Java and Bedrock Editions or how closely its mechanics will match the version featured in Minecraft Dungeons II. Its arrival will be a notable expansion to the game's world structure. 

The End was added in 2011, and Mojang has spent the years since expanding existing dimensions rather than adding an entirely new one. The developer says the Sift will give players another environment to explore, survive and build in when it reaches Java and Bedrock Editions.

Although the main Minecraft implementation is still in development, Minecraft Dungeons II will provide the first detailed look at the Sift's biomes, blocks, creatures and overall visual identity. Mojang has described the dimension as neither entirely hostile nor friendly. Its creatures are built for an environment that can be dangerous to outsiders. This gives the Sift its own feel instead of making it another version of the Nether or End.

Minecraft Dungeons II launches September 29 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It will also be available through Game Pass and support Xbox Play Anywhere.

The Sift will then expand into Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition sometime in 2027. Mojang has not announced a more specific release window, with more details expected through future Minecraft updates and Minecraft LIVE events.