Minecraft developer Mojang just revealed the game's next big update. It's called The Wild Update, and it is set to release in early 2022 after the second half of the Caves and Cliffs update in late 2021. Mojang says The Wild Update focuses on expanding the atmosphere in Minecraft, bringing with it the spooky new Deep Dark biome as well as major enhancements to swamps that make them more charming than ever. Minecraft Survival players will surely enjoy the new overworld details and ancient cities they can explore, meanwhile fans of Creative will get a lot of great new blocks and mobs to decorate with.

In general, The Wild Update does something different from some past Minecraft updates. It doesn't make many changes to established Minecraft systems. Instead, it's purely new content, offering fans more to enjoy in the game. Mojang should focus on this kind of expansion while developing future Minecraft updates. Historically, many Minecraft updates that focus on overhauling core systems of the game are met with mixed reception, with some fans lamenting what's lost in Minecraft's changes. The Wild Update, by contrast, builds upon what already exists in the game in a way that's hard to dislike.

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Minecraft's Wild Update Compared to Past Updates

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Longtime Minecraft fans don't always like it when Mojang decides to make a major change to a core mechanic. For instance, a lot of fans disliked the combat and damage changes introduced in 2016's Combat Update, which made players swing their weapons more slowly to deal maximum damage. Some multiplayer Minecraft servers still operate in a state prior to the Combat Update, or use plugins to revert combat to the spam-clicking combat of old. Similarly, the more recent Nether Update introduced Netherite as an equipment tier above diamond. Some Minecraft fans responded negatively to Netherite for trying to usurp diamond as Minecraft's most valuable and iconic mineral.

The Nether Update and Combat Update took huge risks by drastically changing Minecraft's traditions. However, The Wild Update doesn't aim to replace or rework any of Minecraft's core systems. Instead, it simply adds more content to the game. The Deep Dark biome won't wholly replace traditional caves, nor will the swamp's new mangrove trees, frogs, and fireflies mean that older wood types or mobs are obsolete. Mojang is purely adding new content to Minecraft in this update, offering players more options and activities rather than replacing or erasing existing activities.

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The Wild Update Should Guide Minecraft

An image showing a bunch of Minecraft characters, including Steve, a creeper, and a pig.

It'd probably be for the best if future Minecraft updates focus on The Wild Update's growth rather than the Combat Update's focus on change. Making drastic changes to Minecraft tends to distress longtime fans who still associate Minecraft with its earliest days; updates ought to appeal to everyone. By adding new objectives for Survival players and new blocks for Creative players to design with, there's not much to dislike about The Wild Update. Minecraft will never stop changing and growing so long as Mojang keeps working on the game, but building on what's already there seems like the healthiest way to grow.

Inevitably, future Minecraft updates will make changes to the game's mechanics, and that's not a bad thing. Some past changes to Minecraft mechanics were great, like Village and Pillage's total overhaul of Minecraft villagers' trading system. On the whole though, it's probably best if Minecraft focuses on new features rather than reworking old features. The Wild Update proves there's still a lot of new things that Minecraft could stand to add to each of its overworld biomes, for instance. With that in mind, Mojang should keep looking to Minecraft's future rather than regularly messing with its past.

Minecraft is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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