Minecraft has constantly been evolving since its launch in 2011, with annual updates bringing new mobs, blocks, items, and biomes while fixing issues and adding in new features. These yearly updates help the game feel new by giving players places to explore and challenges to face, all while ensuring that fans are actively a part of the decision-making process for future updates. With Mojang announcing the three new Minecraft mobs that will be a part of the Mob Vote during the upcoming Minecraft Live, fans are eagerly awaiting more information on the 1.20 update.
A few years ago, Minecraft gave players a chance to vote on three biomes that would be updated in future versions: Mountains, Swamps, and Badlands. Following this, players got a chance to experience the new mountain generation in Minecraft’s Caves & Cliffs update. The most recent addition to the game, The Wild Update, added a new variant of the Swamp biome, the Mangrove Swamp. So, it stands to reason that Update 1.20 will likely feature an overhaul of the Badlands biome, introducing new mobs, items, and maybe even blocks.
MineCon Live 2019
Back in 2019, during the Biome vote at MineCon, Mojang revealed some information about how it would update each of the three biomes. The Mountains were promised to feature goats, a new snow block, and multiple types of mountains for players to explore, while the Swamps were promised frogs, mangrove trees, and the new Boat with Chest. All of these features were eventually added when the two biomes were finally updated in the Caves & Cliffs, and Wild Update. As such, it's likely that what Mojang revealed about the Badlands Update will also make its way into Minecraft.
During the lead-up to MineCon 2019, Mojang released a short video showcasing the features it was planning to add to the Badlands biome to make it feel more lively. The Badlands mob was revealed to be the Vulture, a passive mob that would be able to pick up items after a player dies. Along with the new mob, tumbleweed was also introduced alongside a new type of Cactus that could be used as a food source, making starting out in the Badlands a bit easier.
Badlands Update
With all the additions that were promised, and maybe a few more that Mojang has yet to reveal, the Badlands are set to become more challenging and rewarding for players. Being one of the rarest biomes in the game, players rarely venture into the Badlands as the only useful features within this biome is the terracotta that litters the landscape, and the possibility of finding above-ground mine shafts. With the changes that the Badlands Update will bring, it will likely become a hotspot for players as they try and search out the often-overlooked biome.
Vultures will add a new level of danger for players. While the mob will likely be passive, it will take items that are dropped when a player dies, meaning those who die in the Badlands may lose all their valuable loot. The tumbleweed will make navigating through the biome a bit more challenging as it seems that it could hit a player and damage them, but it could also hold items that players can get when they break them. Finally, the new cactus type will add a resource for players to find food in the Badlands, which will make living in the biome a lot easier.
All these features will improve Minecraft’s Badlands for fans, hopefully reviving the overlooked biome. Following two major updates, Mojang will be eager to ensure that 1.20 is a hit and adds in new content to encourage them to search the Badlands. Minecraft Live may even feature a new biome vote as Mojang prepares for the future of Minecraft past update 1.20 as it brings the community together to celebrate a game that continues to grow.
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