The latest experimental Minecraft snapshot, 1.18 Version 3, was released this week for both Java and Bedrock editions of the game. In it, Mojang Studios tweaked several features introduced in the previous two snapshots - both of which work on implementing gameplay from Caves & Cliffs Part 2 - as well as introduced new biomes, world generation, and more. Here are the snapshot's biggest changes from Caves & Cliffs Part 1.
Caves & Cliffs was first announced in 2020 during Minecraft Live as an overhaul of Minecraft's mountain biomes as well as its underground areas. Among its introduced features were new items, mobs, and increased world height and depth. The update was later split into two parts; Mojang Studio cited technical difficulties as a large part of the reason behind this decision. Caves & Cliffs Part 1 was then released in early June.
Part 1 brought the update's new items and mobs into the game, including additional blocks such as deepslate and copper ore. However, it didn't implement the new world generation, making it relatively difficult to obtain any of the update's items until Part 2 is released later this year. No concrete date has as of yet been provided for Caves & Cliffs Part 2's release, though it's been confirmed to come out at some point during the 2021 holiday season.
Minecraft Snapshot 1.18: Changes From Caves & Cliffs Part 1
A more in-depth overview of these changes and others can be found on Minecraft's official website.
- New world height and depth. Whereas in the base game, Minecraft's world height extends just over 250 blocks, as of 1.18 it can reach upwards of 300.
- New mountain biomes (lofty peaks, snowcapped peaks, grove, meadow, and snowy slopes). These new biomes will work alongside mountain changes already added to Caves & Cliffs Part 1, such as the introduction of goats.
- Local water levels and lava levels in the underground. Axolotls, another new mob from Caves & Cliffs, spawn exclusively in underground water systems and other dark pools of water.
- New cave generation: cheese, noodle, and spaghetti caves all provide more variation than what's seen in both vanilla Minecraft and Caves & Cliffs.
- New cave biomes generate naturally underground and inside mountains (lush caves, dripstone caves). In Caves & Cliffs Part 1, new items from lush caves could only be acquired through wandering traders.
- Natural variation in terrain shape and elevation, independently from biomes. For example, forests and deserts could form up on a hill without needing a special biome just for that.
- New ore distribution to help accommodate the addition of copper, a new ore introduced in Caves & Cliffs.
- Introduction of larger ore veins.
- Integrated mountains, caves, and cave entrances.
- Monsters will only spawn in complete darkness rather than dim lighting, helping to improve the lighting process of Minecraft's new and larger cave systems.
It's worth noting that none of these features are set in stone, given the experimental nature of the snapshot, and many are liable to change as the official Minecraft: Caves & Cliffs Part 2 release date draws closer. For the time being, though, players can still help Mojang Studios test out the improved world generation and explore many of Minecraft's latest biomes.
Source: Minecraft
