Minecraft Is Finally Adding Its First New Dimension in Almost 15 Years—And the Portal Had Better Use Glowstone and Water

The Sift Comes to Minecraft Dungeons 2 on Sept. 29: Minecraft’s First New Dimension Since the End’s November 2011 Introduction

Background: The Long Gap After the End
Spoiler warning: The End’s dragon is mentioned below because it is part of the dimension’s established identity. Minecraft has long treated the Nether and the End as its major extra dimensions. Both of those dimensions have some kind of hellish vibe: one is basically actual hell, and the other is a sort of cosmic void where only Endermen exist, and the dragon, of course. The End was introduced in November 2011, so the Sift is the first new dimension coming to Minecraft since the introduction of the End in November 2011. That means players have gone about a decade and a half without a new dimension.

Development: A Colorful Realm Revealed During Minecraft Live
The Sift was revealed yesterday during Minecraft Live. From the teaser, it seems very different from the Nether and the End. The Sift is oppressively colorful, and both the teaser’s audio and that stark combination of pink and cyan seem to draw heavily from retro aesthetics of the 1980s. How those choices will tie into the overall dimension is not clear, but the presentation seems to be at least inspired by that era. Destructoid’s coverage also invites readers to subscribe to the Destructoid Checkpoint newsletter for gaming news with a bit of snark.

XBOX’s own news portal explains that the Sift is a “new reality” that “brings an entirely different, colorful new look, new mobs (both companions and threats, all unique), and, once you enter, new rules to learn.” From the looks of it, the dimension will have ways to directly impact the player character(s) and the environment, forcing you to adapt. The portal writes, “Shifting tides within the Sift can affect your character and those around you; hazardous new blocks will alter how you approach exploration; new environments will put your skills to the test.”

Latest Progress: Minecraft Dungeons 2 Will Introduce It First on Sept. 29
The Sift will first be introduced and playable in the upcoming Minecraft Dungeons 2, which comes out Sept. 29. As XBOX’s own news portal explains, the Sift will contain new biomes, but not all of them have been revealed. Two are called Meadows and Carapace, but their exact look and gameplay remain unclear. The reveal’s style also evokes the meme of a portal made out of glowstones and water; the teaser seems to be at least inspired by it, though the exact connection remains unclear.

Current Stage: A Spin-Off Preview Before Vanilla Next Year
After players get familiar with this version, the dimension will move to the vanilla Minecraft experience sometime next year. The staged rollout means the first concrete experience will come through Minecraft Dungeons 2 on Sept. 29, while the base game still has a gap before the new rules, mobs, and biomes appear. The timeline turns the Sift into a shift from the Nether and the End toward a more colorful, rule-changing space.