Minecraft 1.18 update: Caves and Cliffs Part 2 pre-release begins for launch date

Minecraft 1.18 looks to be just around the corner as developers Mojang begins a new phase of testing.

Instead of the usual snapshot being released this week, the Minecraft team chose to launch a pre-release build, complete with important bug fixes.

For fans eagerly waiting to play the Caves and Cliffs Part 2 update, it’s great news, as it means that we’re much closer to the update dropping.

It should be noted that this new pre-release comes with a numbered build, meaning it won’t be the last one.

This suggests that there will be at least one more before Caves and Cliffs Part 2 is ready for public consumption and could need more beyond that.

A message accompanying the new pre-release reads: “The first 1.18 pre-release is here!

“From now on, you should mostly see bugs being fixed. In addition to that, pre-releases don’t follow the regular snapshot cadence of releasing on Wednesdays, so keep an eye out!

“That being said, this pre-release introduces biome blending, which means that you should no longer find harsh borders between new and old terrain. On top of that, we’ve also reintroduced the Amplified and Large Biome world types.”

Mojang also offered a new story post regarding the new Caves and Cliffs Part 2 update, further teasing the upcoming release date scheduled for 2021.

Focusing on the new Caves coming to the game, the post reads: “Suddenly, Dee came to a halt. Slowly they opened one eye at a time and then quickly gasped. This cave looked like nothing they had ever seen before!

“Sharp spikes jutted out from the ground, but they also hung from the ceiling. At a first glance, it looked like Dee had landed in front of a vicious monster, baring its teeth. But as they approached the stalagmites, they realized there was nothing to fear. They reached out and carefully touched it, confirming that it was nothing more sinister than a rock formation.

“Dee wandered around, growing more confident with each step in the new area. It looked untouched. Had anybody else seen this place? Where had it come from? It felt new, like it had sprung up overnight. But how could that be possible?

“Maybe caves grew in the same manner as trees, sprouting roots to keep them in place. Was it just a matter of time? Or was something else at play here? As Dee pondered the possibilities, they forgot to mind their steps.”

WHEN IS MINECRAFT 1.18 COMING OUT?

Minecraft 1.18 – also known as Caves and Cliffs – was split into two parts earlier this year due to the expansion growing in size and ambition.

Caves and Cliffs Part 2 is set to add a lot of new and helpful features, such as bundles, along with bags that can be stored in chests.

New types of biomes have been promised, and gamers will soon be able to explore Noise and Lush Caves.

Lush Caves add fruit and nature to the cave system, along with flowers from Azalea plants and Pink Blossoms.

Mojang has provided an exact date for when Minecraft 1.18 will be released, but the recent changes in snapshots mean it could be ready by early December.