Minecraft Live 2025 Unveils Vibrant Visuals, Flying Happy Ghast

Minecraft Live 2025 has wrapped up, and Mojang, the masterminds behind the iconic game, have unveiled an exciting array of updates and new content that will enhance the gameplay experience of the world's best-selling video game.

The first game drop of the year, dubbed "Spring to Life," is set to breathe new life into the Overworld. Launching on March 25, this update promises to make biomes feel more immersive and vibrant. Players can expect new variants for beloved mobs like cows, pigs, and chickens, along with captivating ambient features such as glittering firefly bushes, falling leaves, and the soothing whispers of sand. These additions are designed to encourage exploration and enrich the Minecraft world.

The second game drop of the year, although yet to be named, will introduce innovative elements to the game. A new block, the Dried Ghast, smaller than a regular block and sporting cute tentacles and a grumpy face, can be transformed into a Ghastling by rehydrating it. The Ghastling, a baby ghast variant, floats like a little balloon in the Overworld and can be fed snowballs to evolve into a Happy Ghast. The Happy Ghast can be harnessed and flown, accommodating up to four players at once. This feature is particularly useful for builders in Survival Mode, offering a taste of Creative Mode freedom within the constraints of Survival.

Additionally, Mojang introduced the Locator Bar, a new feature at the bottom of the screen that helps players locate their friends, making it easier to navigate and enjoy the game together, especially while flying on a Happy Ghast.

A major visual upgrade, 'Vibrant Visuals,' was also announced, marking the first step in a broader vision to enhance the visual experience of Minecraft. This upgrade aims to transform how players perceive the game without altering gameplay mechanics. For a deeper dive into this upgrade, check out IGN's separate article and their visuals comparison video.

Mojang also teased fans with a new clip from the upcoming "A Minecraft Movie" and announced a movie-themed in-game live event starting on March 25. The event, set in Midport Village, invites players to join Steve and his movie companions in defending the village from a piglin attack through three engaging mini-games. The event runs until April 7, and participants who complete all challenges will earn the exclusive Yearn cape.

During our visit to Mojang's offices in Sweden, we learned more about the company's philosophy. Mojang confirmed they have no plans for a Minecraft 2, will not make the game free-to-play, and will not use generative AI in game development, focusing instead on enhancing the current Minecraft experience.

Minecraft Live 2025 — Everything Announced:

• Mojang Studios announced the name, launch date, and features of the first game drop of the year, as well as upcoming features in the second game drop of the year.
• The first game drop of the year is called “Spring to Life,” and introduces a variety of updates to the Overworld that will make biomes feel more immersive and alive.
• Spring to Life adds warm and cold variants of some of Minecraft's classic mobs, new ambient features like the glittering firefly bush, falling leaves, and whispers of sand, and more reasons to explore.
• The second game drop of the year includes the new Dried Ghast block, the new Ghastling and Happy Ghast mob variants, and the Ghast harness.
• The Dried Ghast is a little bigger than a regular block and has cute little tentacles and a grumpy face.
• If you pick up the Dried Ghast from the Nether and put it in water, eventually it will become a much happier Ghastling.
• The Ghastling floats around the Overworld like a little balloon. Feed it snowballs and eventually it will grow up to become a flying Happy Ghast.
• If you craft a harness for the Happy Ghast, tempt it to come closer with the harness itself, then jump on it. From there, you and up to three other players can fly around on a single Happy Ghast.
• The new Locator Bar feature, positioned at the bottom of the screen, lets you see in which direction your friends are. That will be useful for finding friends while flying a Happy Ghast.
• Mojang said the Happy Ghast will be useful for Survival Mode builders, because "it's a bit like being in Creative Mode, but in Survival." The platform lets you position wherever you like in the sky and dismount.
• Mojang Studios announced a visual upgrade for Minecraft, titled Vibrant Visuals.
• Mojang revealed an exclusive A Minecraft Movie clip and announced an in-game movie-themed live event.
• The live event takes place in Midport Village, and sees players join Steve and his companions from the movie in an evolving multiplayer experience where you defend the village from a piglin attack in three mini-games.
• The live event runs from March 25 to April 7, and if you complete all the challenges you earn the Yearn cape.