Minecraft Chase the Skies update: Release date, major features, and more

The Minecraft Chase the Skies update is around the corner, and players are excited for the second game drop of the year. It will introduce an array of interesting features to the game, ranging from the new Happy Ghast to Vibrant Visuals. The drop is slated to be the single biggest overhaul to the game in years.

Here's everything you need to know about the Minecraft Chase the Skies update.

---

Minecraft Chase the Skies update release date

The Minecraft Chase the Skies update arrives on June 17, 2025 (Image via Mojang Studios)

The Minecraft Chase the Skies update is scheduled to release on June 17, 2025. With less than a week left for the major drop, players are excited to get their hands on the array of new features.

The Chase the Skies update will be available for download on both Bedrock and Java Edition for all supported devices. Those with an existing installation of the game can update to the latest version. The Minecraft launcher will automatically update to the latest build when you run it. Additionally, you can hit play and manually download it.

As for players going for new installations, simply download the game. You will get the latest version with the features of the Minecraft Chase the Skies update installed by default.

---

Major features of the Minecraft Chase the Skies update

The Minecraft Chase the Skies update introduces new mobs and an overhaul to existing items (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming || Mojang Studios)

With less than a week left until Chase the Skies drops on all supported devices, gamers cannot wait to try out the new features.

One highlight of the update is the happy ghast, a new mob that will allow players to fly and travel, reinventing transportation in Minecraft. The new mob can accommodate up to four players, making it a great asset for exploring and travelling in multiplayer sessions in Realms and custom servers.

Vibrant Visuals is another major aspect of the upcoming Minecraft update. It is the single biggest visual rework to the game in decades, adding shader-like enhancements and introducing features such as volumetric fog, directional lighting, and improved reflections. Additionally, it is set to be the default style in the game, allowing gamers to try this refreshed look with ease.

Alongside these major features, leads have received a major overhaul, allowing players to leash multiple mobs together or to each other. The new recipe for making leads without the need for slime also makes it much more accessible, allowing gamers to craft and use it with ease. Additionally, they can tie the new happy ghast mob to fences or posts, making it a nifty feature.

The player locator bar in the Minecraft Chase the Skies update will also add a major new dimension of functionality to the game, introducing a locator bar to the existing HUD. This bar will replace the default XP bar when one or more players join the world or session.

The player locator bar will feature a colored marker for each player present in that session, making it a great way to locate teammates or reach their positions in the world. Additionally, players can hide from the bar using carved pumpkins or potions of invisibility, making it a great asset for hide and seek and other SMP servers.

---

When is the next Minecraft game drop?

The Minecraft Chase the Skies update could be followed by an update in September (Image via Sportskeeda Gaming || Mojang Studios)

Once the Minecraft Chase the Skies update, players can expect another game drop around September. Based on the previous trends of a three-month gap between The Garden Awakens and Spring to Life, Mojang could follow a similar trend for the upcoming drop.

Since game drops have replaced the traditional format of an annual drop, players can expect more features and changes to the game. Instead of waiting once a year for major updates, these multiple updates offer more features and changes to players, ensuring they do not have to wait for extended periods.

---

Check out our other articles:

• Minecraft update to add new trades for cartographer and wandering trader
• One happy ghast feature clearly doesn't make sense
• How to get boss mob spawn eggs
• How to get the 1.21.5 X-ray pack
• 4 best mods to bring mobs to life
• All Minecraft fishing enchantments explained