Minecraft Bedrock 26.60 is live, and it brings an early, optional look at the next icy game drop. Players can explore Ice Caves, glowing Ice Crystals, dangerous Icicles, and the new Frostbite mob without installing a Preview build—but the content is experimental, so the safest approach is to test it in a brand-new world.
The key detail is that these features are not all part of the finished, standard Minecraft experience yet. Mojang’s official 26.60 changelog labels them “Experimental Game Drops Features” for Drop 4 of 2026. Details can change, bugs are possible, and a test world should not replace a valuable long-running survival save.
Which experimental ice features are available in Bedrock 26.60?
The main attraction is the Ice Cave biome, which generates below colder Overworld biomes. Its terrain is built mostly from Packed Ice and Calcite, with snow patches, ore pockets, hanging Icicles, and Ice Crystals. Unlike many existing caves, Ice Caves do not generate Glow Lichen, so the crystals become especially important as a source of light.
- Ice Caves: a new cold underground biome, with packed-ice formations and calcite.
- Ice Crystals: crystal-like blocks that emit light, can be placed in different orientations, and break if their supporting block is removed.
- Icicles: pointed formations that can grow up to five blocks long when hanging downward. Under the right conditions, they can fall and hurt entities.
- Frostbite: a hostile zombie variant that can attack at close range or throw Ice Balls from a distance.
- Freezing effect: an effect that makes affected players shake, reduces jump height, and can eventually deal damage.
- Ice Balls: projectiles used by Frostbites that also feed into freezing-related combat and brewing options.
These are early-game-drop features, not a promise that every behavior or balance detail is final. Mojang has documented known issues, including Ice Crystals appearing smaller than intended in this version.
How to turn on the experimental ice features safely
- Update Minecraft Bedrock. Make sure the game is running version 26.60 or a newer compatible release on your device.
- Create a new world. From the world-creation screen, open the experiments section in the world settings.
- Enable “Drop 4 of 2026.” Turn on the experimental toggle that unlocks the upcoming game-drop content. The exact menu layout can vary slightly by platform.
- Accept the warning and create the world. Experimental content can be unstable and may change before its final release.
- Explore cold regions underground. Ice Caves generate under colder Overworld biomes, so start below snowy or otherwise cold areas rather than expecting the biome everywhere.
Important: do not enable experimental features on the only copy of a valuable survival world. Make a backup first, and preferably use a separate test world. Once an experiment is enabled for a world, you may not be able to turn it off cleanly; future versions can also change or remove experimental behavior.
Does this require Minecraft Preview or Beta?
For the experimental Ice Caves content included in the regular Bedrock 26.60 release, the official changelog provides a way to try the features through a world’s experimental settings. You do not necessarily need to switch to a Preview installation just to test the 26.60 features. Preview and beta builds can contain newer or different work-in-progress content, however, so their feature sets may not match the retail release exactly.
Keep the edition and version in mind: Java Edition uses snapshots, while Bedrock Edition uses Preview/beta builds and in-game experimental toggles. Instructions for one edition do not automatically apply to the other.
Why the new caves need a different survival strategy
The Ice Cave is more than a visual reskin. Hanging Icicles can become falling hazards, and the Frostbite can threaten players with both melee attacks and thrown Ice Balls. The Freezing effect can impair movement before it becomes dangerous, making a quick retreat harder than in an ordinary cave.
For a first expedition, bring a reliable weapon, food, blocks for bridging and cover, and enough light to navigate safely. Leather armor can help protect against freezing damage, but it does not necessarily prevent every part of the effect. Avoid standing directly beneath suspicious Icicles, and do not sprint blindly across unfamiliar crevasses or fragile terrain.
What players should know before testing
- Expect changes. Experimental mechanics, spawning, visuals, and balance may be adjusted in later builds.
- Protect your main save. A separate world is the lowest-risk option for trying new toggles.
- Check the version. If the toggle is missing, verify that your game is updated and that you are using Bedrock rather than Java instructions.
- Report reproducible bugs. Note the platform, version, world settings, and steps that triggered the issue before sending feedback.
Frequently asked questions
Are Minecraft’s experimental ice features live now?
Yes. Mojang’s Bedrock Edition 26.60 changelog, published October 27, 2026, says the update is out and lists Ice Caves and related content under experimental game-drop features.
Will enabling the experiment affect achievements?
Experimental settings can affect normal world behavior and achievement eligibility. Check the warning shown by your version before creating the world, and keep experiments separate from your main survival save.
Can I turn the experiment off later?
Do not count on being able to reverse it safely. Treat the world as an experiment-only save and make a backup before enabling the toggle.
Are the ice caves part of the final update?
The features are being tested for a future game drop. Mojang can revise details before the content reaches a finalized release.
Official sources and further reading
- Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 26.60 Changelog — official release notes for the experimental features.
- Minecraft Preview 26.60.29 — Mojang’s earlier notes on the ice-cave feature set.
- Minecraft Java Edition 26.4 Snapshot 3 — official Java snapshot notes for related features.
- Everything you can test from the upcoming game drop — Mojang’s testing overview.
Written by Shivam Das.