The Sift is Minecraft’s fourth dimension. It is already playable in Minecraft Dungeons II, which launched on September 29, 2026, while Mojang plans to bring The Sift to Minecraft Java and Bedrock in 2027. The first look shows a colorful, soul-filled realm with shifting tides, hazardous blocks, unusual creatures and named areas such as Meadows and Carapace. Mojang has not announced the Java or Bedrock release date, update number, portal recipe or other access instructions yet.
That distinction matters: Dungeons II is the first playable version, not a complete preview of how the dimension will work in the survival-and-building sandbox. Here is what is confirmed, what remains unknown and how you can experience The Sift now.
What is The Sift in Minecraft?
The Sift is a new dimension designed around souls, environmental changes and a visual style unlike the Overworld, Nether or End. Mojang describes it as “beautiful, vibrant, and teeming with souls” in the Minecraft Live: September 2026 Recap. Xbox Wire calls it Minecraft’s first new dimension in more than 14 years.
The first public version appears in Minecraft Dungeons II. In that game, strange events begin disturbing the Overworld and souls start flying through it. Players investigate rifts, and entering one transports them to The Sift. The dimension contains new environments, companion and enemy mobs, shifting tides that can affect characters and blocks that are dangerous to traverse or stand on.
Only two areas have been named officially so far: Meadows and Carapace. Mojang has not published a complete area list, confirmed whether every named area is a biome, or described the full progression structure. Details circulating in mods, add-ons and unofficial videos should not be treated as information about Mojang’s version.
Is The Sift coming to Java and Bedrock?
Yes. Mojang has confirmed that The Sift is planned for both Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition in 2027. Xbox Wire describes the planned release as “an entire new dimension for you to explore, survive, and create within,” placing it alongside the Overworld, Nether and End as the game’s fourth dimension.
The announcement does not establish whether Java and Bedrock will receive the dimension on the same day, in the same update or with identical mechanics. There is no confirmed snapshot, preview build, stable-version number or platform-specific changelog. Until Mojang publishes those details, “coming in 2027” is the complete official release window.
When does The Sift come out?
The Java and Bedrock version has a 2027 target, but Mojang has not given an exact day or month. The date attached to the first playable version is different: Minecraft Dungeons II launched on September 29, 2026.
That launch date should not be mistaken for the vanilla Minecraft release. Dungeons II and the main Minecraft game use different formats, progression systems and ways of entering new content. A Dungeons II launch does not imply that a Java snapshot or Bedrock preview is already available.
| Version | Availability | How The Sift is reached | What is confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft Dungeons II | Released September 29, 2026 | Through rifts encountered during the game | New environments, mobs, companions, shifting tides, hazardous blocks, Meadows and Carapace |
| Minecraft Java Edition | Planned for 2027 | Not announced | The Sift will join the existing three dimensions; detailed mechanics are unannounced |
| Minecraft Bedrock Edition | Planned for 2027 | Not announced | The Sift will join the existing three dimensions; detailed mechanics are unannounced |
How do I get to The Sift?
In Minecraft Dungeons II, you reach The Sift by entering a rift. The game presents these rifts as part of the strange events affecting the Overworld, and crossing one transports your character into the new dimension.
There is no official Java or Bedrock access sequence yet. Mojang has not revealed a portal frame, activation item, command, structure, achievement requirement or other entry method for the main game. A tutorial that gives a recipe or command is therefore describing a community project unless a later Mojang announcement confirms it.
- For Dungeons II: play through the game until its rift-based events lead you to an accessible rift.
- For Java and Bedrock: wait for Mojang to publish the relevant update, snapshot, preview or instructions.
- For unofficial experiments: check that a mod, add-on or map clearly identifies itself as community-made and is compatible with your game version before installing it.
Can I play The Sift now?
You can play the Dungeons II version now if you have access to that game. Xbox Wire lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as platforms, and says the game is included with Game Pass on Xbox and PC. Availability, editions and subscription terms can change, so check the current store listing for your platform.
You cannot yet play the official vanilla version in Java or Bedrock based on the announced information. Neither edition has a documented release build or access method, and community recreations are not the same product as Mojang’s planned dimension.
What does The Sift look like in Dungeons II?
The Dungeons II presentation uses an “entirely different, colorful new look,” according to the first-look material. The setting is presented as lively rather than empty: souls move through the environment, unfamiliar creatures populate the areas and the terrain itself can create threats.
Souls and rifts
Souls are central to the first story setup. Their appearance in the Overworld signals that something is wrong, while rifts provide the transition into The Sift. The announcement establishes this narrative route for Dungeons II; it does not say that the Java or Bedrock version will use the same story event or portal behavior.
Shifting tides
Shifting tides can affect characters in the Dungeons II version. The announcement does not specify whether the tides change movement, combat, timing or another property, so it is safer to treat them as a confirmed environmental system rather than assign them unannounced statistics or effects.
Hazardous blocks
Some blocks in The Sift are dangerous. Mojang has not published their names, damage values, activation rules or whether they can be collected and placed by players. Their confirmed role is environmental hazard, not a complete block catalogue.
Named areas
Meadows and Carapace are the only officially named areas in the first look. No complete map, size comparison or travel order has been released, and additional areas may be revealed later.
How is the Dungeons II version different from the Java and Bedrock version?
The two versions should be treated as related appearances of the same dimension, not as identical modes. Mojang has explicitly avoided explaining how the main-game implementation will differ from Dungeons II.
| Comparison point | Dungeons II | Java and Bedrock |
|---|---|---|
| Game format | Action-adventure game built around missions, combat and character progression | Survival-and-building sandbox where players explore, gather, construct and create their own goals |
| Current status | Playable since September 29, 2026 | Planned for 2027 |
| Entry route | Rifts transport players into The Sift | Not announced |
| Confirmed systems | Companion and enemy mobs, shifting tides and hazardous blocks | Not yet specified; Dungeons II systems are not automatically confirmed |
| Confirmed locations | Meadows and Carapace | Not separately detailed |
This difference is important for expectations. A mob that works as a combat encounter in Dungeons II may need different behavior in a persistent survival world. Likewise, a hazard designed for a mission could be adjusted for building, redstone, multiplayer or long-term resource gathering. Until Mojang publishes Java and Bedrock details, the Dungeons II footage is evidence of the theme and direction, not a specification for vanilla gameplay.
What has Mojang not announced yet?
Several practical details that players normally need before entering a new dimension remain open:
- The exact 2027 release date or quarter.
- The update name and version number for Java and Bedrock.
- Whether Java snapshots or Bedrock previews will include The Sift before the stable release.
- The portal, rift or other entry method in the main game.
- Whether access requires a crafted item, structure, boss, advancement or story event.
- The complete list of areas, mobs, blocks, resources and hazards.
- How world generation, coordinates, progression and return travel will work.
- How the vanilla dimension will differ from its Dungeons II counterpart.
These are unanswered questions, not hidden requirements. Be wary of guides that present invented recipes, snapshot numbers or biome lists as official. The first-look announcements provide a setting and a planned destination, but not a playable Java or Bedrock instruction manual.
What should Minecraft players do while waiting?
If you want the official first look immediately, Minecraft Dungeons II is the only announced route. It is available across the platforms listed by Xbox Wire, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with Game Pass availability on Xbox and PC stated in the same announcement.
If your interest is specifically the survival-and-building experience, wait for Mojang’s Java and Bedrock announcements rather than relying on a Dungeons II guide. Follow official Minecraft channels for a snapshot or preview announcement, then check the version notes for the supported edition, world requirements and any migration or compatibility warnings.
Community maps, mods and add-ons can offer creative interpretations in the meantime, but they should be labeled clearly as unofficial. Installing one will not unlock Mojang’s future dimension, and its blocks, mobs or portal mechanics may have no connection to the eventual vanilla implementation.
What is the clearest expectation for The Sift?
Expect a fourth dimension with a strong visual identity and environmental systems that make exploration feel different from the Nether or End. The Dungeons II version confirms souls, rifts, shifting tides, hazardous blocks, new creatures and the areas Meadows and Carapace. The Java and Bedrock version is real and planned for 2027, but its release date and access method remain unannounced.
That makes The Sift an announced destination rather than a finished vanilla feature. The safest way to understand it today is to separate what is playable in Dungeons II from what Mojang has promised for the main Minecraft sandbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Java and Bedrock receive The Sift on the same day?
Mojang has confirmed both editions for 2027 but has not said whether their releases will be simultaneous. A shared year does not establish a shared day, update number or preview schedule.
Are Meadows and Carapace confirmed biomes?
They are officially named areas in the first-look material. Mojang has not formally classified them as biomes or published their generation rules, so the broader term “areas” is more accurate for now.
Will Dungeons II progress transfer to Minecraft Java or Bedrock?
No transfer system has been announced. The two games have different formats and progression structures, so players should not assume that characters, items or achievements will carry between them.
Are community Sift portals official?
Not unless Mojang specifically identifies them as part of a Java or Bedrock build. Mods, add-ons, maps and videos can imitate the concept, but they are separate from the planned vanilla dimension.