Minecraft is getting cuter with its first update of the year, and you can already try out the new baby mobs

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Minecraft continued its success in 2025 and is still going strong in 2026. Mojang Studios recently announced the first update of the new year, and it features a charming new addition to the game.

While we don’t know the update’s official name or when it’s coming out, the first Minecraft update of the year will feature adorable new looks for baby animals like wolves, cats, cows, and pigs. These changes aren’t just cosmetic – they go beyond how these animals appear.

Sorry for the delay – I was at CES 2026 in Las Vegas! I just had to share how adorable the new baby mobs are in Minecraft. And for dedicated players, you can check out these new features immediately through snapshots or previews.

Another Spring update that matches the season

For a quick overview of what’s new in this update, you can check out the developer diary video. But here’s a brief written summary as well.

  • New baby mobs. The headline for this update, at least right now, is the revisit to Minecraft’s baby mobs. Mojang Studios has created custom models and textures for baby wolves, cats, chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and ocelots. Yes, that includes all the regional variants for these mobs!
  • New sounds and animations. For some of these mobs, the update goes deeper than just a visual refresh for babies. Wolf pups and kittens get all-new sounds, with unique yips, barks, mews, and yowls. Adult rabbits have also been redesigned, and they and their kits benefit from adorable new animations.
  • Craftable name tags. Finally, the name tag has joined the saddle by becoming craftable in Minecraft. With a single gold nugget and a scrap of paper, you will now be able to craft name tags. That’ll make it a lot easier to name all the pets you won’t stop collecting.

I recall when Minecraft launched the Spring to Life update back in 2025 – it really emphasized making the Overworld more varied and detailed. Interestingly, this new game feels a lot like that update in its approach. Actually, Mojang’s Game Director, Agnes Larsson, pointed out the same thing in a recent developer diary.

I really love the new baby creatures, and I’m hoping the developers add even more to this update before it’s released to players, potentially in March.

What I’m enjoying most is seeing the Minecraft community share fantastic ideas for the next update. It’s still very early in the development process, so we don’t know what Mojang is planning or how they’ll use the feedback players are giving them.

Imagine being able to keep baby animals forever! Some players have suggested ways to do this, like adding “Lil” or “Jr.” to their name tags, or feeding them a special item like a glistering melon. It would also be great to see more fox types, especially cuter, fluffier baby foxes.

It’s easy to see why people wish they could tame and befriend rabbits in Minecraft like they do with cats and dogs. While players can breed rabbits, they’re such popular and friendly pets in real life, so it seems natural to want that same connection with them in the game.

We still have a lot to learn about this update, so for now, the best thing to do is share our feedback with Mojang and keep an eye out for new beta versions and announcements. And speaking of that, you can definitely try out the first features I mentioned in the newest Minecraft: Java Edition snapshots and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition previews.

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2026-01-10 19:09