Between new mobs like frogs or the nigh-unstoppable Wardens, and Mangrove trees or proximity redstone emitters like the sculk sensor, The Wild Update should do well to flesh out Minecraft’s environments. Following up the two-part Caves and Cliffs update that changed mountain and underground terrain generation, it’s clear Mojang is interested in giving every part of the voxel-based world its due. Next on the list should be beach biomes, which were largely untouched during previous passes at oceanic content.
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Minecraft’s Update Aquatic Left Beaches in the Wake
In 2018, Minecraft’s Update Aquatic completely changed the way that oceans could be explored. Massive oceans were split into various biome types, from standard to deep oceans with differences in frozen, cold, lukewarm, or warm regions (based on which land biomes they appeared nearby). Coral, kelp, and more environmental blocks were added alongside items such as tridents. Not only that, structures like shipwrecks were introduced that often hid buried treasure maps.
Mobs such as friendly dolphins or turtles, and an underwater variant of Zombies called Drowned, were introduced. However, not every addition in Update Aquatic related to oceans specifically. Objects like trapdoors were given variations based on the type of wood players used, and axes were given the ability to strip bark off tree logs. One of the first mobs voted on by the Minecraft community was also added in this update, Phantoms, and this tradition will continue with The Wild Update preparing to introduce the Allay.
Perhaps the biggest change in Update Aquatic was an entirely new swimming mechanic. By using the control scheme that otherwise translates to sprinting, players would dive and move faster, their motions acting more like traditional swimming rather than walking underwater. With oceans spruced up, Mojang turned its attention to villages, beekeeping, and updates to the Nether dimension. However, while more aquatic mobs like axolotl would be introduced with time, the beaches leading into ocean biomes have yet to receive much-deserved attention.
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How Minecraft’s Beaches Could Be Expanded
As of this writing, there is not much to see before diving into one of Minecraft’s oceans. There are standard sandy beaches, “stony shore” beaches in areas where mountainous terrain generates beside the ocean, or “snowy” beaches when oceans appear next to icy biomes. Shipwrecks can occasionally spawn on beaches, and buried treasure maps tend to lead players toward a beach, but beaches don’t offer much unique content beyond turtles - whose scutes (dropped from babies) can be used to create a turtle shell helmet or brew a unique potion.
There’s huge potential for new beach updates taking inspiration from different parts of the world. Overall these biomes could be made larger, offering room for structures like sandcastles that play as smaller desert temples. New palm trees could become the signature wood type for adventurers who settle down to create a seaside resort, complete with coconuts rather than traditional apples. Mobs associated with the beach, such as crabs, could be introduced and possibly take inspiration from Horizon Forbidden West by burrowing into the sand if players get too close.
While the image of pristine sandy beaches would make an obvious figurehead for the update, alternate biomes could be implemented. For example, gravelly beaches or those covered in dry seaweed would offer variety. More rare versions such as the black sand beaches found in Hawai’i could offer a new block type, and Minecraft could designate beaches that replace turtles with crowds of sunbathing seals. After The Wild Update touches up swamps and birch forests, the beach feels like an obvious place for Mojang to turn its attention.
Minecraft is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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