Swedish game developer Mojang has officially confirmed the release date for Minecraft’s long-awaited Vibrant Visuals update. Originally unveiled at the Minecraft Live event in March 2025, the update of the Minecraft: Bedrock Edition launched on June 17.
Minecraft Bedrock’s Vibrant Visuals Update Launched June 17 with Major Graphical Improvements
In the final days before the release, Mojang, the company based in Stockholm that made the game, also released a new video called Minecraft’s Visual Refresh, offering a first look at one of the biggest graphic upgrades the game has gotten so far. The new Vibrant Visuals update is an update that includes a variety of updates, including directional light, volumetric fog, and others. These enhancements, according to Mojang, serve to make the world more immersive and dynamic, with shadows moving along with the sun, water taking on the characteristics of its environment, and clouds warping off into the distance.
Mojang talked these refinements through in a previous blog post: thanks to something called “volumetric lighting”, beams of light will pass through the Overworld while each block will sparkle and cast individual shadows. Windows that let in patterns of light, there are metal blocks that shine with reflection, and softly glowing leaves and grass with sub-surface scatter. Mobs and items also gain a new appearance. Spider eyes glow eerily in the darkness, and torches now leave a luminous trail. The update also enhances visuals in the Deep Dark biome, where the sculk now shines in a brighter, more magical glow. Game Art Director Jasper Boerstra described it as “more emissive, more immersive, and truly enchanting.”
Importantly, Mojang emphasized that Vibrant Visuals is a cosmetic-only update and will not alter gameplay mechanics. It is fully backward compatible with existing worlds and functions locally, meaning players in shared Realms can continue to play together regardless of whether they’re using the updated visuals. While the update will initially be available only for the Bedrock Edition, Mojang confirmed that it will be released for the Java Edition at a later date. However, players should note that some Marketplace content may not be compatible with the update at launch.
FAQs
When does the Vibrant Visuals update release?
June 17, 2025, for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.
Does the update change gameplay?
No, it’s a visual-only update with no gameplay impact.
