Minecraft has shown off a breathtaking new visual update at Minecraft Live.
Mojang Studios’ semi-annual game showcase Minecraft Live 2025 showed off major updates coming to its titular blocky sandbox. One of these updates, entitled “Vibrant Visuals,” aims to bring a graphical overhaul to Minecraft with volumetric fog, directional lighting, shimmering water, and more. However, the update is purely visual, and will not “influence gameplay.”
Here’s a trailer for the Vibrant Visuals update:
Minecraft introduces graphical upgrades in Vibrant Visuals update
Mojang Studios has shown off what players can expect in Minecraft’s upcoming Vibrant Visuals update. The update introduces a swathe of graphical upgrades to the game, improving its visual design while staying loyal to its iconic blocky aesthetic. The update will be initially released for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, with no firm release window for other versions of the game.
Out of the many graphical upgrades included in this update, directional lighting might be the most striking. As one Mojang developer put it, players might now want to be more picky about building their bases to face the sun. This is because sunlight will now stream directly through windows and into the player’s room, allowing for more natural lighting than before. Shadows move with the sun throughout the day, water reflects the landscapes around it, and more.
Other improvements include volumetric lighting and volumetric fog. Mobs and items will also have more of a glow, with torches casting “a radiant path back to your build.” However, Mojang was careful to note that this was simply a cosmetic update at the end of the day – meaning that existing lighting mechanics that affect crop growth and mob farms will not change. Players on a realm can also play together regardless of whether or not they use Vibrant Visuals.
Mojang Studios is still “investigating” how Vibrant Visuals runs across all Bedrock Edition devices, and wants to bring the update “either fully or partially” to as many devices as possible. However, nothing is guaranteed, and one should note that the trailer above was captured with “a high-end PC.”
Regardless, players will be able to test early versions of Vibrant Visuals on select Minecraft: Bedrock Edition devices either in preview or beta. No firm date has been set for these tests yet.
