Release candidate for 'the Nether Update's' 1.16.2 update rolling out, could release tomorrow

Minecraft Nether Update Java Image
Minecraft Nether Update Java Image (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • After weeks of testing with multiple snapshots and betas, we have a release candidate for 1.16.2.
  • This release for the Nether Update will make tons of changes, tweaks, and even add a new mob.
  • If this release candidate passes, we could see the update as soon as tomorrow, August 11, 2020.
  • Since we're so close to release, this snapshot only includes a handful of fixes.

The latest snapshot for Minecraft: Java Edition is here, but it's most notable for what the snapshot could be rather than what it is right now. This snapshot is very small, only including a handful of fixes for various crashes and an update to the games Resource and Data Packs. However, it is also the release candidate for update 1.16.2, which is a sizeable release for the Nether Update, and will include a ton of bug fixes, improvements, various quality-of-life enhancements, and a new mob in the form of the piglin brute.

As long as this release candidate doesn't have any major bugs or issues, it should be cleared for public release. Since Mojang Studios favors releases on Tuesdays, this means we could see the 1.16.2 update release as soon as tomorrow, August 11, 2020! Nothing has been confirmed yet, and it's likely this update won't see a ton of fanfare, being a smaller release for the Nether Update, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we learn when exactly this update is rolling out to the public.

In the meantime, you can read the full changelog for this snapshot, or go ahead and install it to help Mojang Studios ensure this update is ready for primetime.

Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.