Minecraft’s next frozen biome is already playable in Bedrock testing. Preview 26.70.20 adds Ice Cave crevasses, a new Brittle Ice block, and jukebox playlists. These are preview features, not part of the normal retail world yet, so the safest approach is to test them in a separate copy.
What is Brittle Ice?
Brittle Ice is a fragile block that cracks when a player or most mobs stand on it. It breaks after three crack stages, opening whatever is underneath. In Ice Caves, that can mean a narrow crevasse with a water pool at the bottom.
Unlike ordinary ice, Brittle Ice does not melt. It can generate naturally, and water flowing next to Blue Ice can create it. The block releases small ice particles as it begins cracking and sends vibration events when its crack level changes or it breaks. That gives careful players visual, audio, and redstone-adjacent warning signals before the floor disappears.
One exception is the Frostbite mob. Mojang says Frostbites can stand on Brittle Ice without breaking it. Do not assume a safe-looking mob path means the surface will hold your character.
How should you cross a brittle ice field?
- Keep moving. The block needs time to progress through its cracks, so hesitation is the main danger.
- Watch for crevasse shapes. Brittle Ice can cover openings rather than solid ground.
- Carry a water bucket. It can help with a fall, while existing pools may offer a safe landing.
- Bring blocks. A quick bridge or emergency pillar is more reliable than repeatedly testing the surface.
- Avoid leading slow mobs across. Most mobs also trigger cracking and can remove the path behind you.
The mechanic changes exploration without turning every ice block into a trap. The challenge is recognizing the new block and planning a route before the first crack.
How to try Minecraft Preview 26.70.20
The update is for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition Preview or Beta. On Xbox, search the Microsoft Store for Minecraft Preview. On PlayStation, open Minecraft, go to Settings, choose Preview, and download the separate preview client. Android uses the Google Play beta program, while iOS access runs through TestFlight and can fill up.
Mojang’s official console Preview guide gives the Xbox and PlayStation steps, while the help center provides separate mobile and Windows instructions. Everyone in a multiplayer session must use the same Preview or Beta version. Normal Realms do not work with the test client, although active Bedrock Realms subscribers can create a separate Preview/Beta Realm.
Back up important worlds before opting into a beta, especially on Android where the beta replaces the normal client. Preview builds can contain crashes, world-generation changes, and bugs. A new test world is safer than opening the survival map you have kept for years.
What else is new in 26.70.20?
The other player-facing highlight is jukebox playlists. Place one chest, trapped chest, or copper chest directly above a jukebox and load it with music discs. The jukebox plays discs in slot order, skips empty slots and non-disc items, and loops to the beginning. Removing the active disc skips to the next available one.
The build also tests lower mob density and Java-like fortress spawning in the Nether, plus the ability to buy Marketplace content as gifts. Those changes are experimental and may shift before release.
When will Ice Caves reach normal Minecraft?
Mojang calls these features part of Drop 4 of 2026 but has not given the public release date in the 26.70.20 changelog. Preview availability is evidence that testing is active, not a promise that every detail will ship unchanged.
This frozen content is separate from the Sift shown for Minecraft Dungeons II. Our Sift dimension explainer separates that spin-off location from Java and Bedrock updates. For now, Bedrock Preview is the place to test Brittle Ice, crevasses, and the new jukebox system.