Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 5 is now out with new features (Image via Mojang)
Mojang has officially released Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 5 on October 20, 2026, and they are continuing to build out the winter-themed game drop. This time around, they have introduced new building blocks, a frosty advancement, and a handful of gameplay and technical tweaks.
In the section below, we take a closer look at everything new in Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 5. Snapshot 5 builds on the changes from earlier 26.4 snapshots. Snapshot 3 introduced the Ice Caves, Frostbite, and the Freezing effect, while Snapshot 4 added Brittle Ice and Jukebox Playlists. Here are all the new things that you will be able to find in Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 5: Packed Ice Bricks are the biggest addition in this snapshot. Snapshot 5 adds a new advancement titled “What Goes Around Comes Around. Snapshot 5 also adds an experimental option on Windows called “Prefer DXGI Present. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule .
Open the Minecraft Launcher, go to the “Installations” tab, and enable snapshots. The headline addition is Packed Ice Bricks, giving builders a fresh set of blocks for icy structures, while a new advancement challenges players to take on the Frostbite. This one is a smaller update focused on polish and building options, with the winter drop still expected to arrive in full later this year. They’re crafted by placing four Packed Ice blocks in a 2×2 crafting grid. The new block family comes with four variants: Packed Ice Brick Slab Packed Ice Brick Stairs Packed Ice Brick Wall Chiseled Packed Ice All of the variants can be made quickly with a Stonecutter by feeding it the parent Packed Ice Bricks. Mojang also hasn’t forgotten about the Sulfur Cube. If you feed it a Packed Ice Brick or a Chiseled Packed Ice block, it gains the Fast Sliding archetype. To unlock it, you need to kill a Frostbite using an Ice Ball. Since Frostbites throw Ice Balls themselves, the advancement rewards players who turn the mob’s own ranged attack against it, making it a good excuse to explore the new Ice Caves. Regular Ice blocks can now play ambient sounds, but only under specific conditions. The block needs to be surrounded by at least eight other Ice blocks horizontally, with an Air block above it and a Water block below it. It’s a small detail, but it adds some atmosphere to frozen builds and caves. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Builders decorating their bases near cold biomes or inside Ice Caves should take note: Ice Ball projectiles thrown by Frostbites can now break certain fragile blocks. Decorated Pots, Chorus Flowers, and Speleothem blocks are all affected, so keep them out of range if Frostbites are likely to wander by. It allows the game to use DirectX where supported, and it may improve input method editor (IME) behavior, variable refresh rate compatibility, and the speed of alt-tabbing in fullscreen. As an experimental setting, it may not suit every setup, so test it before relying on it. Snapshots are available for Minecraft: Java Edition. Back up your worlds first, since testing versions can corrupt saves. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.