The name of Minecraft's upcoming 1.20 update has now been revealed as the "Trails and Tales" update, courtesy of Minecraft's new monthly news show. The update is set to arrive later this year according to the latest blog post, and the update's features are now available to try out in Bedrock betas, previews, and Java snapshots (special development copy versions).
During the monthly show, the previously announced Archeology feature was shown, which will allow players to explore sandy areas and discover buried ruins. Once inside the ruins, players can use a new brush tool to sweep over suspicious blocks of sand, revealing pottery shards and other miscellaneous items. And by collecting four patterned pottery shards, players can combine them to create unique pots with carved stories and decorative elements.
In addition to the buried ruins, the sand hides Snifflet eggs that have the potential to grow into Sniffers – AI-controlled mobs that can scour the ground for secret and rare plants (and which won the 2022 mob vote). Players participating in betas and previews will be able to hatch their own Snifflet, but won't have access to the other scouting features. However, the presenter guarantees that the full version of the update will come with all of the Snifflet's features included.
The show also gives a sneak peek at Armor Trims, a function that will allow players to customize their armor, and the Cherry Blossom biomes, which are pretty self-explanatory, but It's worth noting that the new cherry trees will provide unique woods for construction and decoration.
"The 1.20 update is all about self-expression, specifically self-expression through representation, story telling, and world building," says Game Director Agnes Larsson about the goal of the update and how it ties into the new name, "And, it’s the journey - your trails - that ties it all together. The Minecraft worlds belong to the players – and so do the stories, or tales, about those worlds."
Trials and Tales will not only feature the updates highlighted in the show, but it will also allow players to ride camels, construct bamboo rafts, and organize bookshelves. It's important to note that the beta versions of these features are still in development, and the team is actively seeking feedback on the official website to ensure the best possible version of each feature.