Ahead of the next game drop for Minecraft, Mojang has unveiled the golden dandelion, a new item that should excite baby mob fans. The developer also revealed even more baby mobs coming to Minecraft, and players can already test out many of these new features via Java snapshot and Bedrock beta/preview.

Mojang has wasted no time unveiling new content for Minecraft at the start of 2026. While a title for the next game drop is yet to be revealed, the developer has shared a look at its theme: baby animal mobs. Many Minecraft mobs already have baby versions, but the new designs take the cuteness to a whole new level. Animals like the wolf pup, kitten, baby chicken, and many more have been completely redesigned to be visually distinct from their adult versions. Unsurprisingly, these new versions of baby mobs in Minecraft have earned the approval of numerous fans, with some wishing for a way to keep their favorite critters adorably small forever.

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Minecraft's New Golden Dandelion Can Keep Baby Mobs Young Forever

Fortunately, Mojang has revealed a solution for these baby mob fans. As revealed in a developer blog post, the golden dandelion is a consumable item being added to Minecraft that prevents baby mobs from aging. Players simply need to give the flower to their baby mobs to keep them looking young. It should be noted that the crafting recipe for this item is unlocked by breeding mobs for the first time. Once this is done, golden dandelions can be crafted using a regular dandelion and eight gold ingots. If players change their minds and decide they want their baby mobs to mature, they only need to give them another golden dandelion to reverse the effects.

New Versions of Aquatic Baby Mobs

  • Baby axolotls
  • Baby squid
  • Baby glow squid
  • Baby dolphins
  • Baby turtles

Beyond the golden dandelion, Mojang revealed even more new baby mobs. Specifically, baby axolotls, baby squid, baby glow squid, baby dolphins, and baby turtles are coming in the next game drop. In the case of the baby axolotls, players will have five different color varieties to collect. Furthermore, the baby turtle stands out as being one of the smallest baby mobs, with the developer noting that they love to eat seagrass. While it remains to be seen when the next game drop will be released, players can already check out these new baby mob versions via Java snapshot and Bedrock beta/preview. While the golden dandelion is only available for testing on Java so far, Mojang noted it will come to the Bedrock version of Minecraft soon. Players are encouraged to test these features and provide feedback so that the final content update can be in the best shape possible upon its release.

With this latest developer news, Minecraft’s next game drop is shaping up to be an exciting one. From the many new versions of baby mobs to new features like craftable name tags and golden dandelions, there should be lots for mob enthusiasts to check out. It is possible that even more exciting reveals could happen ahead of the release of the game drop, as the developer adds more things to testing.

It remains to be seen what else Mojang has in store for its first game drop of 2026, but that has not stopped some fans from offering ideas for more mobs to add to the game. For example, one creative gamer shared their concept for a Baby Ender Dragon Mob, complete with an egg design. While it is unlikely that the developer will add the mob to Minecraft, many gamers liked the idea.

Minecraft baby farm mobs Image via Mojang

Hopefully, fans will not have to wait long for official confirmation about when the next game drop will be released. In 2025, Minecraft released four major updates, spread throughout the year. If the developer keeps a similar cadence in 2026, the baby mob-filled game drop could arrive in the next couple of months.

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Sandbox
Survival
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
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Released
November 18, 2011
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Mojang
Publisher(s)
Mojang
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Minecraft In Game Screenshot 6
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!

Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations. 

Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Minecraft
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical or Horizontal
Genre(s)
Sandbox, Survival
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
129 Hours
X|S Optimized
No
File Size Xbox Series
1.42 GB (August 2024)