Holiday Update
Holiday Update is the name used for the December 21, 2016 Legacy Console Edition update, which expanded the End and brought new blocks, items, and hostile variants to console worlds. The same seasonal phrase has also been used for other Minecraft releases, so those uses are distinguished below.
World Generation
Beyond the End
Outer End islands, gateways, End Cities, and End Ships extended console exploration beyond the dragon fight. The new structures gave players destinations to search and climb, with Shulkers guarding their rooms.
Mobs and Combat
Shulkers introduced Levitation attacks, turning high structures into dangerous encounters. Husks, Strays, and Skeleton Horses added hostile variants and mounted encounters to the Overworld.
Lingering Potions and Tipped Arrows expanded the available status-effect tools. The update brought these features to console through its own release line, rather than using Java’s version number.
Blocks and Items
Elytra
Elytra from End Ships supplied gliding as an exploration reward. Chorus Plants, Chorus Fruit, Purpur Blocks, and End Rods introduced new materials and interactions, while Dragon Heads and Dragon’s Breath expanded the rewards associated with the End.
Console Features
The update included a new tutorial world, revised Boats, and changes to crafting, brewing, and other everyday interactions. The console-specific Reset The End option allowed older worlds to generate the newer End content.
Release History
The December 21, 2016 release used TU46 on Xbox 360, CU36 on Xbox One, 1.38 on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita, and Patch 15 on Wii U.
Other Uses of the Name
“Holiday Update” has also been used as a seasonal description for other releases:
- Bedrock 1.8.0, released December 11, 2018, introduced Pandas, Bamboo, and Crossbows from the developing Village & Pillage feature set.
- Buzzy Bees was described as a holiday update in 2019.
- The Garden Awakens and Mounts of Mayhem also carried holiday-drop descriptions during development.
Those releases have their own pages. This page focuses on the 2016 Legacy Console update.
Gallery
Screenshots
