Nether Update
Nether Update turned the Nether into a more varied place to explore, build, and survive. It arrived as Java Edition 1.16 and Bedrock Edition 1.16.0, on June 23, 2020.
World Generation
Nether Biomes
The familiar landscape became Nether Wastes, joined by four new biomes:
- Crimson Forests introduced dense red vegetation, Crimson Fungi, and Hoglins.
- Warped Forests offered a blue-green fungal landscape populated by Endermen.
- Soul Sand Valleys combined Soul Sand, Soul Soil, fossils, and blue Soul Fire.
- Basalt Deltas formed volcanic terrain with Basalt, Blackstone, and frequent Magma Cubes.
Bastions and Ruined Portals
Bastion Remnants supplied dangerous Piglin encounters and valuable loot. Ruined Portals appeared in both dimensions, suggesting broken routes through the Nether and providing recoverable materials.
Mobs
Piglin
Piglins react to players and their equipment, with Gold providing a route to safer interaction and bartering. 
Hoglins introduced a hostile, breedable Nether animal, while Striders could carry riders across lava when equipped with a Saddle and guided with Warped Fungus on a Stick.
Hoglins taken to the Overworld transform into Zoglins, and Zombie Pigmen were redesigned and renamed Zombified Piglins.
Blocks and Building
Crimson and Warped wood sets provided nonflammable construction materials. Blackstone and polished variants supplied a Nether stone palette. Soul Torches, Soul Lanterns, Chains, and Soul Campfires expanded lighting and decoration.
Respawn Anchors established a way to set a respawn point in the Nether, using Glowstone charges. Their behavior outside the intended dimension makes placement important.
Items and Progression
Netherite
Ancient Debris can be smelted into Netherite Scrap, then combined with Gold to make Netherite Ingots. At the update’s original release, a Smithing Table upgraded Diamond equipment with an Ingot; the Netherite Upgrade Template requirement came later.
Navigation and Rewards
Lodestones let a Compass track a chosen location. Target Blocks turn projectile hits into redstone signals. Pigstep, composed by Lena Raine, rewarded Bastion exploration with a new Music Disc.
Later Additions
Piglin Brutes followed in Java 1.16.2 and Bedrock 1.16.20. They belong to the Nether Update period but were not part of the original June 23 release.
Gallery
Official Artwork
Mojang Images
