>>>MC 1.9 News Update<<<

Animation / Entity Models^[3][4]

• Could possibly include model changes within the NBT data.
  • Would be implemented via resource packs.^[5]
• Will make better use of code so that map/mod makers can create better/new mobs.^[6]
  • Same as the block data changes in 1.8.
  • May take some time before they are completed.

Blocks

• New block type.^[7]
• New dark colored block^[8][9][10]
  • Cannot be obtained and does not naturally generate.^[11]
  • Has a visual effect on the world.^[11]
• Grass Path^[12][13][14]
  • A 15/16 block tall grass-like “path”. It features a similar texture to the grass block.

Captions / Subtitles^[15][16]

• Subtitles which display for each sound for the hard of hearing/deaf.^[17]
  • An example would be “[creeper hissing]”^[18]

Planned changes[edit]

Bosses

• Proper support for multiple bosses including health bars for each boss.^[19]
• Ender dragon boss fight
  • A redo of the ender dragon’s boss fight, making it similar to the fight in Console Edition.^[20][21]
    • Some obsidian pillars will have iron bars surrounding the ender crystal.^[22]
    • The ender dragon now breathes purple particles.^[22]
  • The dragon will respawn without resetting the End if it has already been killed.^[23]

Clouds

• New CLOUD rendering system.^[24]

Command blocks

• New GUI^[25]
  • Will contain tab to complete.
• A way for mod/plugin makers to implement new commands and register them in a simple way.^[26][27][28]

Death messages

• Death messages will now be displayed on the death screen instead of just in the chat.^[29][30]

Shaders

• Switch away from using fixed-function OpenGL to using Shaders.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc_uW4aVakA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XB_FEbc0OY