Is Vibrant Visuals coming to Minecraft Java in Chase the Skies update?
Minecraft is getting a major update that's set to bring a wealth of new content to the blocky world. Called Chase the Skies, it will introduce new ghast variants, change crafting recipes, make the saddle craftable, and bring many minor but impactful changes to the game. However, some players may be wondering if the Vibrant Visuals graphics upgrade will be a part of the summer game drop.
Unfortunately, Vibrant Visuals will not be coming to Minecraft Java Edition in Chase the Skies update. It will come to Java Edition in a future update.
Mojang Studios has officially announced that the Chase the Skies game drop is coming on June 17. 2025. Minecraft Java Edition is set to receive the Chase the Skies drop, while Bedrock will get the Vibrant Visuals upgrade along with summer drop features.
Vibrant Visuals is coming to Minecraft
When Mojang Studios announced the Vibrant Visuals graphics upgrade, players were confused about the update's release date. Minecraft's graphics have more or less remained the same over a decade, making this change long overdue.
Based on Java snapshot and Bedrock preview patch notes, it seemed that Vibrant Visuals was a separate update from the Chase the Skies game drop. However, that is not the case.
In a video on Minecraft’s YouTube channel, Mojang announced that both Vibrant Visuals and Chase the Skies will be making their way to the blocky world on June 17, 2025, but with a caveat. Only the Bedrock Edition will get both updates, while Java players will have to wait a little longer for the Vibrant Visuals upgrade.
A major focus of the Chase the Skies update is exploration. The addition of the happy ghast allows you to fly around the world with three other players. Saddles can now also be crafted using leather and an iron ingot, which indicates that Mojang wants players to start exploration easily without relying on RNG-based chest opening, which can be frustrating at times.
Coming to Vibrant Visuals, this update is truly special. The graphical upgrade offers a much higher level of visual detail.
Once you enable Vibrant Visuals, you will notice improved lighting, smoother shadows, and refined water effects like caustics that add depth and realism to aquatic environments. These enhancements will make the game look more modern without losing its essence.
Something that is not often talked about is how Vibrant Visuals introduces pixel-perfect shadows that respond more naturally to the environment and time of day. This improves immersion, especially in structures with complex geometry or caves with tight lighting conditions.
However, it seems that Vibrant Visuals for Java Edition needs extra time in the oven. Mojang is taking its time to optimize it so that it can run to its maximum potential. There is no news about its expected release date yet, and you will have to play Bedrock Edition to check out the new visual upgrades instead.
It is worth noting that since Minecraft's visuals will improve, the device running the game will take a hit when Vibrant Visuals is enabled. Hopefully, Mojang Studios has made the feature well-optimized.
Chase the Skies update
The Chase the Skies update is expected to be one of the most impactful updates in recent times. The addition of the happy ghast will make traversal in Minecraft better, as you can now fly around the world without needing elytra. Elytra is an item that you get quite late in the game, and it helps you glide around the world.
Mojang has made ghast variants quite interesting. You can find the dried ghast in the Nether. Now, this is not a mob but a block that you can mine using a pickaxe. You can then place it in the Overworld and place water over it. Once hydrated, the dried ghast turns into a ghastling.
Feeding the ghastling snowballs will turn it into a happy ghast, which looks like the normal ghast but without all the rage. A new item called the harness can be crafted to control the mob. The best part is that you can ride this creature with three other players, making multiplayer gameplay more fun.