Minecraft Chase the Skies update release countdown: Exact start time and date

Minecraft’s second update of 2025 is fairly close to release, and it’s bringing with it some exciting content additions. This update is called Chase the Skies, and if you’re looking forward to exploring new content, you may want to know the exact release time and date.

Minecraft updates are generally few and far between, so it’s always a good time when one becomes available. These updates are usually packed with new features, changes to existing ones, and bug fixes, so you’ll want to jump in as soon as possible. Here’s the exact time and date when the Minecraft Chase the Skies update will be released.

Minecraft Chase the Skies update release date and time

The Chase the Skies update for Minecraft officially launches on June 17. Release times for major updates usually aren’t shared ahead of time, so we don’t know when this one will be available. Most past updates have launched at precisely 10am CT, though, so there’s a decent chance this one will too.

Based on all recent past updates, we’ve set our countdown timer to 10am CT. If a different time is shared, we’ll update all relevant details here. Leading up to the update release, you can check back here to see how much longer there is to wait before it’s available to play. We’ve also listed the precise launch time across major time zones.

• PT: 8am on June 17
• CT: 10am on June 17
• ET: 11am on June 17
• BST: 4pm on June 17
• CEST: 5pm on June 17
• JST: 12am on June 18
• AEST: 1am on June 18

Minecraft Chase the Skies update features

The Chase the Skies update features a new mob, several improvements to existing features, and a visual overhaul for Bedrock Edition. Here’s a breakdown of all the major Chase the Skies update features.

• Happy Ghasts – A friendly flying mob joins Minecraft with this update. The Happy Ghast starts off as a Dried Ghast, which you have to revive using water to turn it into a Ghastling. Once it’s at this stage, you need to give it a bit more care by feeding it lots of snowballs to finally grow it into a rideable Happy Ghast.
• Player locator bar – A new tool for tracking down your friends if you end up separate and are struggling to meet up again. It’s displayed right above your inventory bar near the bottom middle region of the screen.
• Leads update – Leads can now be crafted using only string and can be used to tether together multiple animals at once. This allows you to create a caravan of mobs as needed.
• Craftable saddles – Saddles can now be made at any crafting table by combining one iron ingot and three leather.
• New music disc – A new music disc drops when you defeat a Ghast. This doesn’t apply to Happy Ghasts, only their more unpleasant counterpart.
• Vibrant Visuals – If you’re playing on Bedrock Edition, Minecraft is getting a huge visual overhaul. You can spot sunsets reflecting on water, shadows around forests, fog drifting through the air, and so much more. Although it’s only available for Bedrock Edition with this update, it will also be added to Java Edition in the future.