Minecraft: Ice Caves confirmed as next game drop with frozen zombies and ice balls

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IGN reports Mojang confirmed at Minecraft LIVE that the next Minecraft "game drop" will add Ice Caves, a new rare underground extension to cold biomes. The update reportedly includes glowing ice crystals that can be placed vertically or horizontally and used as a light source and decoration. IGN says a new hostile mob, the frozen zombie, will be added; it can apply freezing effects and throw damaging ice balls, which IGN reports can also be used as weapons or to craft potions. Mojang told IGN the Ice Caves add environmental variety to cold biomes and warned, "Though they may be beautiful, these caves are far from safe."

• What happened: IGN reports Mojang confirmed at Minecraft LIVE that the next Minecraft "game drop" will introduce Ice Caves as a rare underground extension of cold biomes.
• Why it matters: IGN reports the Ice Caves add new gameplay elements—glowing ice crystals usable as light and building materials, a new hostile mob called the frozen zombie that applies freezing effects and throws damaging ice balls, and ice balls that can be used as weapons or to craft potions.
• Context: IGN reports Mojang said Ice Caves increase environmental variety in cold biomes and quoted the developer: "Though they may be beautiful, these caves are far from safe."
• What next: IGN's report does not include a release date, platforms, or rollout details for the Ice Caves game drop; those specifics are not confirmed in the provided evidence.