Minecraft: How The Wild Update failed to add wilderness

Mojang promised to bring more natural wilderness to Minecraft with The Wild Update. Released on June 7, 2022, the update added beloved features like the deep dark biome, ancient cities, mangrove swamps, and mobs such as the Warden, allay, and frogs. Fans were thrilled about these additions, but the update left much to be desired when it came to diversifying Minecraft’s wildlife.

Despite its name, The Wild Update didn’t focus enough on improving the game’s wildlife. Of the three new mobs added, only one, the frog, fits the wild theme. The Minecraft update prioritized new biomes and “scary” features, like the deep dark and Warden, which could've been saved for a different update. Players were left wanting more upgrades to existing features.

This isn’t the first time Mojang has overlooked existing elements in patches. Similar issues appeared in the Nether and Aquatic Updates. Fans hoped for more wildlife, such as tigers or bears, and reworks of older biomes like the birch forest. Sadly, The Wild Update fell short of fully delivering on its wilderness promise.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinion.

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What has The Wild Update added to Minecraft?

The update was received well as it added the deep dark biome, ancient cities, and the fearsome Warden, which brought a new level of danger. It also added mangrove swamps, a new type of tree, and mud blocks, which gave players more building options. The three new mobs were the frog, tadpole, and allay, each bringing unique mechanics to the game.

While these features were creative and fun, they didn’t align with the “wilderness” aspect the update’s name suggested. Only the mangrove swamps and frogs truly added to Minecraft’s natural world. The rest felt like they belonged in a separate update with a different focus.

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What The Wild Update could have been added?

Regal tiger could have been a cool addition (Image via Mojang Studios)

The Wild Update could have improved existing ones rather than focusing on new ones. Brown bears in forests, regal tigers in jungles, or even small critters like squirrels in various biomes would be cool new additions. These animals could have unique behaviors and more interaction in different locations of the game.

Reworking older biomes like the birch forest or savanna would have also been a great addition. Mojang could've added new trees, plants, and terrain features to make these biomes more interesting. The Jungle Temple is one of Minecraft’s oldest structures and could've been expanded by adding new traps, puzzles, and loot.

The desert and savanna biomes also remain untouched and have needed updates for years. More wildlife could've been added to make the ecosystems feel richer.