Minecraft’s next Java update, 1.21.9 — officially titled The Copper Age — is set to launch on September 30, 2025.

Mojang has moved the build into release candidate status for Java Edition, signaling the update is essentially locked ahead of rollout. The studio previously announced the name and theme for this year’s third game drop, The Copper Age, which expands copper beyond decoration and into core gameplay systems like gear, storage, and mobs. You can try features early in Java snapshots and Bedrock beta & preview. The Copper Age name reveal and Release Candidate 1 are both live now.

Release date and availability

Edition Version Official name Release date Current build
Java Edition 1.21.9 The Copper Age September 30, 2025 Release Candidate 1

Testing builds can corrupt worlds, so back up saves or use separate folders when installing pre-release or release candidate versions through the Launcher.

New features in The Copper Age

The Copper Age brings copper into everyday play with new gear, building options, and a craftable companion:

  • Copper tools and armor
  • Copper golems you assemble in‑world
  • Copper storage like chests, plus other copper blocks and items
  • Shelves for display and storage builds
  • New options on the debug screen

Mojang highlighted copper golems, copper chests, and a buildable golem statue when it unveiled the drop’s theme; features are playable now in testing builds across Java and Bedrock. For the broader feature overview, see the official name announcement.

Development status

Java Edition has progressed through snapshots and multiple pre-releases to a single release candidate. In its RC1 post, the Java team wrote:

We are now releasing the first, and hopefully only, release-candidate for 1.21.9.

If no further issues appear, RC1 will match the final build for players when the update lands. You can enable snapshots and testing builds from the Installations tab in the Minecraft Launcher; just keep backups before loading existing worlds.

With a date on the calendar and a near-final build out, The Copper Age is set to put copper at the center of Minecraft’s next month of play.