Snapshot Schedule
How Mojang releases snapshots, pre-releases, and release candidates before each major update.
The Wednesday Cycle
During active development, Mojang typically releases new snapshots every Wednesday between 15:00 and 18:00 UTC. This pattern is not guaranteed but has been consistent for years.
Snapshots follow a naming convention based on the year and week number: for example, 25w14a means the first snapshot of week 14 in 2025. If multiple snapshots ship in the same week, they get suffixed with b, c, etc.
Weeks without snapshots usually happen during holidays (Christmas, summer break) or when the team is focused on internal work. Occasionally, a snapshot may ship on Thursday or be skipped entirely.
From Snapshot to Release
Development Snapshots
Weekly builds with new features, changes, and experimental content. Expect bugs.
Pre-Releases
Feature-complete builds focused on bug fixes and polish. Usually 3-7 pre-releases before launch.
Release Candidates
Final candidates that should be identical to the release. Usually 1-2, with last-minute fixes only.
Full Release
The stable version pushed to all players. Typically releases on a Wednesday or Tuesday.
Expected Timeline
Dates marked as "estimated" or "speculated" are based on past patterns and are not official Mojang announcements.