Minecraft Finally Lets Players Sit: Update Preview for 2026 QoL Change

Mojang’s latest developer blog for Minecraft is all about a long-awaited quality-of-life change—and it also previews a handful of new blocks, items, and a fresh biome to explore. In the next planned update (arriving in Q3 2026), players will finally be able to sit down. That’s right: the “make Steve sit” request has been around for nearly two decades, and the studio is turning it into a craftable item instead of a workaround.

Most people first jumped into Minecraft after its full release in November 2011, but the game was technically playable much earlier. An early alpha build went live online in May 2009, meaning players could already explore a very rough version of the world. Back then, Minecraft was extremely barebones compared to what fans play today, with far fewer features and even a world that only had a single biome. Villages didn’t exist yet either. Still, even with that limited baseline, players were already asking for a way to get Steve to sit.

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Minecraft’s New “Sit Down” Feature (Cushion Item)

The next Minecraft update won’t land until Q3 2026, but Mojang has already shared a video walkthrough of several highlights. The dev blog—titled “SIT DOWN! NEW FEATURES INCOMING!”—confirms the sit-down feature that fans have been waiting for for 17 years.

Over the years, players have tried to solve this with improvised tricks, but none were truly reliable. Some players used mods specifically built to enable sitting, while others relied on physical gimmicks like wedging mine carts or boats into cramped, seat-like arrangements. Another common approach was placing a mountable animal into a similar setup to force the “sitting” pose.

This time, Mojang is introducing an actual craftable solution: a brand-new Cushion block item.

How to Craft and Use the Cushion

Once the Cushion exists in your world, you’ll be able to place it on a flat surface and prompt your character to sit with a click.

1. Craft the Cushion by placing three Wool Slabs in a horizontal row.
2. Place the finished Cushion on a flat surface.
3. Click to make your character sit down.

• The Wool Slabs required for crafting are also part of the upcoming update’s additions.
• Mojang confirmed the Cushion will come in 16 different colors.
• Officially, the Cushion will be added with the Q3 2026 game drop.
• Players can try it sooner if they’re using Java Snapshot, Bedrock Beta, or the Preview versions of Minecraft.

Other Additions Mojang Teased for the Upcoming Update

Mojang’s dev blog continues with a broader overview of the upcoming Dappled Forest biome, plus a preview of new blocks and items. The video also spends a lot of time showing off the Straw Bed item.

Straw Bed: Skip the Night (But It Breaks)

The Straw Bed is made by placing three Hay Bales in a horizontal line. Once you drop it into your world, you can use it to skip the night. Importantly, using it won’t reset your spawn point. The catch is that the Straw Bed only lasts for a single use, after which it breaks.

Alongside the Straw Bed, Mojang also highlighted a new Poplar Wood block set. The dev blog further showcases new decorative and utility options, including a Shelf Mushroom, plus the long-requested additions of Wool Stairs and Wood Slabs.

Finally, the update is adding a new Abandoned Camp point of interest (POI) within the Dappled Forest, as well as additions to previous biomes.

Where to Play

Minecraft players can test features ahead of the full Q3 2026 drop through the Java Snapshot, Bedrock Beta, or Preview versions.