Adorable Redesign: Updated Piglet Models and Textures in Minecraft 26.1 Snapshot 2

The year 2026 began with incredibly cute updates for the Minecraft world. Mojang developers introduced Snapshot 2 for version 26.1, bringing a long-awaited visual overhaul of mob babies. At the center of this update are our pink (and not only pink!) friends — piglets, who received significant changes in models, textures, and sounds.

Let’s break down what exactly has changed, why it matters for the game’s ecosystem, and how these updates will impact your gameplay experience.

Why are developers changing old models?

For many years, the visual style of baby mobs in Minecraft remained unchanged: they were simply smaller copies of adult mobs with disproportionately large heads. While this became a signature feature of the game, as the graphics engine evolved and the detail of new creatures increased, the old models started to look outdated.

The main goal of this update — is to align the visual style of the "old-timers" with the modern standards of the game. Developers aim to make the world more vibrant and diverse by adding unique traits to each biome. Updating models is not just a cosmetic tweak but a step toward deeper immersion in the survival atmosphere.

New Texture System: Biome Diversity

The most noticeable change in Snapshot 2 is the linkage of piglet appearances to biome temperatures. Now, as you explore the world, you’ll encounter not just identical pink piglets but unique subspecies adapted to their environment.

Three new texture variants for piglet babies have been added to the game files:

• Cold biomes (pig_cold_baby): These piglets will likely have a paler or "frosty" tone, suitable for snowy tundras.
• Temperate biomes (pig_temperate_baby): The classic look, familiar to all players, inhabiting plains and forests.
• Warm biomes (pig_warm_baby): Variations for deserts or savannas, which may feature richer or sandier tones.

This level of detail (previously seen with frogs and foxes) makes exploring the world a much more exciting activity for collectors and aesthetic enthusiasts.

Technical Adjustments and New Sounds

In addition to the visual updates, technical aspects were also improved. Hitboxes (collision zones) were adjusted to better match the new models. This means interactions with mobs will be more precise.

An important clarification from the developers was the change in equipment rendering: saddles no longer appear on small piglets. This is a logical step that fixes visual bugs where items "floated" or didn’t sit correctly on reduced models.

The atmosphere is further enhanced by updated sound design. Piglets now have their own set of unique sounds (entity.baby_pig.*), including separate audio files for footsteps, taking damage, and simple grunting. You’ll now be able to distinguish an adult from a baby even with your eyes closed.

Impact on Gameplay

For the average player, these changes mean that farming and breeding animals will become visually richer. Your pens will no longer be monotonous if you bring animals from different parts of the world.

For content creators and map builders, the update opens up new possibilities for decoration and creating themed areas. The ability to use different animal skins without mods — is a big plus for vanilla survival.

What do you think about this update? Do you like Mojang’s direction of making the visual style of old mobs more complex, or do you miss the classic "big-headed" designs? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know which mob you’d like to see updated next.