Minecraft aficionados now have new things to look forward to as Mojang released a new update for the popular sandbox video game.

According to Neurogadget, Minecraft update 1.8.8, which was released for all platforms, brings new features for gamers like red desserts, ice plains and dark forest. The patch will also let Minecraft fans enjoy ice spike and deep oceans along with a savannah.

Neurogadget also pointed out that the new Minecraft patch will let gamers uncover new territories, where the additional features like new trees and varieties of stones were hidden.

The additional trees like acacia and dark oak are also expected to get a lot of attention, as well as the ocean monuments and new blocks that can be used in creating fresh establishment in the game, especially for gamers who are already tired of using the same materials over and over again.

Meanwhile, the Minecraft: The Journey to the West Skin Pack is also now available. However, this new skin pack, which was released as part of the Lunar New Year celebration, will only be available for the Windows 10 and Pocket edition of the well-loved game.

According to a separate report from Neurogadget, the Minecraft: The Journey to the West Skin Pack includes the following new features:

  • Red Boy
  • Friar Sand
  • Guanyin
  • Jade Emperor
  • Lady Earth Flow
  • Lord Hundred-Eyes
  • Monk Pig
  • Monkey King
  • Pale Bone Demon
  • Princess Iron Fan
  • Black Wind Demon
  • Bull Demon King
  • Scorpion Demon
  • Spider Demon
  • Xuanzang

This new skin pack is available for $1.99 but the Guanyin and Red Boy characters can be downloaded for free. It remains to be seen, though, whether or not the new skins will be released for the console editions.

Minecraft developers have yet to address questions about availability for console editions, but Neurogadget pointed out that devs are following different update timelines for each version.

Aside from the two updates, Minecraft fans are also looking forward to a possible new version of the game that will likely focus on learning. Microsoft recently bought MinecraftEdu, which will be used for the Minecraft Education Edition.

"By creating a virtual world and then advancing in it, students can learn digital citizenship, empathy, social skills and even improve their literacy - while getting real time feedback on their problem solving skills from the teacher," Microsoft said in a statement. "In fact, more than 7,000 classrooms in more than 40 countries around the world are already using Minecraft."