Minecraft Snapshot 25w20a: Craftable Saddles & Fresh Music

Minecraft’s second major update of 2025 is underway, and the latest snapshot is already live with brand-new features to test. Snapshot 25w20a introduces long-requested craftable saddles, a selection of new ambient music tracks, and a hauntingly rare music disc titled "Tears", composed by Amos Roddy.

These features are now available in Java Edition snapshot, Bedrock beta, and Preview builds, and are expected to be part of the upcoming Minecraft 1.21.6 update.

Let’s explore what’s new and how you can try it today.

🧪 How to Play Snapshot 25w20a

To test the features of the Summer Drop early, follow these steps:

For Java Edition:

1. Open the Minecraft Launcher

2. Go to the "Installations" tab

3. Enable "Snapshots"

4. Create a new profile with version 25w20a

5. Launch the game

For Bedrock Edition:

Enable Preview or Beta builds on Android, Xbox, or Windows via the Minecraft Preview app or Xbox Insider Hub.

⚠️ Reminder: Use a separate world to test snapshots, as they may not be compatible with older versions.

🐎 Craftable Saddles Are Finally Here!

Gone are the days of endlessly looting dungeons and mineshafts just to find a saddle. In the Summer Drop snapshot, saddles are now craftable using the following recipe:

🧰 Crafting Recipe:

1. 3 Leather

2. 1 Iron Ingot

This small change has a big impact on survival gameplay—giving players control over mount access much earlier in the game.

Additionally, saddles can now be removed from animals like pigs using shears, making saddle reuse simpler and more flexible.

🎵 New Ambient Music by Amos Roddy

Minecraft’s world feels more alive than ever with the addition of five new ambient music tracks, composed by Amos Roddy. These tracks enrich exploration across different biomes and are inspired by the themes of the 2025 Summer Drop—like gliding across the Nether on a Happy Ghast.

🌌 New Tracks:

1. Below and Above

2. Broken Clocks

3. Fireflies

4. Lilypad

5. O’s Piano

These tracks are available in-game and also released on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and more for those who want to enjoy the Minecraft atmosphere outside of the game.

💿 New "Tears" Music Disc – A Haunting Nether Reward

The new music disc "Tears" can be obtained from ghasts—but not the happy kind.

To earn this haunting track, you’ll need to defeat a ghast in a specific way, which players believe involves deflecting a fireball back at it. The disc has a low drop rate, adding to its rarity and value.

Once collected, place the disc in a jukebox and enjoy a uniquely melancholic track that reflects the eerie solitude of the Nether.

Too unlucky to get it? "Tears" is also available on streaming platforms!

🧠 Final Thoughts

The 2025 Summer Drop snapshot is a taste of what’s to come in Minecraft 1.21.6. With craftable saddles, ambient music, and a rare Nether music disc, the game continues to evolve with community-requested features and immersive content.

Test the new additions today via snapshot 25w20a and share your feedback with Mojang!