Minecraft finally adds craftable saddles after 15 years

More than 15 years after their debut, saddles in Minecraft are finally craftable. Mojang’s latest Snapshot 25w20a update allows players to create this rare item using just three pieces of leather and one iron ingot, which are resources that are relatively easier to gather in the Overworld.

Before this update, saddles could only be obtained through luck. They could only be found in dungeon chests, as loot from mobs, or through fishing and trading. With this update, players can now craft their own saddles once they’ve collected a single piece of leather, significantly streamlining the mount-taming experience.

Here are some of the highlights from the Snapshot 25w20a -

• Craftable saddles: 3 Leather + 1 Iron Ingot; recipe unlocks after obtaining leather.
• Saddle removal: Players can now remove saddles from pigs using shears—no need for pig sacrifice.
• Ambient audio: Five new tracks by composer Amos Roddy have been added, setting the tone for Minecraft’s second major update of 2025.
• New music disc: A rare new disc titled Tears, obtainable by defeating Ghasts in the Nether.
• VR support dropped: Mojang has removed virtual and mixed reality support from Bedrock Edition 1.21.80, drawing criticism from players who enjoyed the immersive experience.

The snapshot is now available for Java Edition testers and Bedrock Preview players (excluding Android users). Mojang continues to refine the game with mechanical tweaks, like recent leash and ranged combat improvements, and visual enhancements ahead of Minecraft’s upcoming summer update.

Snapshot 25w20a also coincides with the digital release of the Minecraft live-action movie, which aims to capitalise on renewed interest in the game.