Quick answer: Minecraft Java Edition 26.4 Snapshot 6 and Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 both add Snow Bricks and the Cold Sulfur Cube to the upcoming winter-themed game drop. The headline features are similar, but the changelogs are not identical: Java explicitly documents Snow Brick crafting from four Snow Blocks and says a Stonecutter cannot make its slab, stair, or wall variants. Bedrock’s Preview notes emphasize that Snow Bricks do not melt, identify the shovel as the best tool, and list a Wandering Trader change involving Ice Crystals. Treat both as test builds—not final release guarantees—and back up worlds before trying them.
Updated October 28, 2026. This comparison is based on Mojang’s published Java Snapshot 6 and Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 changelogs. Details can change before the stable release.
At a glance: what both test versions share
- Snow Bricks: a new decorative snow-themed block set, with slab, stair, and wall variants.
- Cold Sulfur Cube: a new Sulfur Cube archetype connected to Blue Ice and Frosted Ice.
- Frosted Ice behavior: the cold variant can create Frosted Ice as it moves over water, similar in concept to the Frost Walker enchantment.
- Winter-drop testing: both builds are part of development for the upcoming game drop, so mechanics and balance can change.
The official release notes are the best reference when a detail matters. Read Java Edition 26.4 Snapshot 6 alongside Bedrock Preview 26.70.22. Mojang also maintains an overview of current test builds in its upcoming game drop testing guide.
Snow Bricks: the crafting details are not worded the same
Java Snapshot 6 says Snow Bricks can be crafted from a 2-by-2 arrangement of Snow Blocks. It also lists slab, stair, and wall variants, but specifically warns that a Stonecutter cannot be used to craft those variants. If you are planning a survival build, keep your crafting grid in mind instead of assuming the Stonecutter will handle every decorative block family.
Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 describes Snow Bricks as a decorative block set, says they do not melt, and lists a shovel as the best tool. Its changelog also names packed snow brick slabs, stairs, and walls. These notes are useful for Bedrock players, but they should not be used to assume every Java recipe or tool rule is exactly the same.
Survival tip: test the recipe and mining behavior in a throwaway test world first. If you are collecting materials for a large build, use the exact edition and preview version you intend to play; experimental block names and recipes can be revised.
Cold Sulfur Cube: the shared Blue Ice interaction
Both changelogs describe a Cold archetype for Sulfur Cubes. The key setup is to equip a Sulfur Cube with a Blue Ice block, which gives it the Cold archetype. The cube otherwise behaves like the Fast Sliding archetype, while its cold behavior lets it float and create Frosted Ice as it moves across water.
Java Snapshot 6 is unusually precise about the conditions: the cube must start moving while it is on the ground, and there must be air blocks above the water for Frosted Ice placement. Those conditions matter if you are trying to build a repeatable ice path or test the mechanic in a compact enclosure. Bedrock’s Preview notes summarize the behavior as creating Frosted Ice when moving over water source blocks, similar to Frost Walker.
Bedrock Preview lists a Wandering Trader change
One useful survival-facing note appears in the Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 changelog: Wandering Traders now sell one Ice Crystal for two Emeralds. That specific trade is listed in the Bedrock notes. Do not assume it is present in Java Snapshot 6 unless the Java changelog or your own test confirms it.
For players who want to experiment with Ice Crystals, this makes checking the trader inventory worthwhile in the Bedrock Preview. As with all test-build trades, verify the actual offer in your build before spending time or Emeralds planning around it.
Other differences survival players should know
Java lists technical and bug-fix details in its own changelog
Snapshot 6 includes Java-specific notes such as default JVM memory behavior and a long list of fixes. For example, it says the game now automatically sets Java heap size based on system RAM, using up to 25 percent with a maximum of 4 GB. That is a Java runtime change, not a gameplay feature that Bedrock players should expect to find in the same form.
Bedrock includes platform, UI, and gameplay fixes
The Bedrock Preview changelog covers a broad set of fixes across controls, interfaces, Marketplace, Realms, mobs, and technical creator features. Those changes reflect Bedrock’s own platform ecosystem. A feature appearing in the Preview notes does not automatically mean it is missing from Java forever; it may simply be outside the scope of that Java snapshot’s notes.
Both versions can contain bugs
Mojang warns that development builds may cause unexpected behavior and recommends caution with worlds. Use a separate installation or test world, back up any world you care about, and expect snapshots and previews to change before release. Java snapshots and Bedrock previews are separate testing tracks, not interchangeable builds, and multiplayer players generally need compatible versions to join one another.
Which version should you test?
- Choose Java Snapshot 6 if you play Java Edition and want to test the exact Snow Brick recipe, the Stonecutter limitation, the Cold Sulfur Cube’s movement conditions, and Java-specific fixes.
- Choose Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 if you play Bedrock and want to test the Snow Brick set, the Ice Crystal trader offer, the Cold Sulfur Cube’s water behavior, and Bedrock-specific fixes on your platform.
- Wait for stable release if you mainly want a reliable long-term survival world and do not want to risk experimental mechanics.
Need more winter-build guidance? See our Snow Bricks vs. Packed Ice Bricks comparison and our guide to the Bedrock Preview’s Snow Bricks and Cold Sulfur Cube. For the official feature roundup, use Mojang’s testing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are Java Snapshot 6 and Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 the same update?
They are separate test builds for the same upcoming game drop. They share major features, but their changelogs and platform-specific changes differ.
How do you craft Snow Bricks in Java Snapshot 6?
The Java changelog says to craft them from four Snow Blocks arranged in a 2-by-2 square. Check your exact snapshot in case a later build changes the recipe.
Can a Stonecutter make Snow Brick stairs or walls?
Java Snapshot 6 explicitly says the Stonecutter cannot craft Snow Brick slabs, stairs, and walls.
How does the Cold Sulfur Cube create Frosted Ice?
Equip a Sulfur Cube with Blue Ice to give it the Cold archetype. It can create Frosted Ice as it moves over water, with placement conditions such as starting its movement on the ground and having air above the water in Java Snapshot 6.
Does Bedrock Preview have an Ice Crystal trade?
Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 says Wandering Traders now sell one Ice Crystal for two Emeralds. Verify the offer in your current build before relying on it.
Should I use a main survival world to test these builds?
It is safer to back up your world and use a separate test world or installation. Snapshots and previews are unfinished and can contain bugs or change before release.
Bottom line: The big features overlap, but the details matter. Java Snapshot 6 spells out the Snow Brick recipe and Stonecutter restriction, while Bedrock Preview 26.70.22 highlights the Ice Crystal trader offer and Bedrock-specific fixes. Check the changelog for your edition, back up your world, and test new mechanics before building a survival plan around them.