Students will soon be building and exploring the online world of Minecraft in schools across the world.
Microsoft this week acquired MinecraftEdu, a classroom-based version of the popular game, with an eye on releasing an expanded Minecraft: Education Edition as a free trial this summer. Existing MinecraftEdu users will receive one year of the new game at no cost.
Since its inception in 2011, MinecraftEdu has been used in more than 40 countries. Now, under Redmond's leadership and with the help of real-life educators, it will further expand its reach.
The teaching community is encouraged to visit education.minecraft.net to search lesson plans, chat in forums, and provide feedback to Microsoft.
The tech titan purchased Minecraft maker Mojang in 2014 for $2.5 billion, joining the Swedish game maker with Microsoft Studios—creators of the Halo, Forza, and Fable franchises.
This week's acquisition completes another piece of Redmond's Minecraft puzzle.
"One of the reasons Minecraft fits so well in the classroom is because it's a common, creative playground," Mojang COO Vu Bui said in a statement.
"We've seen that Minecraft transcends the differences in teaching and learning styles and education systems around the world," he continued. "It's an open space where people can come together and build a lesson around nearly anything."
Since the game's introduction to the classroom, teachers have been incorporating Minecraft into everything from STEM subjects to art and poetry.
"In education, we are constantly seeking pathways to explore learning beyond the confines of a textbook. Minecraft allows us that opportunity," said Rafranz Davis, executive director at the Lufkin Independent School District in Texas. "When we see our kids enjoying the process of learning in this way, it's a game changer."
Mojang and Telltale Games, meanwhile, are reportedly bringing the narrative-based Minecraft: Story Mode series to the Nintendo Wii U on Jan. 21. Starting with Episode 1: The Order of the Stone, each installment costs $5 to download or $20 for a Season Pass.
Five episodes are already available on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PS4, PC, iOS, and Android. The original title hit the Wii U last month.