Microsoft acquires MinecraftEdu, announces a new Minecraft edition for schools

Microsoft is continuing its mission to find educational uses for Minecraft with the news that it has acquired MinecraftEdu, a company that makes a modified version of Minecraft specifically for the classroom. Additionally, Microsoft said that it’s launching a new Minecraft Education Edition for schools this summer.

Mojang, the Sweden-based game development studio that shot to prominence due to its work on Minecraft, was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014. MinecraftEdu said that it’s been working with Microsoft ever since “to plan for the future,” though it has kept those plans private until now.