'Minecraft: Education Edition is Available On Chromebooks

Ahead of a new school year, which could see students never stepping into a classroom, Microsoft is bringing Minecraft: Education Edition to Chromebooks.

The Chrome OS version of Minecraft: Education Edition will support cross-platform play between the Windows, iPad and Mac versions of the game, so students will be able to collaborate and socialize on their projects regardless of what device they're playing on. Microsoft is also updating the software to include 11 new STEM lessons as well as an interactive Minecraft world to teach students about pollination and bees. An improved lesson plan library and learned abilities that are tagged are part of the update too.

According to the company, Chrome OS, iPad and Windows devices will automatically install the update.Minecraft Mac users will need to download the update manually. Schools that are already using Minecraft: Education Edition in their classrooms won't need to change their subscription. The company will include the Chrome OS version to its Microsoft 365 for Education A3 and A5 licenses.

Minecraft Education Edition is available since 2016. It's not surprising that it's being made available to Chromebooks this year. After all Google's computing platform is the king of the education market. In the year 2019 Google reported that there were 30 million Chromebooks being used by schools across the world. Chromebooks accounted for 60 percent of all laptops and tablets purchased in the US for classrooms from K-12 in 2018. What's interesting about this release is that it offers Chrome OS users an official method to install Minecraft without sideloading the game onto their device.