Microsoft is making Minecraft: Education Edition available for Chromebooks starting today, August 10. Microsoft is also simultaneously updating the Education Edition of Minecraft for Windows, Mac and iPad for distance and hybrid learning support, officials said today.
Microsoft officials have said that Chromebook, iPad, and Windows users will automatically upgrade to the latest version of Minecraft: Education Edition. Mac users will need to install the updated version manually.
The Chromebook edition, according to Microsoft, offers the same set of features as other versions, including multiplayer with other platforms. Teachers also have the option of deploying Minecraft to a fleet of managed Chrome devices. Currently, Minecraft: Education Edition requires a Microsoft account to sign in, but officials said they are working on allowing users to sign in with a Google account, as well “in the near future.”
Schools with Microsoft 365 for Education (A3 or A5) already have access to Minecraft: Education Edition. The Education Edition is licensed through annual subscriptions which can be purchased through the Microsoft Store for Education through volume licensing agreements and / or through partners.
In 2016, Microsoft acquired MinecraftEdu from Teacher Gaming LLC. Officials said at the time that they were planning to build Minecraft Education Edition, based on MinecraftEdu. Bringing Minecraft: Eduction Edition to Chromebooks has been a long-standing demand from educators.