Microsoft and Code.org team up to bring ‘Minecraft’ to Hour of Code

The new tutorial, now available at code.org/mc, introduces players to basic coding within the fun and popular “Minecraft” environment.

Created by “Minecraft” game designers together with Code.org, the tutorial features Steve and Alex from “Minecraft” and “Minecraft”-inspired challenges that is familiar to its more than 100 million players around the world.

“A core part of our mission to empower every person on the planet is equipping youth with computational thinking and problem-solving skills to succeed in an increasingly digital world,” said Satya Nadella, chief executive officer, Microsoft. “With ‘Minecraft’ and Code.org, we aim to spark creativity in the next generation of innovators in a way that is natural, collaborative and fun.”

Designed for ages 6 and up, the “Minecraft” tutorial introduces players to basic coding skills, encouraging them to navigate, mine, craft and explore in a 2-D “Minecraft” world by plugging together blocks to complete all actions and generate computer code.

Players are offered a set of 14 challenges, including free play time, to explore coding concepts they’ve learned through the tutorial.

“Minecraft’ is a special game that girls and boys alike often can’t be pried away from,” said Code.org CEO and co-founder Hadi Partovi.

“Microsoft continues to be Code.org’s most generous donor and one of the largest supporters of the worldwide movement to give every student the opportunity to learn computer science. This year’s ‘Minecraft’ tutorial will empower millions of learners around the world to explore how a game they love actually works and will inspire them to impact the world by creating their own technology or apps,” Partovi added.

To date, more than 100 million students across 180 countries and 40 languages have participated in the Hour of Code, including one in three students in US schools.

This year, the campaign expects to exceed 100,000 events during December 7−13 and to continue introducing more girls and underrepresented students of colour to this foundational 21st century field.

In support of Code.org and the global Hour of Code campaign, Microsoft will also lead thousands of Hour of Code events in more than 50 countries around the world.

These events will take place at Microsoft stores, offices and innovation centres as well as facilities of Microsoft’s Youth Spark nonprofit partners and schools.

They will be led by over 7,000 Microsoft Student Partners, Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and employee volunteers. In addition, Microsoft is gifting Windows Store credit to every educator who organises an Hour of Code event worldwide.

Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of colour. Its vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science.

Mojang is a game development studio based in Sweden, best known for developing “Minecraft.” In 2014, Mojang joined Microsoft Studios to continue work on “Minecraft” and bring their vision, creative energy and innovative mindset to the development of future games.