Build and deconstruct ad infinitum, by stacking blocks. This is the promise of the famous video game Minecraft, which has just celebrated its eleven years. Acquired in 2014 by Microsoft for 2.5 billion dollars, the nugget of the Swedish studios Mojang has not finished seducing video game lovers, quite the contrary. Over 200 million copies of Minecraft (available on all media) have been sold in total, including 24 million in the past twelve months alone. In the list of best-selling video games in history, it greatly surpasses GTA V and its 120 million copies. It now has 126 million monthly players, and remains in first place in the ranking of the most popular video games on YouTube. Together, the thousands of tutorial or visual achievement videos reached more than 100 billion views in 2019, compared to 61 billion for Fortnite.
An educational platform
Like many online platforms, Minecraft has benefited greatly from containment. In April, the game registered 25% more new users compared to March, and multiplayer sessions increased by 40%. While thousands of schools, high schools or universities have been forced to close their doors because of the epidemic, video games have also managed to fare well by offering different educational content. Its Minecraft: Education Edition version , free since March 24 and at least until June 30, has been downloaded more than 50 million times. In particular, it enabled young users to discover the basics of coding, to practice mathematics, or to virtually visit the International Space Station.
But the students didn't just wait for the platform's initiatives, some of them themselves figured out how to use Minecraft. Young people from all over the world have decided to recreate their campus meticulously so that they can continue to take their lessons or chat with their friends while keeping up a semblance of routine. In the United States, the University of Berkeley has even chosen to organize its online graduation ceremony there.
Competition from Roblox and Fortnite
Schools are not the only places of culture to have made a digital transition on Minecraft. The Albi tourist office offers a weekly visit through the virtual alleys of the city, and several music festivals have been organized there, with Idles, Courier Club or even Massive Attack as guest stars. Minecraft has also partnered with the UN in the fight against the pandemic, by broadcasting WHO messages in the game and by encouraging users to respect barrier gestures.
The Minecraft saga is not about to stop. After the launch of Minecraft Earth a few months ago, based on augmented reality, a long-awaited new version, Minecraft Dungeons , will be available on May 26. The studios Mojang even envisage a cinematographic adaptation for 2022. But the video game of construction will have to face competitors more and more solid. Less known but valued at more than four billion dollars, its main rival Roblox is said to have more than 100 million monthly players. As for the free video game Fortnite, it has now exceeded the milestone of 350 million registered players.