BBC Studios’ Natural History umbrella brand partners with Minecraft Education to engage younger audiences globally through immersive gameplay with Minecraft
BBC Earth and Minecraft Education have created five free Frozen Planet II worlds, featuring immersive landscapes, animals and game-based learning resources, inspired by stories in the new landmark series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit.
Minecraft is the best-selling game of all time and is especially popular with younger players. Minecraft: Education Edition provides educational content for schools globally where students can learn about a wide variety of subjects via creative gameplay. The team at Mojang Studios believes it has a responsibility to use Minecraft to build a better world and inspire generations of game changers, especially around themes of global citizenship and sustainability.
The educational Frozen Planet II content has been made available for free to Minecraft: Education Edition users globally in 29 different languages accompanied by lesson plans for teachers to educate and inspire students about the importance of our frozen worlds and allow them to explore the effects of climate change as part of classroom curriculum. The five Frozen Planet II worlds will also be provided free to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition players everywhere via the Minecraft Marketplace.
For the first time ever, Minecraft players will be given the chance to play from the perspective of an animal including the penguin, bumblebee and polar bear, letting players experience the frozen worlds from their view such as a killer whale using a wave washing technique to brush the seals off an ice floe and into the sea. Players can even try their hand at being a natural history film-making researcher on location where they are tasked to document key animal behaviour and information to inform environmental research.
Elizabeth White, Series Producer, Frozen Planet II said: “One of the great things about the natural world is its power to engage and enthral viewers young and old. We are delighted to partner with Minecraft on this range of educational computer games which will enable children to interact with stories inspired by the series through gameplay and learn more about the challenges of these habitats through the additional lesson content”.
We’re excited to partner with BBC Studios in this unique venture – we’re bringing a whole new perspective to Minecraft and, collaborating with the great minds behind Frozen Planet II, a truly authentic experience of some of the most fascinating and important areas of our world,” said Allison Matthews, Head of Minecraft Education, “It’s never been more crucial to educate players everywhere about the effects of climate change and inspire a new generation of young people around sustainability. We believe it’s our responsibility to do so, and this partnership is the next big step in that direction.”
The first Frozen Planet II Minecraft Education world will be available on the 21st September with further games launching weekly.
Frozen Planet II is available now on BBC One and iPlayer.