Microsoft is getting into the in-app purchases business with the addition of their Minecraft marketplace store. Minecraft which Microsoft purchased in September of 2014 for $2.5 billion and has been the ambassador of with very few changes is now adding something to the game.
The Minecraft Marketplace will offer maps, skins, and texture packs from developers that choose to enroll in the Minecraft Partner Program. There will be nine creators to start with and Microsoft plans to add more every month. The nine companies creating content for the Minecraft store to start will be
- Blockception
- Eneija
- Imagiverse
- Noxcrew
- Polymaps
- QwertyuiopThePie
- Razzleberry Fox
- Sphax
- BlockWorks
Players will need an Xbox Live Silver or Gold account to make purchases.
Just like many other games, you can buy these maps, skins, and textures from Minecraft marketplace using coins which can be purchased with real money. Microsoft has added this the Minecraft Marketplace and Minecraft Coins feature to make it safer and easier for players to purchase and play games safely without the risk of viruses or malware.
Minecraft will include new features, including the ability to change how characters move, and the option to export structures to other programs to view and print them in 3D.
The Minecraft Marketplace will be available on Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition and Minecraft: Pocket Edition via the 1.1 Discovery Update this spring.