JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The City of Jacksonville is jumping into the world of Minecraft.

On Monday, city officials unveiled the “New Jax City” Minecraft Build Challenge for Duval County students. The new citywide competition invites students to reimagine Jacksonville’s public spaces and communities with their own twists.

Students will design their own Minecraft worlds while envisioning a dynamic, forward-thinking future for the city, all while integrating STEM, urban planning and civic engagement, officials said.

The City of Jacksonville partnered with Minecraft Edition, C40 Cities and Duval County Public Schools to launch the competition. 

“We’re thrilled to join select cities around the world in partnering with Minecraft Education to give students the chance to shape Jacksonville’s future,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. 

Officials said that Jacksonville is now one of a few cities around the world featured in Minecraft Education, a specific version of Minecraft designed for educational use. 

Parts of Jacksonville are already live for players around the world to explore, with actual city leaders featured as non-playable characters (NPCs) to provide more information about city departments, plans and other critical projects, officials said.

“While playing, students will learn from real city leaders and see how we work together to solve problems and build a better future for our city,” Deegan said. “I encourage all of our students to participate in the Challenge, which is designed to build pathways to STEM careers and civic leadership.”

The challenge is open to all elementary school through college-aged students within Duval County. 

The competition will include a virtual semi-final round from April 14 to May 2. The round will be followed by an in-person, esports-style final round on May 20, dubbed the “Mayor’s Cup,” to allow students to show off their creations to city leaders and experts.

“This Minecraft Education challenge ignites creativity and inspires Duval County students to envision a more sustainable city for themselves and future generations,” said Allison Matthews, Head of Minecraft Education. “By collaborating with their peers, students can learn from each other, build new skills, and showcase their innovation to city leaders.” 

Click here for more information about the “New Jax City” Build Challenge.