Microsoft is launching the Minecraft Marketplace, where creators will be able to sell their wares for real money. Minecraft creators can rejoice at the new opportunity to make money, but parents with children should prepare to be incessantly begged for more Minecraft Coins.

Minecraft is a phenomenon at this point. Millions of people of all ages love this game, which lets you mine, craft, survive, and explore to your heart's content. However, there's one thing missing from this magical equation... microtransactions. A problem Microsoft is keen to remedy.

Minecrafters Make Money

Minecrafters have always had the option of buying third-party add-ons from various websites. However, Microsoft, which spent $2.5 billion acquiring Mojang in 2014, is now launching the Minecraft Marketplace on the Pocket and Windows 10 editions to bring the best Minecraft creators in from the cold.

The Minecraft Marketplace will contain creations made by the community. This means that skin packs, texture packs, and even whole worlds will be available to purchase from within the game itself. These can be bought using Minecraft Coins, which will be available as in-app purchases.

According to Mojang, the Minecraft Marketplace will "give Minecraft creators another way to make a living from the game, allowing them to support themselves in the creation of ever-greater projects, while giving Pocket and Windows 10 players access to a growing catalogue of fun stuff".

The Minecraft Marketplace is set to arrive alongside the soon-to-be-released Discovery Update. At launch it will contain creations from well-known Minecraft creators including BlockWorks, Qwertyuiop The Pie, Blockception, and Eneija Silverleaf. More Minecraft creators will be added over time, with anyone (with a registered business) invited to apply.

Minecrafting Costs Money

The Minecraft Marketplace will likely be welcomed by those likely to make money selling their creations. However, the average Minecrafter will likely see this as an attempt to squeeze more money out of their wallet. And parents of children addicted to Minecraft will need to keep an even closer eye on their offspring's obsession.

Do you have kids that play Minecraft? If so, will you let them buy new content through the Minecraft Marketplace? Do you see this as a positive or negative move by Microsoft? Are you a Minecraft creator heartened by the news? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Andrew Beeston via Flickr