Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition Disc Version to Hit Retailers

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will be releasing at retailers as a disc-based game for $19.99 on April 30, Microsoft announced.

The retail version of Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition will allow gamers who do not have access to Xbox Live to enjoy all the features of Minecraft offline. It will include all the content and features found on the current version of the game on Xbox Live with the addition of the upcoming ninth title update.

Players who do have online capabilities will be treated to the same ongoing content as the digital version. All updates will be available for the retail version. The game will have support for multiplayer between the retail game and the digital version.

The retail version of Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition is also set to release in Australia, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan in June. Launch details for additional countries have not been revealed.

Microsoft currently has an exclusive console deal with developer Mojang for Minecraft. That deal will expire at some point. Mojang lead designer Jen Bergensten recently said the company will consider a release on the PlayStation platform when that deal is up. However, Nintendo fans should not be expecting a Wii U version.

The open world title has been massively popular since it first released on PC in 2011. Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition sold more than 400,000 digital downloads within 24 hours of its release, breaking the Xbox Live sales record. It went on to sell more than five million units in 2012, accounting for more than $1 million in revenue. Across all platforms, Minecraft sold more than 15 million copies last year.