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Photos via Pixelkin

LEGO is stepping up its game. The company has just launched a sandbox game through Valve’s Steam platform (Windows only, so far) where players can shape and build the landscape. It’s called LEGO Worlds.

You can drop in whole structures in this LEGO Minecraft-like game.
You can drop in whole structures in this LEGO Minecraft-like game.

The game is still in early access, and it’s missing some key features that Minecraft players have grown to know and love. Multiplayer isn’t yet available, for instance. On the other hand, early-access play could be a great opportunity for kids to give feedback to LEGO and improve the experience. The game is child-safe for kids under 13. However, early access means potentially contributing to comment sections, and Steam makes no such promise with regards to kid-friendliness. LEGO encourages parents to view Steam’s parental control options.

ss_0a2ed62dfd5d220f2b8a8ad28b8e7a0d690845d4.600x338It also looks like LEGO Worlds will have some new and different features from Minecraft. The game overview says: “Create anything you can imagine one brick at a time, or use large-scale landscaping tools to create vast mountain ranges and dot your world with tropical islands.  Drop in prefabricated structures to build and customize any world to your liking.  Explore using helicopters, dragons, motorbikes or even gorillas and unlock treasures that enhance your gameplay.  Watch your creations come to life through characters and creatures that interact with you and each other in unexpected ways.”

I’m especially excited about the dragons.

Minecraft maker Mojang was acquired for $2.5 billion by Microsoft last year.

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