Screen capture from the trailer of 'Peter is Here', a new learning experience on Minecraft Education

MANILA -- Minecraft players can now explore St. Peter's Basilica in the education edition of the game.

Microsoft, the Vatican and tech startup Iconem have collaborated to create an AI-powered digital twin of one of the Catholic Church's holiest places in Minecraft Education.

Dubbed as 'Peter Is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage' the new Minecraft Education learning experience lets students step inside the St. Peter's Basilica and take on the role of its caretakers.

On its blog, Minecraft Education said Peter Is Here offers two distinct gameplay paths for educators looking to integrate history, art, STEM, and digital literacy into their lessons.

"They begin in ‘Restoration Mode’ where they take on the role of the Sanpietrini, the dedicated team responsible for preserving St. Peter’s Basilica,"

Players are challenged to repair key sections of the Basilica across four distinct historical eras, namely: The Vatican Obelisk,  St. Peter’s Tomb,  the Rotunda Column,  Bernini’s Baldachin.

"In Restoration Mode, students actively restore St. Peter’s Basilica using AI tools, making real-time decisions that provide historical insights and unlock new areas for exploration, transforming them into active preservers of cultural heritage."

Students also get to engage in hands-on problem solving using simulated AI tools like block scanners and retrievers to assess damage and identify which parts of the structure need repair.

Players will get to see that every restoration decision has a visible impact on the Basilica’s appearance, Minecraft Education said.

"As players replace broken blocks or reinforce aging structures, they see firsthand how their actions help restore this historic landmark."

After this, students can enter the ‘Exploration Mode’ path where they can explore the grand halls and hidden secrets of the fully restored St. Peter’s Basilica, the company added.

Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab supplied the tech needed to process and analyze the photogrammetry data they collected, Minecraft said.

All licensed users of the Minecraft Education can access Peter is Here in the lesson library. A trial version of Minecraft Education can also be accessed for free by downloading the application and logging in with a Office 365 or Microsoft 365 Education account.

Last year, Microsoft also unveiled a digital twin of St. Peter's Basilica, in time for the Catholic Church's Jubillee.