Brett Molina

USA TODAY

The hit sandbox game Minecraft is officially headed to China.

Microsoft announced Monday it has reached a five-year deal with Chinese tech company NetEase to host the popular game for PCs and mobile devices. The deal calls for studio Mojang to develop a version of the game for the Chinese audience.

"We are excited to bring Minecraft to Chinese audiences, and expect our large online community to embrace this preeminent game," said NetEase CEO and founder William Ding in a statement.

The sandbox-style video game launched in 2011, and allows players to gather resources and create elaborate structures. The game boasts more than 100 million registered users.

"We'll always embrace opportunities to bring Minecraft to new players around the world, widening our community, and giving us a new perspective on our game," said Jonas Martensson, CEO of Minecraft creator Mojang.

Two years ago, Microsoft acquired Mojang and the rights to Minecraft for $2.5 billion.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.