Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal Globally'

In an era where numerous live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains a premium experience. In a recent interview with IGN, Mojang, the game's developer, reaffirmed their commitment to the "buy and own" approach, 16 years after its initial release. So, don't hold your breath for Minecraft to become free-to-play anytime soon.

"Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," explained Ingela Garneij, executive producer of Minecraft Vanilla. "I mean, we built the game for a different purpose. So monetization doesn't work in that way for us. It's a purchase of the game and then that's it. For us, it's important that our game is available for as many people as possible. And so, I think that's a very core value that it should be accessible for everyone. It's the best deal in the world."

As the gaming industry has evolved, many titles have transitioned to a free-to-download format, often accompanied by battle passes and cosmetic packs, with varying degrees of success. Notable examples include Overwatch 2's free-to-play model, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite, specifically with its multiplayer component.

While the pressure mounts on game publishers and developers to explore new monetization strategies, Mojang seems unfazed. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still, and that's going strong still," Garneij stated, emphasizing their focus on accessibility and enjoyment over additional revenue streams.

Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, further elaborated on this stance: "I mean, for me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. I think it's become such an important thing of what Minecraft is and the perfect culture and values, and I think we all here can agree on that. It's a thing for the game and it's one part of what makes the game strong. It has strong values."

Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots

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Minecraft will continue to evolve without requiring its players to spend extra money on new features. This is exemplified by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics overhaul, set to be released free of charge in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2 in sight, there's no need to repurchase the best-selling game of all time anytime soon—unless you're looking to play it on one of the numerous devices it's available on today.

For more details on upcoming updates, be sure to check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.