Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal Globally'

In an era where numerous live service games have transitioned to a free-to-play model, Minecraft steadfastly maintains its premium status. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers expressed their commitment to the traditional "buy and own" model, even 16 years after the game's initial release. So, if you're hoping for Minecraft to become free-to-play, you might want to adjust your expectations.

“Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," said Ingela Garneij, the executive producer of Minecraft Vanilla. "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 to 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 shifted to free-to-download models, often introducing battle passes and cosmetic packs, yielding mixed results. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite, particularly its multiplayer component.

While many game publishers and developers face pressure to explore new monetization strategies to stay afloat, this pressure seems absent for Garneij and her Mojang colleagues: “No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going strong still.”

This sentiment is echoed by Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla: "For me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. I think it's become such an important aspect of what Minecraft is and its culture and values, and I think we all here can agree on that. It's integral to the game and contributes to its strength. It has strong values."

Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots

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Minecraft will continue to evolve, introducing new features without charging extra. A prime example is the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics overhaul, set to arrive free of charge in the coming months. And with no plans for a Minecraft 2 on the horizon, 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 many devices it's available on.

Be sure to check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025 for more on what's coming to the game.