Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal Globally'

In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains steadfast in its premium approach. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developer team reiterated their commitment to the "buy and own" model, even 16 years after the game's initial release. So, if you're hoping for Minecraft to switch to free-to-play, you'll be waiting a while.

“Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," explained Ingela Garneij, 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 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, numerous titles like Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and even Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite (specifically its multiplayer component), have transitioned to free-to-play, often supported by battle passes and cosmetic purchases. Yet, Mojang seems immune to the industry's pressure to find new monetization strategies. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still," Garneij affirmed.

This sentiment is echoed by Minecraft Vanilla's game director, Agnes Larsson: "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, offering new features without additional costs, as demonstrated by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics overhaul, set to arrive free of charge in the coming months. 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 wish to enjoy it on another of the myriad devices it's available on.

For more on what's coming to the game, check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.