Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal in the World'

In an era where numerous live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft stands firm as a premium experience. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers expressed their commitment to maintaining the "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after the game's initial release. So, if you're hoping for Minecraft to go free-to-play anytime soon, 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 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 supplemented by battle passes and cosmetic packs, with varying degrees of success. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite (specifically its multiplayer mode).

Despite the industry's pressure to find new monetization strategies, Mojang remains steadfast. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still," Garneij emphasized, reflecting a sentiment shared by her team.

Agnes Larsson, Minecraft Vanilla's game director, further elaborated on this stance: "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 charging players for new features, as demonstrated by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics update, which will be free and available in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2, there's no need to repurchase the best-selling game of all time anytime soon—unless you're looking to enjoy it on one of the myriad devices it supports.

For more on what's coming to Minecraft, check out the announcements from Minecraft Live 2025.