Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal in the World'

In an era where numerous live service games have transitioned to a free-to-play model, Minecraft steadfastly maintains its premium status. In a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers reiterated their commitment to the "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after the game's initial release. So, if you're holding your breath for Minecraft to go free-to-play, you might want to exhale; it's not happening anytime soon.

“Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," Ingela Garneij, executive producer of Minecraft Vanilla, explained. "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 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 a free-to-download model, often introducing battle passes and cosmetic packs. Examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft’s Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite (specifically its multiplayer mode). These changes have met with varied success.

While the pressure to find new monetization strategies is intense for many game developers and publishers, Mojang seems immune to this pressure. “No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still,” Garneij affirmed.

Minecraft Vanilla’s game director, Agnes Larsson, 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 charging players for new features, as demonstrated by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics update, which will be available at no extra cost 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 play it on one of the numerous devices it supports.

For more details on future updates, check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.