Minecraft Won't Go Free-to-Play: 'It's the Best Deal in the World'

In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains a steadfast premium experience. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developer team affirmed their commitment to the traditional "buy and own" model, even 16 years after the game's initial release. Don't expect Minecraft to transition to a free-to-play format anytime soon.

"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 have adopted a free-to-download approach, often supplemented by in-game purchases like battle passes and cosmetic packs. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Halo Infinite, the latter being a fellow Microsoft title, at least in its multiplayer component.

Despite the industry's shift, Mojang feels no pressure to alter its monetization strategy. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still," Garneij stated, reflecting Mojang's unwavering stance.

Minecraft Vanilla's game director, Agnes Larsson, echoed this sentiment: "For me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. It's become such an essential part of what Minecraft is and its culture and values, and I think we all here can agree on that. It's a fundamental aspect of 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 without requiring additional payments from players for new features. A prime example is 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 wish to play it on one of the numerous devices it's available on.

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