In an era where numerous live service games have transitioned to a free-to-play model, Minecraft continues to uphold its premium status. In a recent interview with IGN, Mojang, the game's developer, reaffirmed its commitment to the traditional "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after the game's initial release. So, if you're waiting for Minecraft to become free-to-play, you might want to hold your breath a bit longer.
“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 shifted to a free-to-download format, often accompanied by battle passes and cosmetic packs, yielding varied outcomes. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite, particularly in its multiplayer aspect.
The pressure to innovate monetization strategies to sustain business models is palpable across the industry. However, 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 remarked.
Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, echoed these sentiments: "For me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. It's become such a crucial aspect of what Minecraft represents and its cultural and ethical values. We all here can agree on that. It's integral to the game and contributes significantly to its strength. It embodies strong values."
Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots
10 Images
Minecraft will continue to evolve without requiring additional payments for new features. A testament to this is the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics update, which will be available to all players at no extra cost in the coming months. Furthermore, with no plans for a Minecraft 2, there's no need to repurchase the best-selling game anytime soon—unless you're looking to play on one of the countless devices it's now available on.
For more on what's coming to Minecraft, check out the announcements from Minecraft Live 2025.
