Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal Ever'

In an era where numerous live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft stands out by maintaining its premium status. In a recent IGN interview, Mojang, the game's developer, reaffirmed its commitment to the traditional "buy and own" model, even 16 years after its launch. So, if you're hoping for Minecraft to become free-to-play, don't hold your breath.

"Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," said 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, many titles have transitioned to free-to-download models, often introducing battle passes and cosmetic packs. Examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and even Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite (specifically its multiplayer component). While there's pressure on game developers to find new revenue streams, Mojang seems unaffected by these industry pressures. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still, and that's going strong," Garneij stated.

Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of Minecraft's values. "For me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. 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, 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 this best-selling game any time soon—unless you want to play it on one of the countless devices it's available on today.

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