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 stands firm as a premium experience. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang reiterated its commitment to the "buy and own" approach, 16 years after its 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," 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, numerous titles have transitioned to a free-to-download model, often supplemented by battle passes and cosmetic packs. Examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite (specifically its multiplayer component). Despite the industry pressure to find new monetization methods, Mojang remains unaffected. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still," Garneij stated.

This sentiment is echoed by Minecraft Vanilla's game director, Agnes Larsson: "For me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. It's become such an integral part of what Minecraft represents, its culture and values. We all here can agree on that. It's a core aspect of the game and contributes significantly to its strength. Minecraft has strong values."

Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots

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Minecraft will continue to evolve without requiring players to pay for new features. This commitment is highlighted by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics update, set to be released free of charge in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2 in the near future, there's no need to repurchase the best-selling game. Unless, of course, you wish to play it on one of the numerous devices it's available on today.

For more details on upcoming features, be sure to check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.