In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft stands firm in its commitment to a premium purchase experience. In a recent IGN interview, Mojang, the game's developer, reiterated its dedication to the "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after the game's initial release. Don't hold your breath for Minecraft to become free-to-play anytime soon.
"Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," explained Ingela Garneij, executive producer of Minecraft Vanilla. "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 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 free-to-download models, 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 mode.
Despite the industry's push towards new monetization strategies, Mojang remains steadfast. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still, and that's going strong still," Garneij affirmed, indicating that the pressure to adopt different monetization methods is not a concern for the team.
Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, further emphasized 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
10 Images
Minecraft will continue to evolve without requiring players to pay for new features. This is demonstrated by 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.
