Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal Worldwide'

In an era where many live service games have transitioned to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains steadfast in its premium pricing strategy. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers emphasized their commitment to the traditional "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after the game's initial release. Don't expect Minecraft to shift to a free-to-play model anytime soon.

“Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," stated 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 embraced a free-to-download model, often accompanied by in-game purchases like battle passes and cosmetic packs. Examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Microsoft's Halo Infinite, which adopted this approach for its multiplayer component. Despite the industry's shift, Mojang remains unpressured to alter its monetization strategy. “No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going strong still,” Garneij affirmed.

Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, further elaborated on this stance: "For me, it’s part of the important values of Minecraft. It's become such an important aspect of what Minecraft is, its culture and values, and I think we all here can agree on that. It's a defining feature of the game and contributes to its strength. Minecraft has strong values."

Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots

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Minecraft will continue to evolve without requiring additional payments for new features. This is demonstrated 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 sight, there's no need for players to repurchase the best-selling game anytime soon—unless they wish to experience it on another of the myriad devices it's available on.

For more details on upcoming updates, check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.