In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains steadfast in its premium approach. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers reaffirmed their commitment to the "buy and own the game" model, even 16 years after its initial release. Don't expect Minecraft to switch to 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, many titles have transitioned to free-to-download models, often supplemented with battle passes and cosmetic packs, yielding varied outcomes. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite (specifically its multiplayer component).

Despite the industry's shift, Mojang feels no pressure to alter its monetization strategy. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still," Garneij emphasized.

Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, further elaborated on 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

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Minecraft will continue to evolve, introducing new features like the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics overhaul, which will be available free of charge in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2, there's no need for players to repurchase the best-selling game anytime soon, unless they wish to play on another of the myriad devices it supports.

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