In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains a premium experience. In a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers affirmed their commitment to the "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after its initial release. Don't expect Minecraft to transition 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. "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 free-to-download models supplemented 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 aspect).
Despite the industry's push for new monetization strategies, Mojang remains unpressured. "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, echoed this sentiment: "For me, it's part of the important values of Minecraft. It has become such an integral part of what Minecraft is, its culture, and its values. We all here can agree on that. It's a fundamental aspect of the game and one part of what makes it strong. It has strong values."
Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots
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Minecraft will continue to evolve, offering 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 to repurchase the best-selling game of all time. However, players might need to buy it again if they wish to play on another of the numerous devices it's available on.
For more details on upcoming features, check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.
