Minecraft Stays Premium: 'Best Deal in the World'

In an era where many live service games have transitioned to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains a steadfast premium experience. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers reiterated their commitment to the "buy and own the game" model, even 16 years after its launch. So, if you're waiting for Minecraft to go free-to-play, you might be waiting a while longer.

"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 shifted to a free-to-download format, often coupled with battle passes and cosmetic packs, yielding varied results. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Minecraft's Microsoft counterpart, Halo Infinite, particularly with its multiplayer component.

While many video game publishers and developers feel the pressure to innovate their monetization strategies to stay afloat, Mojang seems immune to this pressure. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still," Garneij asserted.

Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, further emphasized this stance: "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 to players at no extra cost in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2, players won't need to repurchase the best-selling game anytime soon—unless they wish to play on the myriad of devices it supports today.

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