In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft continues to stand firm as a premium experience. During a recent interview with IGN, Mojang, the developer behind this iconic game, affirmed its commitment to the "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after its initial release. Don't hold your breath for 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. "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 coupled with in-game purchases like battle passes and cosmetic packs. Examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and even Minecraft's fellow Microsoft game, Halo Infinite, which made its multiplayer free-to-play. Despite the industry's shift, Mojang seems to feel no pressure to follow suit. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going strong still," Garneij emphasized.
Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, echoed this sentiment: "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's commitment to its players is further demonstrated by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics overhaul, which will be available to all players at no extra cost in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2 on the horizon, there's no need to repurchase this best-selling game. Of course, unless you're looking to play it on another of the many devices it's available on today.
For more on what's coming to the game, check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.
