In an era where many live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft remains steadfastly 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 the game's launch. 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. "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 adopted a free-to-download model, often accompanied by in-game purchases like battle passes and cosmetic packs. Examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Halo Infinite's multiplayer component. While the pressure to find new monetization methods is evident across the industry, Mojang remains unaffected. "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going strong still," Garneij asserted.

Agnes Larsson, game director of Minecraft Vanilla, echoed these sentiments: "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 without requiring additional payments for new features. This commitment is showcased by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics update, which will be available at no extra cost in the coming months. With no plans for a Minecraft 2 in sight, there's no need to repurchase the best-selling game of all time, unless you wish to enjoy it on one of the many devices it supports today.

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