Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal in the World'

In an era where numerous live service games have shifted to a free-to-play model, Minecraft continues to stand firm as a premium experience. In a recent interview with IGN, Mojang's developers expressed their commitment to maintaining the game's "buy and own" approach, even 16 years after its launch. Ingela Garneij, the executive producer of Minecraft Vanilla, emphasized that the game's original design doesn't align with the typical monetization strategies seen in other games.

"Yeah, it doesn't really work with the way we built it," Garneij explained. "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 evolves, many titles have transitioned to a free-to-download format, often supported by battle passes and cosmetic packs, with varying degrees of success. Notable examples include Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Halo Infinite's multiplayer component. Despite these trends, Mojang remains steadfast in its approach, with Garneij stating, "No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still and that's going on strong still."

Agnes Larsson, the 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 without requiring players to spend additional money on new features. This commitment is 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 for players to repurchase the best-selling game of all time. However, if you wish to experience it on the myriad of devices it's available on today, you might need to make another purchase.

For more information on what's coming to the game, be sure to check out everything announced at Minecraft Live 2025.