Minecraft Stays Paid: 'Best Deal Globally'

In an era where many live-service games have shifted toward the free-to-play model, *Minecraft* remains a steadfast premium experience. Despite industry trends and the growing popularity of battle passes, microtransactions, and paid cosmetic packs, Mojang continues to uphold its original business strategy: a one-time purchase that grants full access to the game. In a recent interview with IGN, Mojang’s development team reaffirmed its commitment to this long-standing approach—confirming fans won’t see *Minecraft* turning into a free-to-play title 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.”

Over the years, several popular titles have transitioned from traditional models to free-to-play ecosystems. Examples include *Overwatch 2*, *Destiny 2*, and even Microsoft’s own *Halo Infinite* (at least for its multiplayer component). While such transitions often aim to sustain development through continuous monetization, Mojang seems unaffected by these financial pressures. As Garneij emphasized, “No, no. What's important for us is that many people can enjoy it still—and that's going on strong still.”

This philosophy is further reinforced by *Minecraft Vanilla*’s game director, Agnes Larsson: “For me, it’s part of the important values of Minecraft. I think it has become such an essential part of what *Minecraft* is—the culture, the community, and the values. Everyone here agrees on that. It defines the game and contributes significantly to its strength. It has strong values.”

Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Comparison Screenshots

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The future of *Minecraft* will continue to evolve without requiring players to pay for new features or content updates. This promise is clearly demonstrated by the upcoming *Vibrant Visuals* graphics overhaul, which will be delivered to all players at no additional cost in the coming months. Additionally, with no official announcement of a *Minecraft 2*, there’s no need to repurchase the best-selling game of all time. Unless, of course, you'd like to experience it on another one of the ever-growing number of platforms it supports.

To learn more about what’s coming next to *Minecraft*, check out everything announced at [ttpp] during *Minecraft Live 2025*.