In an age when many stay service video games of its variety have pivoted to a free-to-play enterprise mannequin, Minecraft stubbornly stays a premium expertise. During a latest interview with IGN, developer Mojang mentioned it is decided to stay with the established “purchase and personal the sport” strategy, even now, 16 years after it got here out. In quick: do not count on Minecraft to go free-to-play any time quickly.
“Yeah, it does not actually work with the best way we constructed it,” defined Ingela Garneij, govt producer of Minecraft Vanilla.
“I imply we constructed the sport for a distinct function. So monetization does not work in that method for us. It’s a purchase order of the sport after which that is it. For us it is essential that our recreation is accessible for as many individuals as attainable. And so I feel that is a really core worth that it needs to be accessible for everybody. It’s the perfect deal on the earth.”
As the trade has advanced through the years, many video games have made the leap to free-to-download however infested with battle move and beauty pack waters, with combined outcomes. Examples embody Overwatch 2’s determination to go free-to-play, Destiny 2, or Minecraft’s Microsoft stablemate Halo Infinite (at the very least on the subject of its multiplayer).
The strain is after all on online game publishers and builders to search out new methods to monetize to outlive, however that is seemingly a strain not felt by Garneij and her Mojang teammates: “No, no. What’s essential for us is that many individuals can get pleasure from it nonetheless and that is happening sturdy nonetheless.”
It’s a sentiment expanded upon by Minecraft Vanilla’s recreation director, Agnes Larsson: ”I imply for me, it’s a part of the essential values of Minecraft. I feel it is grow to be such an essential factor of what Minecraft is and the proper tradition and values, and I feel all of us right here can agree on that. It’s a factor for the sport and it is one a part of what makes the sport sturdy. It has sturdy values.”
Minecraft will proceed to evolve with out asking its gamers to spend cash for brand spanking new options, then. This is exemplified by the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphics overhaul, which arrives freed from cost within the coming months. And with no plans for a Minecraft 2 on the horizon, there’ll be no must buy the best-selling recreation of all time once more any time quickly. Unless you need to play it on one other one of many seemingly infinite quantity of gadgets it finds itself on today, after all.
Check out all the pieces introduced at Minecraft Live 2025 for extra on what’s coming to the sport.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editorial Producer who can primarily be discovered skulking round open world video games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing on the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.
