(Image credit: Warner Bros)
The phenomenon known as Minecraft remains unmatched, reigning as the best-selling game ever since its debut in 2011. In fact, it’s even more beloved in 2025 than during its early days. In contrast, following Minecraft’s success, we’ve seen many blockbuster games shift to a free-to-play model, such as Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, and Roblox. Notably, Roblox itself became more renowned in the years after its initial release, despite launching prior to Minecraft. However, in keeping with tradition, Minecraft has chosen to remain a paid title—a strategy that undeniably works well. It’s rare not to see Minecraft on the Nintendo Switch eShop’s best-seller list since its 2017 launch.
Speaking to IGN, Mojang producer Ingela Garneij shed light on why Minecraft won’t be transitioning to a free-to-play format anytime soon. “It doesn’t really work with the way we built it,” Garneij remarked, explaining how the game was designed with a different vision in mind. “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,” Garneij added, dubbing it “the best deal in the world.”
This viewpoint is shared by Vanilla Minecraft game director Agnes Larsson, who expressed to IGN, “For me, it’s part of the important values of Minecraft. I think it’s become such a crucial element of what Minecraft stands for—the perfect culture and values, and I believe we all here can concur on that. It’s integral to the game and one of the factors that makes it resilient. It embodies strong values.”
Nonetheless, Minecraft has explored monetization avenues post-purchase through avenues like the Minecraft Marketplace, offering skins, texture packs, and numerous other game enhancements. Additionally, the game has transformed into a marketing powerhouse, with collaborations with Lego, innumerable toys, and even a Jack Black-led Minecraft movie on the horizon. It’s safe to say, Mojang is thriving under its existing model.
Moreover, a former Mojang developer recently disclosed that Minecraft: Pocket Edition was named in homage to the Nintendo Game Boy Pocket. Stay tuned for more insights, community stories, and in-depth news about the games you cherish.