Minecraft Will Not Be Free-to-Play or Have a Battle Pass, Confirms Mojang

Mojang confirms Minecraft will stay a premium game — no battle pass, no free-to-play shift.

Mojang has confirmed that Minecraft will continue to follow its traditional “buy-to-own” model, without adopting free-to-play structures or battle pass systems. The announcement comes at a time when many major game titles have transitioned into live service models filled with recurring monetisation strategies.

In an exclusive conversation with IGN, Minecraft Vanilla’s executive producer, Ingela Garneij, stated that the game was never built to support the free-to-play format.

“It doesn’t work very well with how we built Minecraft,” Garneij said. “It’s a purchase, and that’s it. We believe that’s the best approach for us.”

This direction highlights Mojang’s continued effort to keep Minecraft accessible, simple, and true to its original design, even 16 years after its release.

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No Battle Pass in Sight

Despite industry-wide trends, Mojang has no plans to introduce battle passes or premium season content. This sets Minecraft apart from titles such as Overwatch 2, Destiny 2, and Halo Infinite, which have embraced free-to-play monetisation to varying degrees of success.

Agnes Larsson, game director for Minecraft Vanilla, emphasised that the studio views its model as a core part of the game’s identity.

“For us, it’s not just a business model. It’s a reflection of Minecraft’s culture and core values. That’s what gives it strength,” Larsson explained.

Free Updates Will Continue

One of Minecraft’s most praised features over the years has been its continuous delivery of content updates at no additional cost. Mojang plans to maintain this philosophy, with the upcoming Vibrant Visuals graphical overhaul arriving as a free update.

Rather than selling new features or visual upgrades, Mojang continues to invest in long-term player engagement through consistent free content.

No Minecraft 2 Planned

There are also no plans for a sequel. Mojang confirmed that Minecraft 2 is not in development, and that all efforts are focused on expanding and refining the current game across all platforms.

With its presence on consoles, mobile, PC, and more, Minecraft continues to be the most widely distributed premium game in history.

Staying the Course

Mojang’s refusal to adopt modern monetisation methods reflects a growing counter-narrative in the industry — one that values long-term player trust over short-term revenue.

As the gaming landscape shifts, Minecraft remains a rare example of a premium title that still offers full gameplay without ongoing charges.

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