Minecraft
Released 17 May 2009 Developer Mojang Studios
A sandbox game in which you gather resources, build with blocks and survive in a world that is generated as you explore. You can play alone or with friends, in a survival mode with monsters or in a creative mode with unlimited blocks. It is played by children and adults alike.
How it makes money
Caution: built to push spending
You buy the game once (about A$47 for the PC bundle that includes both the Java and Bedrock editions, and A$10.95 on iPhone and iPad), and the base game is complete without further spending. On top of that, Bedrock players can buy Minecoins with real money to spend in the Marketplace, where approved creators sell worlds, skin packs and texture packs, and Realms is a monthly subscription for a private online world (A$5.99 to A$12.99 a month on the App Store). Marketplace spending has no upper limit, but none of it is needed to play.
How you pay
- Pay once
Java and Bedrock editions are sold together for PC at A$46.95 on the Xbox/Microsoft Store (Australia); the iPhone and iPad version is A$10.95. The game is complete without any further purchase.
- Creator coins
The Marketplace, launched in 2017, sells worlds, mini-games, skins and texture packs made by vetted Partner Program creators for Minecoins. Wikipedia reports more than 1.7 billion downloads and US$500 million in revenue by 2022.
- Paid DLC
Marketplace adventure maps, mini-game worlds, skin packs and texture packs are paid add-ons, bought one at a time with Minecoins.
- Cosmetics
Skin packs and texture packs in the Marketplace change how the game looks and have no effect on how it plays.
minor part of the game - Subscription
Realms is an optional monthly subscription for a private online world you share with invited friends; on the Australian App Store 'Realms Plus' for you plus 10 friends is A$12.99 a month and a smaller plan for you plus 2 friends is A$5.99.
minor part of the game - Game library
Marketplace Pass is an optional subscription that gives access to a rotating catalogue of Marketplace content (price not checked). Minecraft is also included in Xbox Game Pass on PC.
minor part of the game
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Game currency
Marketplace items on Bedrock Edition are priced in Minecoins, which are bought with real money in packs from the in-game store, the platform store or prepaid cards. Prepaid Minecoin cards are also sold at Australian retailers.
What it costs
Price: A$28.95
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java & Bedrock Edition The store page shows a 'from' price (A$46.95+) |
Xbox / Microsoft Store (AU) · PC ↗ | A$46.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Minecraft | Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$10.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Realms Plus: you + 10 friends In-app purchase; priced through Apple, so other stores may differ |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$12.99/month | Oct 2026 |
| Realms: you + 2 friends In-app purchase; priced through Apple, so other stores may differ |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$5.99/month | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
-
10/ 10
-
96/ 100
-
100/ 100
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Text chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- Contains user-made content (not pre-checked by the developer)
- Needs an online account
Single-player worlds and invite-only Realms keep play to people you choose. Public multiplayer servers, which are run by third parties and not by Mojang, let children meet and text-chat with strangers and are not checked by Mojang. Marketplace content comes from vetted creators, but mods and downloaded maps for Java Edition are not. Multiplayer and chat permissions are managed through the child's Microsoft (Xbox) account and Microsoft Family settings, and purchases of Minecoins can be limited there or on the device's own store.
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 Release date as listed on Wikipedia; not yet out on 22 October 2026 |
27 October 2026 | — |
| Nintendo Switch | 11 May 2017 | — |
| PlayStation 5 | 22 October 2024 | — |
| PlayStation 4 | — | — |
| Xbox Series X|S | — | — |
| Xbox One | — | — |
| Windows PC Java and Bedrock editions sold as one bundle since 7 June 2022 |
18 November 2011 | Store page ↗ |
| Mac Java Edition |
18 November 2011 | — |
| Linux / Steam Deck Java Edition |
18 November 2011 | — |
| iPhone and iPad | — | Store page ↗ |
| Android phones and tablets | — | — |
Further reading
- Official website ↗
- Minecraft on Wikipedia ↗
- Minecraft Java & Bedrock for PC (Xbox / Microsoft Store, Australia) ↗
- Wikipedia ↗
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, www.metacritic.com, www.metacritic.com, www.xbox.com, apps.apple.com, ec.nintendo.com, www.esrb.org, pegi.info, www.classification.gov.au. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.