More than 350 million copies sold, and the question still comes up daily: where do you actually buy Minecraft for PC, and which version should you pick? The answer got simpler in recent years – and in 2026, there are a few genuinely new things to know before you spend your money, from refreshed system requirements to where the best prices hide.
Minecraft for PC is sold as one product: Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, a bundle containing both versions of the game. It costs 29.99 USD / EUR in the official store and is sold on minecraft.net, the MS Store, through PC Game Pass, and as activation keys on platforms such as GAMIVO.
One purchase, two games: how Minecraft is sold today
Since 7 June 2022, Mojang has sold the PC version of Minecraft exclusively as a bundle: Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition. One purchase installs the Minecraft Launcher with both editions:
- Java Edition – the original game, running on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its calling card is the community: free mods, community servers, and custom skins.
- Bedrock Edition – the cross-platform version, sharing its codebase with console and mobile releases. It offers cross-play with friends on consoles and phones, plus an official catalog of creator-made content: add-on packs, worlds, and cosmetics.
One practical caveat: the two editions remain separate games. Worlds and saves do not transfer between Java and Bedrock, so if you plan to play with a specific group of friends, check which edition they use before you start building.
Official prices in 2026
In the official store – minecraft.net, which checks out through the Microsoft Store – the pricing is straightforward:
| Edition | Price | What you get |
| Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition (Standard) | 29.99 USD / 29.99 EUR / 129.00 PLN | both editions, one launcher |
| Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Deluxe Collection | 39.99 USD / 39.99 EUR | Standard + 1,600 Minecoins, 5 maps, 3 skin packs, a texture pack, character creator items, and emotes |
The Deluxe Collection targets Bedrock players – Minecoins are the currency of Bedrock’s content catalog. If you intend to live in Java’s world of free community mods, the Standard edition covers everything you need.
Where to buy: four real options
1. The official store
Buying on minecraft.net or in the Microsoft Store is the baseline: full price, instant delivery to your Microsoft account. Since the migration of legacy Mojang accounts, a Microsoft account is required to play either edition – whichever store you buy from.
2. PC Game Pass
Minecraft has been part of Game Pass for PC since November 2021, and as of 2026 both PC editions are included in the subscription. If you mainly want to try the game, or you already subscribe for other titles, this is effectively the cheapest entry point – no separate purchase needed.
3. Activation keys on game key sites
Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition also exists as an activation key redeemed on your Microsoft account – and keys are where prices drop below the official 29.99 USD/EUR. On GAMIVO, an e-commerce platform for gamers, independent suppliers list the game in regional variants (global, Europe, United States, and others) in both Standard and Deluxe versions, alongside Minecoins and Minecraft spin-offs. Two checks before buying any key: the activation region must cover your country, and the edition should match what you want – listings name the same Java & Bedrock bundle sold officially.
4. What about Steam?
A perennial question with a short answer: the base Minecraft is not sold on Steam. As of August 2026, Steam carries only the spin-offs – Minecraft Dungeons, its upcoming sequel, and Minecraft Legends. Reports that the main game would come to Steam have circulated since 2024, but no official release ever followed.
Check your PC first: 2026 raised the bar
For the first time in years, buying Minecraft requires a glance at your hardware. On 21 July 2026, Mojang published updated system requirements for Java Edition, tied to the new Vulkan-based renderer introduced with the Chaos Cubed update in June. The minimum spec now calls for a 64-bit system, 8 GB of RAM with a discrete graphics card (or 12 GB with integrated graphics), a 4-core processor, and a GPU supporting Vulkan 1.3 with at least 2 GB of VRAM. For comfortable 1080p play at 60 FPS, Mojang recommends 16 GB of RAM and a graphics card with 6 GB of VRAM.
Reasonably modern gaming PCs clear that bar comfortably – but if you are buying the game for an older or budget laptop, this is the one compatibility check worth doing first.
Minecraft in 2026: still very much alive
If you are returning after years away, the game has kept moving. In 2026, Mojang switched to year-based version numbers, and the game now ships several content drops per year – this year has already brought Tiny Takeover in March, with a baby-mob overhaul, and Chaos Cubed in June, with a sulfur cave biome and the experimental Vulkan renderer. The 350-million-copies milestone, confirmed in the official Minecraft Annual and by Guinness World Records, says the rest: this remains the best-selling video game in history.
FAQ
The official price of Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition is 29.99 USD / 29.99 EUR / 129.00 PLN, and the Deluxe Collection costs 39.99 USD. Activation keys on platforms such as GAMIVO regularly sell below the official price thanks to competition between suppliers.
Yes. Since June 2022, the PC version is sold only as the Java & Bedrock bundle – one purchase, one launcher, both games. Note that worlds do not transfer between the two editions.
No. The base game is not sold on Steam – only spin-offs such as Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends are available there. Minecraft for PC is bought through the official store, via PC Game Pass, or as an activation key redeemed on a Microsoft account.
Both come with every purchase, so it is a choice of playstyle rather than money. Java offers free community mods and servers and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux; Bedrock offers cross-play with consoles and mobile plus a catalog of creator-made content. Many players simply use both.
Yes. Every edition of Minecraft on PC requires a Microsoft account – a rule in force since the migration of legacy Mojang accounts. The same account holds your purchase, whether it came from the official store or from an activation key.
Yes. Both PC editions of Minecraft have been included in Game Pass for PC since November 2021, and remain part of the subscription in 2026. For anyone unsure about a purchase, a month of the subscription doubles as an inexpensive trial.
