Minecraft developer Mojang Studio stated as early as the end of 2020 that all Mojang accounts will be transitioned to Microsoft accounts. The transition deadline is March 10, 2022. This means that players of Minecraft: Java Edition and those using the Minecraft Launcher on PC will soon need to have a Microsoft account.
Until recently, some players insisted on using their Mojang accounts to play games. However, by March 10, such accounts will be disabled. By the way, the Microsoft account required to play Minecraft: Java Edition is free and the process is fairly simple. Additionally, a blog post on the official Minecraft website states that transitioning a Mojang account to a Microsoft account offers players several benefits.
Some of these benefits include extra security through two-factor authentication, the ability to link different games in the Minecraft universe to the same account, improved parental controls, and the ability to block chat messages and invites. Specifically, a Microsoft account will allow access to launchers for Minecraft: Java Edition, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, and Minecraft Dungeons, all through a single sign-on process.
Aside from the transition to a Microsoft account, there are no other changes to the gaming experience. All game data including usernames, progress, creations and skins will be preserved.
Minecraft: Java Edition is now available through PC Game Pass, along with other Minecraft titles from Mojang, as well as the new unified Minecraft Launcher.
Players who complete the migration process will be eligible for a free cape as a reward for their in-game character. Players can redeem this cape at any time. However, to ensure the process is seamless, the developer recommends creating a free Microsoft account before the deadline.