The devs want everyone to switch over to Microsoft accounts for "improved security and player safety", and they're enticing people to make the change with the promise of free Minecraft capes.

Mojang Studios has announced that starting in early 2021, exisiting ‘Minecraft’ Java Edition players will have to create a Microsoft account.

Microsoft has declared that beginning in 2021, you'll have to create a Microsoft account in order to play the game. Up until now, players with a Mojang account created through Minecraft: Java ...

Microsoft has declared that beginning in 2021, you'll have to create a Microsoft account in order to play the game.