When I first started playing Minecraft in 2011 (iirc it was still in beta at the time), I didn’t need an account, either. Or maybe that was because I got my copy from a friend and he pirated it, idk. But at some point, I couldn’t update the game with the old launcher any more, so I bought the game and set up a Mojang account. I don’t know if it was required, though. As far as I know, an account is mandatory these days because the game purchase is linked to a Microsoft account.
I don’t remember needing any account when I played it a few years ago.
When I first started playing Minecraft in 2011 (iirc it was still in beta at the time), I didn’t need an account, either. Or maybe that was because I got my copy from a friend and he pirated it, idk. But at some point, I couldn’t update the game with the old launcher any more, so I bought the game and set up a Mojang account. I don’t know if it was required, though. As far as I know, an account is mandatory these days because the game purchase is linked to a Microsoft account.