Hytale Saved from Cancellation: Original Developers Buy Back the Game from Riot Games
Just when all hope seemed lost for the long-awaited title once hailed as a “Minecraft rival,” the gaming world was hit with a seismic announcement. The original founders of Hypixel have officially bought back the rights to Hytale from Riot Games, saving the project from cancellation. With a personal 10-year funding commitment, the team is reassembling to bring the game back to its original vision.
In a statement, Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme expressed gratitude to Riot Games, noting that while it didn’t make sense for them to continue development in its existing form, they ultimately wanted what was best for players, which made the transfer possible. As part of the transition, more than 30 former developers with intimate knowledge of the game have already been rehired.
Back to the Roots: Development to Continue with the Legacy Engine
The development team provided a transparent update on the project’s current state. It was revealed that two different engines were in development for Hytale: the Legacy Engine (C#/Java), used in the original trailer and early blog posts, and a Cross-platform Engine (C++) that has been in the works for the last three years.
The team concluded that the new engine was significantly behind in terms of gameplay features and would require at least two more years to be early-access-ready. In a radical move, they have decided to halt development of the new engine and revert to the original, playable Legacy Engine. This decision is expected to accelerate the development timeline and get the game into players’ hands sooner.
What to Expect in Early Access
Initial details about Hytale’s early access phase have been shared. Here’s a summary of what players can expect:
- Release Date and Price: To be announced in the coming days.
- Platform: It will launch exclusively on Windows. Support for Linux and Mac will be attempted, with other platforms considered much later.
- Early Access Content: Players will initially have access to Exploration Mode, Creative Mode, and Modding tools.
- Coming Later: The highly anticipated Minigames and Adventure Mode will enter full development after the core game mechanics are stable.
- State of the Game: The team has been upfront that the early access version will have bugs, unbalanced content, and frequent updates that may break saves. This phase is being described as a “genuine early access” experience, expected to last at least a few years.
Mod Support: The Heart and Future of Hytale
The developers emphasized that modding is critical to the game’s long-term survival. The early access launch will include the most comprehensive modding tools and access possible. Server source code access is also planned a few months post-launch, once legal hurdles are cleared, allowing the community to create their own minigames, servers, and unique experiences.
Transparent Communication and Community-Focused Development
The team has committed to maintaining continuous and transparent communication with the community throughout the development process. In the coming days, they plan to release raw gameplay footage, detailed patch notes, a blog post on modding capabilities, and pricing details.
Hytale’s new journey will be shaped by the collaborative efforts of a small, dedicated team and a community that refused to give up. After a long and challenging road, Hytale is rising from the ashes, preparing to finally meet its players.