What Happened to Hytale? The Full History of the Game’s Rise, Fall, and Revival

The story of Hytale is one of the most compelling sagas in modern gaming. What began as a small, passionate project by a team of Minecraft server administrators evolved into a highly anticipated standalone title, faced near-extinction, and ultimately experienced a remarkable revival. For gamers, modders, and server hosts alike, the trajectory of Hytale offers a rare window into the challenges and triumphs of game development.

What is Hytale? From Minecraft Roots to a New Vision

Hytale is a sandbox role-playing game that blends the creative freedom of block-building with the depth and adventure of a fantasy RPG. Players can explore procedurally generated worlds, conquer intricate dungeons, and enjoy a combat system that adds a satisfying weight to encounters. What set Hytale apart from the beginning was its focus on creators. The game comes equipped with browser-based and in-game tools for cinematic creation, scripting, and asset modeling, allowing the community to design minigames, adventure maps, and more without external software.

When did Hytale start development?

The origins of the project lie in the Hypixel Network, one of the world’s largest Minecraft servers. The team behind Hypixel wanted to push beyond the limitations of the Minecraft engine, dreaming of a game that combined creativity, role-playing depth, and modding flexibility. Development officially started in early 2015, though it remained a closely guarded secret for years. Funded by revenue from the Minecraft server, the team focused on building a strong prototype before revealing it to the world.

A Viral Phenomenon

After years of quiet development, Hytale burst into public consciousness in December 2018. The announcement trailer went viral almost instantly, racking up over 30 million views within a month. Fans were thrilled by promises of enhanced graphics, deeper RPG elements, and unprecedented modding opportunities. The overwhelming interest placed Hypixel Studios on the radar of major industry players and fundamentally changed the game’s trajectory.

Expansion, Acquisition, and Turmoil

Who owns Hytale?

Following the trailer’s success, the scope of Hytale expanded dramatically. Initially independent, Hypixel Studios was acquired by Riot Games in April 2020. Under Riot’s guidance, the team attempted to “professionalize” the development and rewrite the game engine entirely to enable cross-play on consoles and mobile devices. While ambitious, this decision introduced years of delays. The release date slipped repeatedly—from 2021 to 2023, and eventually became indefinite.

By 2025, the project appeared to be at a dead end. After a decade of development and a challenging engine migration, Riot Games announced the cancellation of Hytale. The gaming community was devastated, and the project seemed destined to fade into the history of vaporware.

A Miraculous Revival

In an unexpected turn, the story did not end there. In November 2025, Simon “Hypixel” Collins-Laflamme, the original founder, repurchased the rights from Riot Games. The revived version of Hytale returned to its original vision. The over-engineered, unfinished version created under Riot was abandoned in favor of the legacy build from four years prior—a version that, while older, captured the charm and promise that initially captivated fans.

Technical Foundations

The revived version also clarified the technical foundations of the game. While the cancelled Riot-era rewrite was being done in C++ to optimize performance for consoles and mobile, the current version reverted to the original architecture: the client is written in C#, and the server technology remains in Java. This decision benefits the server hosting community, as it aligns with the skills of millions of existing Minecraft plugin developers.

Platforms and the Road Ahead

With the focus back on the original vision, Hytale is now set to launch in Early Access on PC and Mac (Windows and macOS). While console and mobile versions are no longer immediate priorities, the game will prioritize delivering a polished, moddable experience for computer users first.

A Never-Ending Story?

Hytale’s journey is a testament to the resilience of indie developers and the passion of a dedicated community. From a viral sensation to corporate cancellation, and finally to a triumphant revival, the game has endured against all odds. With Early Access scheduled for January 2026, players will soon explore the world of Orbis—not as a product of corporate polish, but as the dream project it was always meant to be.