After a lengthy journey that began in 2015, the much-anticipated sandbox game Hytale has faced numerous challenges, culminating in Riot Games’ recent decision to cancel the unreleased project and close developer Hypixel Studios. This turn of events followed Riot’s acquisition of the studio in 2020, which had come with assurances that the small team would retain creative control over Hytale and operate independently. The disappointment was palpable, especially given the delays and the revelation in 2023 that the game was still in its prototyping phase. However, there is now a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
New Developments for Hytale
In a surprising twist, Riot has sold Hytale back to Hypixel Studios, which has committed to providing a decade of support for the game. The studio has also promised an early access date in the near future, along with a return to the “original vision” of this Minecraft-inspired sandbox experience. Following this announcement, studio founder Simon Collins-Laflamme shared an impressive 16 minutes of raw gameplay footage, offering fans an unprecedented look at Hytale.
In his response to the gameplay video, Collins-Laflamme candidly described the footage as “just raw, random footage.” He acknowledged some imperfections, stating, “I even forgot to mute my mic, so you can hear me click. Keep in mind, Hytale is incomplete and buggy, but still beautiful and fun. We have a lot of work to make this a good game, but I believe in my team. The progress we have made in the last few weeks has been incredible.” He outlined three key promises for Hytale: save the game, release more videos and screenshots, and ultimately launch Hytale. With the team now focused on the final promise, anticipation is building for a potential release date.
However, Collins-Laflamme was quick to temper expectations, reiterating that the gameplay shown is unfinished. He pointed out several issues, such as missing NPC configurations, an overly dark overlay for wood cutting, and an unbalanced combat system. He also noted that the gameplay footage was recorded spontaneously, leading to various oversights, including the absence of crafting elements and a temporary character sheet UI.
Despite these challenges, Collins-Laflamme remains optimistic, stating, “I have over 100 notes from this video. Working on it, fixing it all.” Addressing these concerns is no small task, but after more than a decade of development and setbacks, it seems a minor hurdle in the grand scheme of a highly anticipated launch.
The fanbase has responded enthusiastically to the gameplay footage, with comments reflecting excitement and humor. One YouTube commenter expressed, “This is the moment we’ve waited for…” while another joked about the creator’s modesty in downplaying the game’s quality. As the community eagerly awaits further updates, hopes remain high that Hytale will indeed deliver an unforgettable experience.
For those looking to explore more exciting titles, be sure to check out our roundup of the most anticipated new games coming this year and beyond.
Fresh from bringing his canceled Minecraft competitor back from the dead, Hytale boss shares new gameplay footage as “a taste of things to come” – but there’s still “a lot of work” to be done
After a lengthy journey that began in 2015, the much-anticipated sandbox game Hytale has faced numerous challenges, culminating in Riot Games’ recent decision to cancel the unreleased project and close developer Hypixel Studios. This turn of events followed Riot’s acquisition of the studio in 2020, which had come with assurances that the small team would retain creative control over Hytale and operate independently. The disappointment was palpable, especially given the delays and the revelation in 2023 that the game was still in its prototyping phase. However, there is now a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
New Developments for Hytale
In a surprising twist, Riot has sold Hytale back to Hypixel Studios, which has committed to providing a decade of support for the game. The studio has also promised an early access date in the near future, along with a return to the “original vision” of this Minecraft-inspired sandbox experience. Following this announcement, studio founder Simon Collins-Laflamme shared an impressive 16 minutes of raw gameplay footage, offering fans an unprecedented look at Hytale.
In his response to the gameplay video, Collins-Laflamme candidly described the footage as “just raw, random footage.” He acknowledged some imperfections, stating, “I even forgot to mute my mic, so you can hear me click. Keep in mind, Hytale is incomplete and buggy, but still beautiful and fun. We have a lot of work to make this a good game, but I believe in my team. The progress we have made in the last few weeks has been incredible.” He outlined three key promises for Hytale: save the game, release more videos and screenshots, and ultimately launch Hytale. With the team now focused on the final promise, anticipation is building for a potential release date.
However, Collins-Laflamme was quick to temper expectations, reiterating that the gameplay shown is unfinished. He pointed out several issues, such as missing NPC configurations, an overly dark overlay for wood cutting, and an unbalanced combat system. He also noted that the gameplay footage was recorded spontaneously, leading to various oversights, including the absence of crafting elements and a temporary character sheet UI.
Despite these challenges, Collins-Laflamme remains optimistic, stating, “I have over 100 notes from this video. Working on it, fixing it all.” Addressing these concerns is no small task, but after more than a decade of development and setbacks, it seems a minor hurdle in the grand scheme of a highly anticipated launch.
The fanbase has responded enthusiastically to the gameplay footage, with comments reflecting excitement and humor. One YouTube commenter expressed, “This is the moment we’ve waited for…” while another joked about the creator’s modesty in downplaying the game’s quality. As the community eagerly awaits further updates, hopes remain high that Hytale will indeed deliver an unforgettable experience.
For those looking to explore more exciting titles, be sure to check out our roundup of the most anticipated new games coming this year and beyond.