Five months after the abrupt cancellation of Hytale’s development and the closure of the studio behind it, a significant turnaround has occurred. Riot Games has sold the rights to Hytale back to its original co-founder, Simon Collins-Laflamme. This pivotal move signals the resumption of work on the much-anticipated game, with Collins-Laflamme announcing that over 30 former developers, who possess an intimate understanding of the project, have been re-engaged to continue its development. More team members are expected to join as the project gains momentum.
Renewed Vision for Hytale
In a heartfelt update on the Hytale website, Collins-Laflamme expressed gratitude towards Riot Games for facilitating this transition, emphasizing their shared commitment to delivering a game that players will ultimately enjoy. “While it didn’t make sense for them to continue developing it in its existing form, they ultimately wanted what’s best for players,” he stated.
Riot CEO Dylan Jadeja echoed this sentiment, affirming the company’s dedication to prioritizing player experience, even when faced with challenging decisions. He noted the impressive content created by the Hytale team during their time at Riot and expressed hope that the game’s journey outside of the company would allow the passionate community to finally engage with the remarkable work that has been accomplished.
Collins-Laflamme further elaborated that the revitalized development team is now fully independent and committed to funding Hytale for the next decade. He reassured fans that the team is returning to the original vision for the game, a vision that has seen its fair share of challenges since Hytale’s initial reveal in 2018. Following the acquisition by Riot in 2020, the anticipated early access release in 2021 was postponed, leading to the eventual cancellation of the project.
Hypixel co-founder Noxy, who previously served as the studio’s CEO under Riot, acknowledged that the delays stemmed from evolving ambitions and technical complexities. “Over time, as our vision evolved and the genre matured around us, the bar kept rising,” he explained. Despite the setbacks, Noxy expressed his gratitude for the opportunity players will now have to experience Hytale, thanking Collins-Laflamme for reviving the project.
While some speculated about alternative paths for Hytale after its cancellation, it was Collins-Laflamme who took decisive action. Just a week after the cancellation, he boldly committed million of his own funds to ensure the game’s completion, a testament to his belief in Hytale’s potential. The acquisition announcement also highlighted Philippe Touchette, another co-founder of Hypixel, as a key figure in overseeing the financial aspects of the project.
As anticipation builds, Collins-Laflamme has cautioned fans that Hytale’s current state is “messy” and “janky,” indicating that substantial work lies ahead. However, he remains optimistic about releasing an early access version “as soon as possible,” inviting the community to join in shaping the game into something truly special. “It won’t be perfect on day one,” he noted, but the collaborative effort aims to create a remarkable experience for players in the long run.
