Last week, Riot Games made the difficult decision to cease development on Hytale, a highly anticipated sandbox game reminiscent of Minecraft, after more than a decade of effort. The news has sparked a flurry of speculation regarding potential revival efforts, with several prominent figures in the gaming industry being approached by fans eager to see the project salvaged. However, one notable name, Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, has clarified his stance on the matter, distancing himself from the notion of resurrecting Hytale.
Hytale’s Journey
To understand the significance of this announcement, it’s essential to reflect on Hytale’s journey. Development began in 2015, spearheaded by Hypixel, which sought to merge the engaging mini-games of its popular Minecraft server with a unique RPG-style sandbox experience. The project garnered considerable attention, leading Riot Games to invest heavily and ultimately acquire Hypixel in 2020.
Despite the initial excitement, Riot recently revealed that it could not bring Hytale to fruition in a manner that met its ambitious expectations. Reports suggest that Hypixel had attempted to find new investors or buyers to continue the project, but these efforts were unsuccessful, resulting in layoffs and the looming closure of the studio.
In the wake of this announcement, fans have rallied on social media, urging industry veterans to intervene and help save Hytale. Barone, for instance, was approached on Discord by an enthusiastic supporter who presented a case for investment, suggesting that it could be mutually beneficial. Barone’s response, which included the word “possibly,” led some fans to believe he might be considering involvement.
However, Barone has since issued a statement to clarify his position. He emphasized that his original comment was not intended as a public declaration of intent. In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, he stated, “I’m not actively doing anything to make this happen. If something were presented to me, I would be open to entertaining the idea, that’s all. It’s not something I am thinking about too much, since I’m focused on working on my next game.”
Currently, Barone is immersed in the development of Haunted Chocolatier, a whimsical life simulation game centered around chocolate-making, which was announced in 2021. Although work on this project was briefly paused to address the unexpected success of Stardew Valley’s significant 1.6 update, development resumed last December.
Hope for Hytale Fans
While Barone’s attention is directed elsewhere, there remains a glimmer of hope for Hytale enthusiasts. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of Hypixel, who left the company following its acquisition by Riot, has engaged with the community’s Save Hytale campaign. He has expressed a willingness to approach Riot with a potential investment proposal of million, which could facilitate a “very early access release with temporarily removed features,” should development resume with a “relatively small” team.
Collins-Laflamme has urged fans to manage their expectations, cautioning that reviving a project after a major company has shut it down is often fraught with challenges. He shared on social media, “Keep your expectations extremely low… Yes, I made the decision, I will give my best to save Hytale… It will take months to get answers and months to get done. I will share as much as possible as I go through the process.”
