Riot Games Archives

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Ex Hytale devs say the game looked “maximum 2 years away” from release in 2019 and “systems that were already far ahead of Minecraft” were changed under “unrealistic ambitions”

Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel Studios, expressed confidence in Hytale's potential and stated he would invest millions to complete the project. He suggested reducing the game's scope for a PC-only release and open-sourcing some components to expedite development. Collins-Laflamme reflected on his leadership from 2016 to 2019, claiming the game was two years away from release and that the team was highly productive. Former developers noted that an obsession with perfection and feature creep contributed to the game's cancellation. They suggested that an early version could have been launched, focusing on Hypixel-style minigames and a modding suite. Collins-Laflamme emphasized Hytale's unique qualities and the disappointment of its cancellation, urging fans to direct frustration towards internal issues at Hypixel Studios rather than Riot Games.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe reportedly says he could “possibly” step in to save cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first

Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone has shown tentative interest in investing to revive Hytale, which was recently canceled after years of development. He requires further information about the project's initial failures and future plans before making any commitments. Hytale garnered over 61 million views on its trailer and was acquired by Riot Games, which decided to halt the project due to the team's inability to realize its full potential. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of Hypixel Studios, has suggested a buy-back from Riot Games. During development, the Hytale team faced significant financial pressures, reportedly spending as much as 0,000 a month. Collins-Laflamme had turned down "way more money" before partnering with Riot.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Hypixel Considers Reacquiring Its Sandbox Hytale from Riot

Hypixel Studios has announced its closure and the cancellation of its game Hytale, which was still in development. The studio, part of Riot Games since 2020, has left fans disappointed. Discussions about Hypixel potentially reacquiring the rights to Hytale have emerged, but the studio's founder, Simon, indicated that this possibility seems unlikely due to financial challenges. He expressed a willingness to invest million of his own money to finish Hytale, reflecting his commitment to the project, though he acknowledged that this ambition is currently just a plan and would be a significant challenge to realize.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Microsoft’s Xbox PC launcher gets going with Steam, Epic, and other games showing up

Microsoft is testing a new aggregated gaming library within the Xbox app, which consolidates titles from various platforms like Steam, Battle.net, Ubisoft, Epic Games Store, and Riot Games. The Xbox app automatically identifies installed games on the PC, presenting them in an organized library with thumbnails and launcher names. Users can launch games directly or navigate to the original launcher, and there is an option to hide titles from various stores. This integration catalogs games without providing Xbox achievements or enhanced functionalities. Additionally, there are reports of "Xbox full-screen experience" settings appearing on existing ROG Ally devices, which are currently non-functional as Microsoft is testing this feature. Existing devices will eventually receive the full-screen Xbox experience. Users can access the new library by installing the Xbox test app through the Xbox Insider Hub and updating the Xbox app via the Microsoft Store.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

“The issues were all internal”: Former Hytale dev says the Minecraft-inspired survival RPG’s cancelation has nothing to do with Riot: “The community should be angry at the mismanagement”

Hytale has been officially canceled, coinciding with the closure of its developer, Hypixel Studios. A former developer from Hypixel Studios attributed the game's cancellation to internal management issues rather than external pressures from parent company Riot Games. Hytale was announced in 2018 and garnered 61 million views on its trailer, aiming to compete with Minecraft. The future of the Hytale intellectual property remains uncertain, as it is still under Riot's control. The former developer expressed skepticism about the game's revival, noting that the original team had left or been let go.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Minecraft Competitor Hytale Shuts Down After a Decade of Development

Hypixel Studios has ceased development on its sandbox game, Hytale, due to insufficient financial support and challenges in aligning its vision with the evolving sandbox gaming landscape. The studio, founded in 2016 and acquired by Riot Games in 2020, faced difficulties despite a major overhaul of the game engine. Riot Games assisted in seeking additional investors but ultimately decided to halt the project, providing support to the team during the transition. The existing Hypixel Minecraft server will continue to operate independently. The announcement comes amid significant layoffs in the gaming industry, with over 10,500 jobs lost in 2023 and projections of an additional 14,600 in 2024.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Ambitious Minecraft Competitor Hytale Canceled After Nearly 7 Years of Development: ‘This Is Not the Outcome Any of Us Wanted’

Hypixel Studios has announced the cancellation of Hytale, a game first unveiled in December 2018 and intended to compete with Minecraft. The studio, backed by Riot Games, is winding down operations following this decision. Despite initial excitement and a trailer that garnered 61 million views, development faced significant challenges, leading to the conclusion that the game could not be realized as originally promised. Co-founder Noxy expressed disappointment and noted that attempts to reduce the game's scope or delay its release were ultimately dismissed. Riot Games also sought potential investors to rescue Hytale, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Affected staff will receive severance packages and support for their future endeavors.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Hytale cancelled as Hypixel Studios winds down

Hypixel Studios has announced the cancellation of its sandbox title, Hytale, due to challenges in meeting evolving expectations and technical demands. CEO Aaron "Noxy" Donaghey stated that despite efforts to salvage the project, compromises would have undermined its uniqueness. The cancellation does not affect the Hypixel server on Minecraft, which will continue its regular activities. Hypixel Studios, part of Riot Games since 2020, is now moving forward without Hytale while valuing its creative legacy.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Riot Games cancels its response to Minecraft, Hytale is cancelled

Riot Games has officially announced the cancellation of Hytale, a highly anticipated project developed in collaboration with Hypixel Studios. The game's development faced significant challenges, leading to the decision to halt its progress, as stated by Hypixel Studios CEO Aaron “Noxy” Donaghey. The studio is also set to close in the coming months. This cancellation adds to Riot Games' history of discontinuing various projects, including Pool Party, which was a crossover fighting game, and Project F, a proposed MMO with no recent updates. Additionally, 2XKO, which had undergone beta testing, remains uncertain regarding its future release.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Riot Games shuts down Hypixel Studios and ends development of Hytale

Hypixel Studios has announced the cessation of development on the game Hytale, effective immediately. The decision was made because the team realized they could not deliver the game as originally envisioned. CEO Aaron "Noxy" Donaghey stated that the evolving genre and rising standards for game development contributed to the halt. Despite the disappointment, Donaghey expressed gratitude towards Riot Games for their support, including offering severance packages and assistance in finding new opportunities for affected employees.