sandbox Archives

AppWizard

January 17, 2026

Hytale comes full circle as modder transforms it back into Minecraft, right down to The End

Dedicated fans of Minecraft are integrating elements from the game into Hytale, which has been anticipated for seven years. French YouTuber 'LAirHisson' announced the creation of "the end in Hytale," incorporating Minecraft's final boss area, The End, into Hytale. His video features a character resembling Minecraft's Steve using a modded Eye of Ender, leading to a challenge biome similar to Minecraft's Ender Dragon domain. LAirHisson engages in combat with Endermen and attempts to fight the Ender Dragon, showcasing Hytale's modding capabilities. Simon Collins-Laflamme from the Hytale community praised LAirHisson's work. Hytale has released its first significant content update, adding dinosaurs and improved melee combat. The game is available for .99, with premium tiers offering exclusive in-game accessories.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Easterly helms RSAC, Windows update problems, Police Copilot gaffe

Jen Easterly has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the RSA Conference. She is a cybersecurity expert and former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Palo Alto Networks has released security updates for a vulnerability (CVE-2026-0227) with a CVSS score of 7.7 affecting its GlobalProtect Gateway and Portal, which can cause a denial-of-service condition in PAN-OS software. The January 2026 security update from Microsoft has caused connection and authentication failures in Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, affecting users across various Windows versions. Microsoft is working on a resolution. The chief constable of West Midlands Police acknowledged an error by Microsoft’s Copilot AI in generating a fictional intelligence report. Microsoft has not confirmed Copilot's involvement. Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has collaborated with Five Eyes partners to provide guidance on securing industrial operational technology, highlighting risks associated with remotely monitored systems. Kyowon, a South Korean conglomerate, confirmed a ransomware attack on January 10 that may have compromised customer information, affecting approximately 5.5 million members. Researchers at Varonis have identified a new attack technique called "Reprompt" that allows data exfiltration from Microsoft Copilot via a malicious link, exploiting a Parameter 2 Prompt (P2P) injection technique. Central Maine Healthcare is notifying over 145,000 patients about a data breach that compromised personal, treatment, and health insurance information, discovered on June 1.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Minecraft inspired Hytale starts 2026 with a comeback story, becoming the most popular game on Twitch hours after entering Early Access

Hytale was developed by Hypixel Studios, established in 2018 as a spinoff of the Hypixel server. The game features procedurally generated biomes with unique quests and monsters. In 2020, Hypixel Studios partnered with Riot Games, which later acquired the studio. However, in July 2025, Riot Games announced the cancellation of Hytale due to escalating costs. In November 2025, Hypixel Studios regained the rights to the game. Hytale entered Early Access on January 13, 2026, with pre-purchases ensuring development funding for at least two years. Upon release, it peaked at over 420,000 viewers on Twitch, although viewership dropped to just under 100,000 by January 14.

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

What is ‘Hytale’? The new viral ‘Minecraft clone’ explained

“Hytale” is an open-world sandbox game that allows players to collect resources, craft, and build unique worlds. It was developed by Hypixel Studios, which previously worked on a popular “Minecraft” server. Development began in 2015 and faced setbacks, including a cancellation in mid-2025, but resumed in November after the rights were acquired by Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme. The game is currently in early access and is fully playable, though still under development. “Hytale” is available exclusively on PC for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can be accessed through the official website, not on Steam. The standard edition is priced at .99, with additional tiers available for .49 and .99. Early indications suggest significant popularity, with pre-purchase sales generating enough revenue for at least two years of development and over 400,000 viewers watching gameplay on Twitch on its release day.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Hytale’s developer warned us the adventure sandbox ‘isn’t good yet,’ but it already feels pretty good to me

Hytale has launched in early access today, marking a significant milestone in the gaming industry. The game was previously canceled by Riot Games last summer but has made a successful return, receiving a positive reception. Preorders have generated enough funds for several more years of development. Initial feedback indicates a promising foundation, with players already creating mods, including a version of Doom within Hytale. The game is not available on Steam, requiring players to visit the official site to access it.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Over 1 million players expected: New Minecraft-style sandbox MMO enters Early Access

Hytale is a highly anticipated game that combines sandbox creativity with immersive storytelling. Key features include a procedurally generated world with diverse environments, robust customization options for crafting adventures and structures, an engaging narrative with quests and lore, and community-centric tools for modding and sharing creations.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Hytale roadmap “isn’t completely pre-planned,” but features like friend lists and proximity chat are already in development as the Minecraft-inspired sandbox hits early access

Hytale has officially launched into early access, with developers at Hypixel planning to shape the game's future based on player feedback. The Hytale roadmap is flexible, and key features are in early development. Early updates will be delivered quickly, addressing a backlog of enhancements. The development team consists of 50 members, and funding for the next two years comes solely from pre-orders. The team anticipates attracting over 1 million players. Their philosophy emphasizes quality, stating, “No sacrifices, no Hytale.”

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Hytale surges to the most-watched game on Twitch, attracting over 420,000 viewers with its long-awaited launch

Hytale has officially entered early access after a decade of development challenges. The game's announcement trailer from 2018 has received 62 million views. On launch day, Hytale became the most-watched game on Twitch with over 420,000 viewers. Players are encountering challenges with wildlife, particularly bears. Hytale has secured funding for two years of early access development, and expectations are high for over one million players on launch day. There has been a significant spike in global search interest for Hytale on Google Trends. Initial technical issues have arisen, and the development team is working on a hotfix to address bugs and account verification delays due to high demand.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

Hytale is Twitch’s most-watched game as devs finally release Minecraft rival they’ve “waited ten years” for

Hytale has officially launched after nearly eight years since its initial announcement in 2018. The game, developed by Hypixel Studios and acquired by Riot Games in 2020, faced a temporary cancellation in June 2025 but was later revived when CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme regained control of the studio. Hytale has garnered 344,000 viewers on Twitch, surpassing all other games. The developers expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing that it marks the beginning of the game's journey. Early player feedback has been positive, and pre-orders are expected to fund the next two years of development.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

Hytale’s mammoth pre-orders have covered “the next two years of development,” proving the Minecraft challenger is really here to stay

Hytale is set to launch on January 13, 2026, and is expected to attract over one million players on its early access release day, according to Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel Studios. The game's development has been ongoing for over a decade, and its financial backing for the next two years has been secured through pre-sales. After Riot Games discontinued its involvement, Collins-Laflamme resumed development with a focus on community collaboration. He announced that pre-orders have ensured a solid foundation for the project, expressing optimism about Hytale's future.