Twitch Archives

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 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 8, 2026

There’s a new Xbox and PC gaming showcase in town that puts games first, while saying no to paid placements — here’s where, when, and how to watch it

The New Game Plus Showcase is scheduled to air on January 8, 2026, at 1:00 PM PT | 4:00 PM ET | 10:00 PM CET | 9:00 PM GMT. It will feature 45 upcoming titles for Xbox and PC and will be accessible on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, X, TikTok, and Instagram. Notable games include: - Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy - Crimson Desert - The Blood of Dawnwalker - The Expanse: Osiris Reborn - Shadow of the Road - Atomic Heart 2 - The Cube - Dinoblade - Towerborne - Grounded 2 The showcase was established on December 29, 2025, by a group of content creators and aims to present new games without paid placements.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

Dispatch sold over 3 million copies in 2025, and only around five percent of players beat the game without romancing anyone

Interactive superhero show Dispatch has received a critical acclaim rating of 89% from PC Gamer and has sold over 3 million copies in 2025. Players have answered 727 million calls and dispatched over 1 billion heroes. The game has also amassed an estimated 23 million hours of gameplay content viewed on YouTube and Twitch.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

CD Projekt Sells PC Game Store GOG to Co-Founder

CD Projekt has sold its digital storefront, GOG, to co-founder Michał Kiciński for PLN 90.7 million (approximately .2 million USD), granting him full ownership. CD Projekt and GOG will enter into a distribution partnership for future titles from CD Projekt Red to be available on GOG. Michał Nowakowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt, expressed confidence in the move, highlighting GOG's independent operation in recent years. Kiciński stated that CD Projekt will continue to support GOG, making it a prime platform for purchasing The Witcher and Cyberpunk games. He also emphasized the importance of classic games and announced his involvement in developing new retro-inspired games set to release on GOG in 2026.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

How A Minecraft Movie Proved Minecraft is Bigger than Just a Game in 2025

Minecraft has become a cultural phenomenon over the past decade, culminating in the release of A Minecraft Movie in 2025, which broke box-office records. The film's success is attributed to the shared experiences of gamers across generations, highlighting the game's universal appeal. The movie features iconic moments, such as the Chicken Jockey, which resonated with audiences in theaters, creating a communal experience. Despite critiques of its artistic merit, the film attracted large audiences, showcasing the power of nostalgia and community. Minecraft, as one of the best-selling video games, has established a significant presence across platforms, and the film emphasizes its impact on creativity and collaboration within the gaming community. After viewing the movie, many children were inspired to recreate scenes in their own Minecraft worlds, demonstrating the game's influence beyond its original medium.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Peak devs were ready to go ‘into vacation mode’ after releasing it, but then it sold 1M copies in the first week: ‘That quickly became a pipe dream’

The co-op climbing game Peak, developed by Aggro Crab and Landfall, was released in 2025 after four months of development and gained viral popularity on platforms like Twitch. It features an in-game concert by rapper bbno$ and retains a charming, game jam-like quality with wobbly character models and comedic mishaps. The game is categorized as a comedy game, and the developers acknowledge the term "friendslop" used by some players to describe the genre. The team plans to continue regular updates until all desired features are completed before moving on to their next project.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

A market has emerged around streamer xQc potentially breaking Forsen's Minecraft speedrun record of 15:28:130 by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET during a live stream. The market will resolve to "Yes" if he breaks the record and "No" if he fails. The current trading volume is approximately ,219, with a 21% chance estimated for xQc to break the record. The speedrun involves defeating the Ender Dragon in Minecraft Java Edition version 1.16.1. The primary resolution source will be xQc's Twitch channel, with credible reporting also considered.