The development journey of the anticipated Minecraft-like MMO, Hytale, has been a rollercoaster since its inception in 2015. Initially supported by Riot Games as an angel investor, the game saw a major shift when Riot acquired Hypixel Studios. Unfortunately, the project was halted in June 2025, leading to the disbandment of Hypixel Studios. However, there’s a silver lining as Simon Collins-Laflamme, the game’s original creator, has repurchased the rights from Riot and aims to breathe new life into Hytale.
Hytale’s Return to Early Access
Reports suggest that Collins-Laflamme is fulfilling his promise of an early access release date, with an exciting update from the official Hytale blog. The MMO is set to launch in early access on January 13, 2026. The announcement highlighted the developers’ commitment to reviving a legacy build abandoned years ago, with funding secured for the foreseeable future.
Collins-Laflamme elaborated on the remarkable feat of reacquiring a game from a major studio and preparing it for early access rapidly. “Since the cancellation, we’ve rehired more than 40 former and new team members, bringing the total to 50,” he shared. Although the early access version will be unfinished and possibly buggy, the team is dedicated to making Hytale the game they’ve always envisioned.
Challenges and Commitments
The CEO was candid about the state of early access, emphasizing that it will reflect what one would expect from a game still under development. He cautioned potential players about pre-ordering if they’re not comfortable with its current state. “This is true early access, meaning it’s still very much unfinished and will be buggy for a while,” he warned, but assured that the team’s commitment remains strong.
A significant part of this revival is reverting to the original version of the game rather than using newer engines. This decision involved merging over 300 GitHub branches into a single cohesive build, demonstrating the engineering efforts behind the scenes. “Momentum is strong, and we’re working fast to make this into the game we all dreamed of,” Collins-Laflamme noted, emphasizing the team’s dedication to their original vision.
The revival of Hytale is set to commence with its early access launch on January 13, 2026, marking a bold step forward for the game and its developers.
