The gaming world is buzzing with excitement as Hytale, a highly anticipated project, is back on track after a series of unexpected developments. Hypixel Studios announced earlier this year that they were closing, which signaled the end of Hytale, a game that had garnered significant attention. However, recent developments have brought new hope to fans.
Hytale’s Revival and Original Vision
Five months ago, the gaming community was taken by surprise when Hypixel Studios announced its closure, marking the end of the long-awaited game Hytale. Originally acquired by Riot Games in April 2020, the project faced significant challenges, including a controversial switch to a new game engine. But now, Simon “Hypixel” Collins-Laflamme has made an unexpected comeback, regaining the rights from Riot Games and planning to revive Hytale using its original ‘Legacy’ engine. According to Collins-Laflamme, the switch to a new ‘Cross-platform’ engine slowed down progress, prompting the decision to return to the original plan. Although the Legacy engine will be made cross-platform compatible eventually, the focus remains on delivering the authentic Hytale experience.
Development Progress and Expectations
As part of this revival, over thirty developers from the original Hypixel team have been rehired, and more are expected to rejoin. Collins-Laflamme hinted that the early access launch date is approaching, but he cautioned that it will be a genuine early access release, filled with potential bugs and incomplete features. The journey to the full version 1.0 is expected to take several years. Despite its current state, Hytale boasts over 100 NPCs and thousands of items and blocks, though many require further configuration. While the Adventure Mode and official minigames won’t be ready for the early access launch, a dedicated team is working hard to integrate these essential features. In the meantime, the community is encouraged to create their own minigames, custom servers, and experiences, with official assets to be shared later on.
Community Empowerment and Modding
Hytale aims to be a haven for creativity, allowing extensive modding capabilities from the start. Collins-Laflamme assures that almost everything can be modded, including content and server-side elements, enabling even non-developers to craft impressive experiences with minimal technical expertise. The development team has committed to providing server source code access in the coming months, empowering users to design their own custom servers, maps, and adventures.
Simon “Hypixel” Collins-Laflamme has reclaimed the rights from Riot Games, and Hytale will return to its original ‘Legacy’ engine, bringing renewed hope and excitement to the project.