Hytale
Hytale is a sandbox video game by Hypixel Studios. The game world is made of blocks, like in Minecraft. Players can explore the world, fight monsters, build things, and make their own game content. The game came out in early access, which means it can be played while it is still being finished, for Windows, macOS and Linux on 13 January 2026.[1]
| Hytale | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Hypixel Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Hypixel Studios |
| Composer(s) | Oscar Garvin |
| Platform(s) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Release | 13 January 2026 (early access) |
| Genre(s) | Sandbox, role-playing video game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
The computer builds each game world by itself, so every world is different. The world is called Orbis. It is split into large areas called "zones". Each zone has its own kinds of land, animals, and monsters. The game gets harder as players move into later zones.[2][3]
The game has two ways to play. In Exploration Mode, players gather resources, fight, and build. In Creative Mode, players have endless blocks and can fly.[3] Players can also fight bosses, explore dungeons, and play minigames like the ones on the Hypixel server.[2][4]
Players can make mods (changes and new content) for the game with special tools.[4] Mods live on game servers, so players can join a server with mods without installing anything extra.[5]
Development
Work on Hytale started in 2015. It was made by people from the team behind Hypixel, a large Minecraft server. Riot Games gave the studio money to make the game,[6] and bought the studio in 2020.[7] Oscar Garvin wrote the music for the game.[8]
The game took much longer to make than planned. In June 2025, Riot stopped the project and started to close the studio.[9] In November 2025, Simon Collins-Laflamme, one of the people who started the studio, bought the game back from Riot. The studio then started working on the game again.[10] The studio also plans versions for consoles and mobile phones.[11]
After release
The game was sold for 20 US dollars.[12] More than one million people played it soon after it came out,[13] and for a short time it was the most watched game on Twitch, with more than 420,000 people watching.[14]
The studio updates the game often. The first update added dinosaurs.[15] A later update added support for game controllers and a list of game servers inside the game.[16] In March 2026, the studio and the mod website CurseForge started a mod contest with 100,000 US dollars in prizes. By then, players had made more than 5,000 mods, and the mods had been downloaded more than 20 million times.[17][18] In July 2026, the studio showed Chapter 1, the first big content update for the game. It will add the game's first hand-built dungeon and small party games.[19]
Reception
Reviewers liked the game and often compared it to Minecraft.[20] IGN liked how the game plays but said it does not give players clear goals.[21]
References
- ↑ Hytale Early Access Begins. Blue's News (13 January 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Simpkins, Jen. First Look: Hytale is putting adventure and creativity at the heart of its ambitious block-building sandbox. GamesRadar+ (24 February 2020). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hytale Early Access impressions. GamingTrend (26 February 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Walker, Ben. Hytale Interview - Hypixel Studios Talk Modding, Post-Launch Plans, and Minecraft Origins. DualShockers (11 February 2019). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hytale Modding Strategy and Status. Hytale (20 November 2025)Hypixel Studios. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Phillips, Tom. Hytale is a brand new game from giants of the Minecraft community, backed by Riot. Eurogamer (13 December 2018). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Webster, Andrew. Riot continues to expand beyond League by acquiring studio behind Minecraft-like game. The Verge (16 April 2020). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Four new pieces of music from the Hytale soundtrack. Hytale (27 November 2019)Hypixel Studios. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Gerblick, Jordan. 6 years after an announcement trailer with 61 million views, Minecraft-inspired survival game Hytale is canceled and its developer is shutting down. GamesRadar+ (23 June 2025). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Chalk, Andy. Hytale is saved': Riot sells cancelled game back to original co-founder, who promises to take it 'back to the original vision for Hytale. PC Gamer (17 November 2025). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Down, Aaron. Rescued "Minecraft challenger" Hytale finally shows off gameplay, and it has the building blocks of something great. PCGamesN (19 November 2025). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Wagner, Justin. Hytale honcho says early access will be $20 because 'charging more didn't feel right': He doesn't think the game is good yet, but 'my team and I will push hard to make it good, then great'. PC Gamer (21 November 2025). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hytale's Early Access surges past 1 million players as $19.99 sandbox RPG returns from the brink. Notebookcheck (16 January 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Wolens, Joshua. Hytale surges to the most-watched game on Twitch, attracting over 420,000 viewers with its long-awaited launch. PC Gamer (13 January 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hytale Patch Notes - Update 1. Hytale (17 January 2026)Hypixel Studios. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hytale Patch Notes - Update 5. Hytale (26 May 2026)Hypixel Studios. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hytale Announces Modding Contest With $100K Prize Pool On Offer. GameSpot (4 March 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hypixel Studios and CurseForge launch $100,000 modding contest for Hytale creators. PocketGamer.biz (3 March 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Allsop, Ken. Our first glimpse at Hytale Chapter 1 has me absolutely salivating. PCGamesN (18 July 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Livingston, Christopher. Hytale's developer warned us the adventure sandbox 'isn't good yet,' but it already feels pretty good to me. PC Gamer (14 January 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ Hafer, Leana. Hytale Early Access Review. IGN (23 January 2026). Retrieved 20 July 2026.