Hytale Has Been Saved From Cancelation
Hytale’s cancellation has been reversed after Hypixel Studios repurchased the full rights from Riot Games, reviving the long-stalled sandbox RPG and putting it back on course for early access. The studio is now independently funding the game for the next decade while returning to a simpler PC-focused engine to accelerate development.
Here’s the TL;DR on Hytale’s revival from cancellation:
Hypixel Studios has fully bought Hytale back from Riot Games as of November 2025.
Early Access will be available January 13th, 2026
Founders are self-funding the project for at least ten years with no publisher interference.
Cross-platform engine scrapped in favor of the original PC-only Legacy Engine for faster progress.
Gameplay clips, screenshots, and raw footage dropping in the days following the announcement.
Early access planned ASAP, shipping with exploration, creative mode, and modding tools.
What Led to Hytale’s Cancellation and Repurchase from Riot Games?
Riot Games acquired Hypixel Studios in 2020, but development slowed to a crawl due to an overly ambitious C++ cross-platform rebuild. By June 2025, Riot formally canceled the project, citing a “misalignment” between the team’s goals and Riot’s expectations.
Founders Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette negotiated a full rights buyback, returning Hytale to complete independent control.
“We are thrilled to announce that we have acquired Hytale from Riot Games.”
This move is exceptionally rare in the industry — a fully canceled game coming back under its original creators with no corporate backers.
Currently, the game is planned to enter early access January 13th, 2026.
How Is Hypixel Studios Funding Hytale’s Revival?
The founders are personally financing the project for a minimum of ten years, guaranteeing stability without publisher oversight.
Over 30 former developers have already been rehired, and more are expected to rejoin as the studio rebuilds its pipeline. The team is intentionally keeping things small and focused, avoiding the massive scaling that previously slowed development.
What Changes Are Coming to Hytale’s Development Course?
Hypixel is abandoning the stalled cross-platform rewrite and returning to the original, functional Legacy Engine (C#/Java). This:
Cuts years off the timeline
Lets the current build run playable right now internally
Brings the game back to its PC-first origins
Early access will launch on Windows, with Linux and Mac support attempted soon after. Cross-platform plans — consoles, mobile, etc. — are postponed until after the core PC version stabilizes.
The game’s base price has been confirmed to be a shockingly low $19.99, with more expensive tiers that offer cosmetic boons to supporters.
What Will Hytale’s Early Access Include at Launch?
Hypixel confirmed that early access will ship with:
Exploration Mode
Creative Mode
Full modding tools and scripting
Thousands of items and blocks
Over 100 NPCs and creatures (though many will be unbalanced)
Adventure Mode and Minigames will not be ready, with a separate team working on minigames long-term.
Expect:
Bugs
Wipe-likely updates
Major systems changing rapidly
Hypixel emphasized that early access is “unfinished by design,” meant to grow for years.
Have Any New Trailers Been Released for Hytale’s Revival?
No final trailers yet — but raw gameplay footage (around 20 minutes each) and unpolished screenshots have dropped.
The original 2018 trailer remains the closest representation of the game’s intended direction, and the engine shift brings it closer to reality than at any point since 2020.
What Footage and Screenshots Are Planned for Hytale Soon?
Expect rough, unedited footage including:
Terrain generation and biomes
Combat and survival interactions
Modding demonstrations
Building systems and sandbox physics
A detailed modding roadmap and patch-style documentation will accompany these reveals.
How Is the Hytale Dev Team Boosting Transparency Now?
The team is shifting to an open-development model featuring:
Frequent updates
Detailed patch notes
Public development roadmaps
Direct community discussions on Discord
Hypixel admitted communication “collapsed” under Riot’s structure and aims to rebuild trust through consistent, honest updates.
What Community Involvement Is Encouraged in Hytale’s Development?
Players are encouraged to participate through:
Modding
Submitting feedback
Reporting bugs
Testing experimental branches
Server source code access is coming within months, enabling deep customization for creators and community-run servers.
What Does Hytale’s Repurchase Mean for Its Long-Term Future?
Hypixel now has:
No publisher pressure
A 10-year funding runway
A workable engine
A playable build today
The studio says:
“Early access is our way of earning your trust, not asking for it.”
This gives Hytale the best chance it’s had in years to become a long-term sandbox platform shaped by its community.
What Challenges Could Hytale Face Going Forward?
Potential hurdles:
Maintaining player interest during years of early access
Handling bugs and instability
Balancing transparency with expectations
Sustaining momentum without publisher funding
But the foundation is stronger now than at any point since 2018.
The comeback has been widely celebrated across the industry — the rare moment a canceled game truly rises from the dead. As Collins-Laflamme put it:
“Time to get to work.”
Hat Tips
HYTALE IS SAVED! (Nov 17, 2025)
PC Gamer – ‘Hytale is saved’: Riot sells cancelled game back to original co-founder (Nov 17, 2025)
GamesRadar – 10 years later, Hytale co-creator says he’s “locking down the release date ASAP” (Nov 20, 2025)
Eurogamer – “Hytale is saved” — Riot sells cancelled Minecraft-like game back to its original co-founder (Nov 18, 2025)
GameSpot – Canceled Minecraft competitor Hytale isn’t canceled after all (Nov 17, 2025)
Windows Central – Cancelled by Riot — Hytale’s creator revives the game fans thought was dead
Gaming on Linux – Hytale has been saved as Hypixel acquired it from Riot Games
Article Compiled and Edited by Derek Gibbs on November 25, 2025 for Clownfish TV D/REZZED.