Riot Games has sold the rights to the canceled Minecraft-like game Hytale back to its original co-founder, Simon Collins-Laflamme, allowing Hypixel Studios to revive the project independently. The studio has rehired over 30 original developers and committed to funding development for the next 10 years. An early access release date is expected to be announced soon.
Background on Hytale
Development on Hytale, a sandbox survival game inspired by Minecraft, began in 2015 under Hypixel Studios. The project gained significant attention before Riot Games acquired the studio, leading to its cancellation in June 2025. Fans expressed disappointment through efforts like a large '#Save Hytale' digital art piece displayed over Riot's Santa Monica office.
The Revival Deal
Simon Collins-Laflamme, Hypixel's co-founder, announced the acquisition of Hytale from Riot in a blog post on the official site. 'We are thrilled to announce that we have acquired Hytale from Riot Games,' the post states. 'While it didn’t make sense for them to continue developing it in its existing form, they ultimately wanted what’s best for players, and that’s for us to eventually play a revised version of the game.'
Riot confirmed the deal, stating, 'After evaluating multiple offers, we've reached an agreement to return Hytale to @simon_hypixel, giving this community its best shot at experiencing a revised version of the game. Wishing the team the best of luck for what's ahead.' Collins-Laflamme and co-founder Philippe Touchette are personally funding the project, with the studio now fully independent.
Development Plans
Hypixel has rehired more than 30 members of the original team, with additional hires expected. The studio plans to release an early access version soon, embracing its current 'messy' and 'janky' state. On his X account, Collins-Laflamme shared, 'Real talk: Hytale isn’t some polished AAA release waiting in the wings. It’s messy. It’s janky. And there’s a lot of work to be done. My plan? Get it out to you as soon as possible. No more waiting.'
The team promises transparent communication and asks for patience as they return to the original vision. An early access date will be revealed in the coming days, offering hope to a dedicated community after years of anticipation.