Hytale, the Minecraft-inspired adventure game, is no longer canceled following its shutdown by Riot Games earlier this year. Hypixel founders Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette have repurchased the rights and plan to launch it in early access. The team is reverting to an older engine build to accelerate development.
Revival Announcement
In June, Hypixel and its parent company Riot Games announced the cancellation of Hytale after a decade of development, with Hypixel itself facing closure. However, on November 17, 2025, Hypixel co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme revealed that the studio has been rescued. The founders have reacquired the rights to Hytale from Riot Games and are co-funding the project independently, with no outside investors or publishers involved. They committed to supporting development for the next 10 years.
Collins-Laflamme shared the news on social media, stating, "We did it. Hytale is saved. We have acquired Hytale from Riot Games." In a detailed post on Hytale's official site, he emphasized a realistic approach: "No more waiting. You'll get to play it, rough edges and all. It won't be perfect on day one. My hope is that together, we'll shape it into something truly special."
Development Plans
The revived team includes technical lead Kevin Carstens and management lead Patrick Derbic, along with 30 returning developers who previously worked on the game. To expedite progress, the team is abandoning the current Cross-platform Engine build, which Collins-Laflamme described as "significantly behind in terms of gameplay," and reverting to the four-year-old Legacy Engine build.
Early access is targeted for release as soon as possible, expected to span at least a few years. Launch features will include Exploration Mode, Creative Mode, and modding support. Minigames and Adventure Mode are planned for later updates. Collins-Laflamme noted, "There's a lot of work to be done," urging fans to manage expectations for the unpolished initial version.