The sandbox RPG Hytale has released its second major free update since launching in early access on January 13, 2026. This patch introduces the Necromancy Grimoire, allowing players to raise skeletal minions, alongside extensive customization options and gameplay tweaks. The update aims to enhance player experience in the Minecraft-inspired fantasy world.
Hytale, a highly anticipated sandbox RPG inspired by Minecraft, entered early access on January 13, 2026, quickly building a large fanbase despite bypassing Steam. On January 24, 2026, developer Hypixel Studios rolled out Update 2, the second major free content patch, downloadable via the game's launcher.
The standout addition is the Necromancy Grimoire, a new tome that drops from the large Praetorian Skeleton. It enables players to raise skeletal minions from nearby bone piles, appealing to necromancer enthusiasts in RPGs.
Customization sees significant expansions with new avatar options, including Bandit Mask and Side Knot variants, Blindfold and Thick variants, Bandage Blindfold variants for eyes, Vampire Mouth, Cute Mouth, and Orc Mouth. A white color option joins fantasy cotton cosmetics, and visuals for six hair styles—Single Side Pigtail, Hair Stick Bun, Simple Bobcut, Fighter Buns, Smart Elven, and Windswept—have been updated. Players can now toggle armor slot visibility in the character panel, with server hosts able to enforce rules for PvP or immersion. Cape animations improve during running.
Gameplay and balance changes include requiring a Thorium or Cobalt pickaxe for Adamantite mining, with adjusted pickaxe progression: lower-tier tools deal less damage to higher-tier ores, and upgrades reduce hits needed. Polar Bears receive a buff, more decorative light recipes appear at the furniture bench, and NPCs like Bison, Horse, and Warthog now drop Medium Hide. The Magma Toad's tongue damage is reduced, alternating with a new Headbutt ability. Petals become craftable and renewable via Sunflower Seeds, enabling lighter Cloth Block variants.
World generation updates prepare WorldGen V2 for modders, add Default_Flat and Default_Void templates, and refactor ore placement for more ores, especially in Devastated Lands undergrounds. Farming improvements prevent Eternal crops from breaking on accidental weapon hits, extend tilled soil lifetime to 1.2-1.5 days, fix soil decay, allow offhand torch use with hoe and seeds, and adjust hoe tiers: Copper at Tier 2, Iron at Tier 4, Thorium at Tier 6.
UI and UX enhancements cover tooltip improvements, hotbar visibility with contrast and diamond indicators, alphabetical memory sorting in 'The Heart Of Orbis,' inventory shortcuts like QERT for quick actions, an FPS counter option, player marker updates on compass and map, and an Ophidiophobia mode turning snakes into Hatworms.
Audio and visual fixes add Rex sounds, update bone inventory sounds and food particles, and correct a Howling Sands cave track. Bug fixes introduce a server auto-update system with UpdateModule, commands, and config options; resolve issues like pick block in full hotbars, Mantling detection, weather transitions, teleporters, rail carts, bed respawning, and map permissions; and improve stability, shadows, and dungeon environments like Emerald Wilds.
