Developer Hypixel Studios has announced that pre-purchases of its upcoming Minecraft-like game Hytale have already covered the costs for the next two years of development. The game, revived after cancellation by Riot Games, is set for early access release on January 13. Founder Simon Collins-Laflamme expects over a million players on launch day.
Hytale, an RPG-style sandbox game similar to Minecraft, entered development in 2015 under Hypixel Studios. The project gained significant attention, leading Riot Games to invest millions and acquire Hypixel in 2020. However, Riot canceled Hytale last year, prompting Hypixel to announce it would wind down operations.
In a dramatic turnaround, Hypixel co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme acquired the game from Riot at the end of last year, reigniting interest. This revival has led to rapid progress, with early access plans revealed shortly after. The game launches on January 13, with servers going live early morning in the Americas and early evening in Europe.
Collins-Laflamme shared optimistic updates on social media. He anticipates over a million players on release day and urged buyers to download the launcher in advance to ease server strain. "Pleased to announce that we have officially secured the next two years of development costs through pre-purchases," he wrote. "Combined with my personal commitment of ten years, we are looking very strong for the future."
Hytale is available for purchase only through Hypixel's website during early access, not on Steam. Pricing options include a standard edition—listed at $23.99 in one report and $19.99 in another—along with a $41.99 Supporter Edition and $83.99 Founder's Edition, the latter two offering cosmetic extras. Collins-Laflamme warned that as a true early access title with a decade-long history, players should expect initial challenges.
This surge in pre-sales underscores renewed enthusiasm for Hytale, positioning the studio for sustained growth post-revival.
