Hypixel Studios has officially regained full ownership of Hytale following an agreement with Riot Games, bringing the long-anticipated project back under the control of its original creators.
Hytale is a sandbox adventure game developed by Hypixel Studios, combining block-based building with procedurally generated worlds, RPG systems, combat, dungeons, exploration, and extensive modding tools. The title was first revealed in December 2018 and quickly built significant anticipation among players due to its creative scope and the studio’s background operating the popular Hypixel Minecraft server.
Riot’s acquisition
Riot Games originally acquired Hypixel Studios in April 2020. The acquisition was intended to support the development of Hytale with additional resources and long-term backing.
However, in June 2025, Riot Games announced that Hypixel Studios would be shut down and that Hytale’s development was cancelled. The decision came after years of scope creep, a major engine rewrite, and delays that pushed the game far outside its original timeline.
Details from the new announcement
Hypixel Studios co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme confirmed that the studio has now purchased Hytale back from Riot Games.
Key details:
- The studio also confirmed that development is restarting with a focus on the game’s “original vision.” Over the past several weeks, more than 30 former Hytale developers have rejoined the team, with plans for additional returns.
- The announcement emphasizes the long-term commitment behind the relaunch:“We are fully independent and personally committed to funding Hytale for the next 10 years.”
- The team confirms it will continue development with complete independence and without external ownership, stating that Hypixel Studios is now “fully independent”.
- Hytale will launch first on Windows. The team will attempt Linux and Mac versions, but these are not guaranteed. Support for other platforms is planned much later in development.
- Release date and pricing will be announced soon. The studio states that these details are still being finalized as part of the revised development plan.
- Early Access structure:
The initial Early Access version will include Exploration Mode, Creative Mode, and Modding tools. The developers note that players should expect bugs and a long development cycle before the 1.0 launch.
