How Hytale Went From Cancellation to Massive Success

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Early in 2026, the game Hytale started gaining a lot of attention. It quickly became the most-watched game on Twitch when it launched in Early Access on January 13th. Over 420,000 people tuned in to watch, and the game received a lot of positive feedback. This surge in popularity is particularly impressive considering Hytale almost didn’t make it at several points in its development.

Development of Hytale started in 2015, and it took eleven years to reach the Early Access stage. The game originated from the Minecraft server Hypixel and was initially funded by Riot Games, allowing its creators to build a completely new game inspired by Minecraft. Riot Games later acquired Hytale but cancelled the project in June 2025, seemingly ending its future. Luckily, the game’s original creator, Simon “Hypixel” Collins-Laflamme, bought it back from Riot and resumed development, ultimately leading to its release in January 2026.

Hytale Rose From the Ashes to Dominate in Early Access

Hytale shares many similarities with Minecraft, as it was directly inspired by the popular sandbox game. However, while Minecraft is known for its complete freedom, Hytale offers a more structured experience within a procedurally generated fantasy world. You’ll find diverse landscapes, creatures, dungeons, and minigames – the latter of which are reminiscent of those on the Hypixel server, making it familiar to Minecraft modders. Hytale also includes RPG-style combat, exploration, boss battles, building, crafting, and supports modding, and is available in three different editions.

Hytale launched with three editions: Standard, Supporter, and Cursebreaker (Founder’s Edition). The game wasn’t initially released on Steam Early Access because it still needed work, according to the developers. The Early Access phase is meant to allow the existing player base to help refine the game before a wider Steam release. This approach is similar to how Minecraft developed over time before becoming a finished product, and Hytale seems to be following the same path. This will help ensure the game is polished and ready when it officially launches, though the exact release date is still to come.

After over 11 years in development, Hytale launched in Early Access and quickly attracted over 2.8 million players. Pre-release sales were very strong, providing substantial funding for the game’s ongoing development. This high level of interest suggests Hytale will continue to gain popularity as it’s further developed. The game’s positive reception isn’t surprising, as it had already won awards for being the Most Anticipated and Best Upcoming Game at the Northern Ireland and Indie Game Awards.

Hytale Early Access Indicates It Will Be the Game to Beat in 2026

Launching a game in Early Access is a great way for developers to get feedback – both good and bad – to make the game even better before it’s fully released. It also helps them raise money to keep development going, and Hytale’s Early Access has been remarkably successful in that regard. The game’s journey has been quite a story: it was developed gradually, acquired by a large studio, then cancelled, before being revived by its original creator. Now, players are helping to shape it into what’s likely to be the next big hit – a true underdog story in the gaming world.

Have you tried playing Hytale in its Early Access phase? Share your thoughts and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-15 17:13