Hytale’s History | Development Timeline and the Project's End

You remember Hytale, right? The ambitious game born from the creators of Hypixel, once the largest Minecraft server in the world? It began as a bold response to Mojang’s monetization policy changes in 2015, but after seven years of hope, hype, and major investment, Riot Games officially canceled the project and shut down Hypixel Studios in 2025.

For longtime followers and curious newcomers alike, we’ve compiled a full history of Hytale’s development, from its promising start to its ultimate demise.

Hytale’s Inception

It all began in 2015, when Mojang updated its EULA (End User License Agreement) to restrict how servers could monetize. For Hypixel, one of the largest Minecraft servers at the time, the change was devastating, cutting off nearly 80% of their income overnight.

Rather than fold, the Hypixel team founded Hypixel Studios, aiming to create a game that would give creators more freedom. The result? Hytale, a sandbox adventure RPG inspired by Minecraft, but with bigger ambitions: a built-in modding API, a full story mode, and polished RPG mechanics.

What Was Hytale?

In its early trailers, Hytale looked like a dream come true: a procedurally generated world filled with dungeons, creatures, combat, creative tools, and full modding support. It quickly attracted millions of views and became one of the most hyped indie games of the decade.

Over time, though, the vision expanded. Hytale was no longer just a Minecraft competitor, it aspired to be a cross-platform experience blending elements of Terraria, MMOs, and action-RPGs. That ambition, unfortunately, became part of its downfall.

A Timeline of Development and Delay

2015-2019: After its inception, we didn’t hear much about Hytale or its development. That was until Dec 13th 2018, when Hypixel Studios released a flurry of information. Including 4 blog posts and an announcement trailer that garnered over 31 million views in the first month. They also revealed that their budget had climbed from $750k to $3.6 million, thanks in large part to support from Riot Games. In the months that followed, the devs maintained a consistent stream of information about the game.

2019-2021: This was considered the golden age for Hytale hype. Communication was great, and it seemed like the game was on track for a 2021 release. Then a bombshell dropped in 2020: Riot Games had fully acquired Hypixel Studios. They would continue to operate independently, but would have access to Riot’s expertise and, more importantly, funding.

The acquisition proved to be both a blessing and a curse for Hytale. The additional resources were obviously a boon, but they also allowed for a less conservative development approach. Leading to the summer 2021 announcement where they confirmed that they were aiming for full cross-platform support, including mobile devices. But in order to pull that off, they needed to completely rewrite the game’s engine (AKA the underlying framework for the game). Which pushed the estimated release back to 2023.

2022–2024: Communication slowed. Updates became more sporadic, and each one brought news of new features, new setbacks, and extended timelines. Internal playtesting began, but there was still no public beta in sight.

2025: After years of delays and rising development costs, Riot Games pulled the plug. Hytale was officially canceled, and Hypixel Studios was shut down, marking the end of one of the most ambitious and public indie game developments in recent memory.

What Went Wrong?

In short: scope creep, long timelines, and shifting goals. What began as a love letter to Minecraft morphed into a technically demanding, genre-blending project with massive expectations. While Riot’s funding helped the team grow, it also raised the bar and the pressure.

Despite the passion and talent behind it, the game’s complexity and lack of clear milestones made it difficult to ship. And in the end, Riot made the business decision to step away.

A Legacy of Creativity

While Hytale will never see the light of day, its influence can still be felt. It inspired creators, showed the potential of indie studios aiming big, and highlighted the deep connection between communities and the games they love.

For Hypixel’s founders and the countless fans who waited nearly a decade, the journey may not have ended as hoped, but it wasn’t wasted. The dream of a creator-first sandbox game may live on elsewhere.

Looking Ahead

While the curtain has closed on Hytale, the passion for sandbox games and player-driven worlds is stronger than ever. Whether you’re revisiting Minecraft or diving into the pixelated depths of Terraria, the spirit of creativity lives on.

If you’re looking to host your own world with friends, free from the limitations of public servers, AleForge offers high-performance, reliable server hosting for both Minecraft and Terraria. With easy setup, full mod support, and 24/7 uptime, it’s never been easier to bring your gaming vision to life.