Hytale Fans Rejoice: The Game is Back with Original Vision
Hytale, a game that was once thought to be lost, is making a comeback. After the shutdown announcement from Hypixel five months ago, fans were left disappointed. Yet, the tides have turned with Simon “Hypixel” Collins-Laflamme stepping in to revive the project. Initially acquired by Riot Games in April 2020, the project hit a snag with engine changes. Now, Collins-Laflamme has taken back the reins, bringing the game back to its ‘Legacy’ engine roots.
Return to Legacy Engine
The decision to return to the ‘Legacy’ engine stems from the significant delays and limitations encountered with the newer ‘Cross-platform’ engine. Collins-Laflamme highlighted that the new engine lagged in gameplay features and would require at least two more years to reach the original engine’s capabilities. Moving forward, the studio plans to retrofit cross-platform compatibility into the Legacy engine, expanding its reach beyond the confines of PC gaming.
Development and Early Access Plans
Rebuilding the development team, Collins-Laflamme has already rehired over thirty former Hypixel developers, with more expected to join soon. An announcement for early access is on the horizon, promising a release filled with potential but also expected bugs and crashes. The journey to a full version 1.0 is anticipated to take ‘at least a few years.’ Initially, the Adventure Mode and official minigames will not be available, though the team is prioritizing their development post-launch.
Community and Modding Opportunities
Community involvement is a core component of Hytale, with extensive modding capabilities available from the outset. Players can modify nearly every aspect of the game, from content to server-side elements, with minimal technical expertise. The development team is committed to empowering users, planning to release server source code in the coming months to facilitate the creation of custom servers, maps, and adventures.