Hytale, the highly anticipated Minecraft-inspired game first unveiled in 2018, has been officially canceled. Hypixel Studios, the developer behind the project, announced that development has ceased and the studio is now winding down operations.
Backed by Riot Games, the creator of League of Legends, Hytale was poised to blend sandbox creativity with deep roleplaying elements. Its 2018 announcement trailer quickly gained traction, amassing over 61 million views on YouTube. At launch, the game was described as a procedurally generated universe where players could explore towering fortresses, delve into vast dungeons, and create custom content—from building block-by-block to designing minigames—using intuitive, powerful tools.
The excitement was fueled by the pedigree of its creators: the team behind Hypixel, one of the most iconic Minecraft servers in history. Riot Games initially invested in the project before fully acquiring the studio, signaling strong confidence in its potential.
However, that vision will never come to life. In a statement posted on the Hytale website, co-founder Noxy shared the difficult news: “This is not the outcome any of us — at Hypixel or at Riot — wanted. But after years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn’t bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise.”
According to Noxy, the game’s technical ambitions grew increasingly complex. Despite a major engine reboot, the team realized Hytale wasn’t progressing fast enough to meet its original vision. “It became clear we’d need a lot more time to get it to a place where it could support the ambitious vision for the game,” Noxy explained.
Options like scaling back features or delaying the release were considered but ultimately rejected. “Reducing the scope would have meant compromising on what made Hytale special in the first place,” Noxy said. “It wouldn’t have been the game we set out to make—and it wouldn’t have been the game you deserve.”
Riot Games explored external investment opportunities to salvage the project, but these efforts did not yield results. As the studio closes, affected employees will receive generous severance packages and support resources to assist in their next career steps.
This confirmation comes just months after Hypixel released a spring 2025 update, showcasing progress including a newly revealed character teased since late 2023 and advancements in the game’s engine development—offering fans a glimpse of what could have been. [ttpp]
