Things to know about Hytale – Minecraft’s new “rival”.

What is Hytale? What’s in early access and where can it be played? This article will have all the information you need to know about the latest game that could be a new potential rival to Minecraft!

Hytale has officially launched the Early Access version after more than a decade of development. This version is not exactly the same Hytale that developer and publisher Hypixel Studios originally promised, but has some features omitted, such as a story-driven adventure mode. However, Hypixel promises to do its best to support the game for at least the next few years and bring it closer to the original version first announced in 2018.

What is Hytale?

Hytale is an open world building game that combines survival and RPG elements, created by the team behind the popular Hypixel Minecraft servers. When launching Early Access, the game offers two main modes:

• Exploration mode (Exploration): Allows players to survive, fight, collect resources, build structures and play with friends in an open world.
• Creative mode (Creative): Provides a powerful set of editing tools for creating custom maps, worlds, models, and experiences.

Overall, Hytale currently bears many similarities to Minecraft. Previously, Hypixel had aimed to create a more differentiated game, with tactical PvP, a complete storyline, factions and a mission system. However, the lengthy development process and many technical changes have prevented these plans from fully appearing in the Early Access version.

More information about Hytale

Wasn’t Hytale cancelled? Who is the publisher of Hytale?

Hypixel began developing Hytale in 2015. In 2020, Riot Games acquired Hypixel Studios, bringing the project to a larger scale. However, continuously expanding technical ambitions and changing development tools have caused progress to be seriously slow. In 2025, Riot decided to cancel the Hytale project.

However, after receiving encouragement from backers, founder Simon Collins-Laflamme bought the game back from Riot, regrouped part of the old team and reassessed the game’s status. Because many core features are still missing, Hytale is released as Early Access and is continuously being developed. Currently, Hypixel Studios self-publishes Hytale, no longer part of Riot Games.

Hytale versions and how to buy

Currently, Hytale is only sold on the official website of Hypixel Studios and requires downloading the Hytale Launcher to play. The game has three versions:

• Standard: 19.99 USD
• Supporter: 34.99 USD
• Cursebreaker: 69.99 USD

The Standard version is enough to experience the entire current gameplay. More advanced versions only add decorative items and can be upgraded later during the Early Access period.

Is Hytale available on Steam?

The initial early access version of Hytale is not currently available on Steam, consoles or mobile devices. Hypixel said in a post that Steam does not currently support some of the game’s mod features and that the team will get back to Valve later. However, there is no guarantee that the game will eventually be released on Steam or other platforms.

What does Hytale have in Early Access?

Hytale is currently released in early access, with the goal of gradual development based on community feedback.

• Features available at launch: Creative mode, Exploration mode, Modding
• Upcoming content: Adventure mode, Minigames.

Collins-Laflamme said the development team is committed to supporting Hytale for at least 10 years, and there have been enough pre-orders to fund another two years of development. Hypixel says it will focus on multiple small updates, improving stability, gameplay progression, and expanding existing systems before rolling out larger features.

What makes Explore and Create modes stand out?

• Creative mode serves as a prologue to the future adventure mode, focusing on survival, building, and co-op play.
• Exploration mode Allows editing of character models, terrain, prefab, camera and machinima tools, helping players create their own games and experiences.

It’s important to note that these features may be buggy at launch. However, Hypixel still promises gamers will have the freedom to create their own games and worlds in Creative mode.