Hytale Canceled by Riot Games After 10 Years in Development as Minecraft Clone Got Too Big
Hytale, the Minecraft-inspired sandbox, has been canceled after more than 10 years of development by Riot Games and developer Hypixel Studios after “ambitions grew more complex.”
Hypixel Studios’ sandbox MMO Hytale has been canceled by the developer’s parent company Riot Games. The RPG’s scope grew too large to move forward effectively.
Entering development in 2015, the game was a Minecraft-inspired RPG created by Hypixel to take advantage of its massively popular Minecraft server, played on by nearly 20 million players since 2013.
The Ambition Behind Hytale
Developed by Hypixel Studios, Hytale was going to rival Minecraft, combining a procedurally generated world with mini-games, bosses, building, crafting, and mod support. Built from the ground up, the developer hoped the game would eventually allow players to create content and servers, expanding its community.
Backed by Riot Games in 2015, who were inspired by the developer’s popular Minecraft server, the game entered development before Riot acquired Hypixel in 2020, as both companies saw huge potential in the project. Ultimately, however, the pressure to deliver to a “creative, passionate community” of millions has proven too much.
Why Riot Canceled Hytale
In a long statement on its site, titled “A Difficult Update,” Hypixel Studios announced the studio will be “winding down” over the next few months, describing game development as “brutally hard.”
As for the reason, the studio stated: Over time, as our vision evolved and the genre matured around us, the bar kept rising. Our technical ambitions grew more complex, and even after a major reboot of the game engine, the team found that Hytale still wasn’t as far along as it needed to be. 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.”
The developer attempted to adapt and push forward but decided it was too much, telling fans: We looked at reducing scope, adjusting timelines, and finding new angles to keep moving forward. But each of those options would have meant compromising on what made Hytale special in the first place. It wouldn’t have been the game we set out to make. And it wouldn’t have been the game you deserve.”
Noxy, the co-founder of Hypixel, ended the statement by thanking the community after confirming the Hypixel server on Minecraft will remain online as it is run separately from Hypixel Studios.
What’s Next
With funding cut by Riot, Hypixel Studios is reportedly laying off around 150 employees. Despite cancellation, Hytale leaves behind a lasting impression on the gaming community, which will continue to drive the Hypixel Minecraft server forward.
Conclusion
Hytale, the procedurally generated Minecraft-inspired sandbox game, has been canceled by Riot Games. Developer Hypixel Studios has begun the process of laying off staff as it winds down. Are you disappointed that the game is canceled? Let us know in the comments.
Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."
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