Record Preorders Fuel Hytale’s Launch Today, the Minecraft-Style Sandbox Riot Once Abandoned

By allkeyshopmatteo Gaming News
13 January 2026 no comments

Hytale launches today: powered by record-breaking pre-orders and a loyal community, Hypixel Studios’ sandbox is already aiming for one million players in the first hours.

Released on January 13, 2026, Hytale makes a spectacular comeback after a long period of uncertainty marked by Riot Games’ withdrawal. Thanks to massive hype and pre-order editions that shattered expectations, the game already boasts solid financial backing and long-term ambitions to shake up Minecraft.

Hytale: record pre-orders already funding two years of development

Before it’s even truly in the public’s hands, Hytale has pulled off something rare for the genre: it reportedly has already generated enough revenue to fund two full years of development. The studio attributes this performance to the enormous anticipation around the game and pre-orders offered in three editions (Standard, Supporter, Cursebreaker), far above initial projections.

Hypixel Studios founder Simon Collins-Laflamme sums up the project’s mindset with a clear long-term promise:

“Combined with my personal commitment over the next 10 years, our future is already well secured.”

Concretely, this launch is built on three strengths:

• An already-established community, ready to jump in the moment the gates open (277,520 Discord users on 01/13/2025 at 12:04)
• Secured funding that avoids the classic post-launch slowdowns
• A long-term vision, with content meant to evolve over multiple years

With this foundation, Hypixel Studios is sending a simple message: Hytale isn’t “just another test”—it’s a project built to last.

And given the original trailer’s track record (viewed tens of millions of times), the hype isn’t a surprise—it simply turned into a tidal wave at launch.

Dropped by Riot, rebooted almost from scratch: Hytale’s rebirth

Hytale’s story feels like a resurrection. Announced in 2018, the game then went through a chaotic period after its acquisition—and later abandonment—by Riot Games. Last November, the rights were reportedly sold back to its creator, with the stated goal of giving the project a real chance to reach the finish line.

But returning home wasn’t just a formality. The studio says it had to restart development almost from zero, after spending years rebuilding the engine at the expense of the game itself.

“The game was barely playable. The foundations were broken… but we fixed everything in a few weeks.”

This rapid relaunch isn’t just a fun anecdote—it also explains why Hypixel is putting so much emphasis on what comes next. The studio now wants to move fast, stabilize early access, then expand content on a multi-year trajectory.

A massive launch: up to one million players expected in the first hours

Hypixel Studios is bracing for historic traffic. Based on estimates shared by the team, up to one million players could log in very quickly after servers open. To avoid a chaotic launch, the studio says it has anticipated peak loads and strengthened its infrastructure.

If you’re planning to play on day one, the idea is simple: get ready ahead of time (account, launcher, updates), and expect a very crowded first day. This kind of start is often the ultimate stress test for an online game… and the clearest proof of how big the ожид wait really is.

A strengthened team and a 10-year vision to compete with Minecraft

With more than 50 full-time developers and a roadmap announced over a decade, Hytale wants to avoid the common fate of online games that fade after a few months. The stated goal: build an evolving universe, updated regularly, with real room for creation.

And that’s where the game tries to stand apart: Hytale aims to blend exploration, building, adventure, and scripting in a procedural world. Hypixel’s experience (one of the largest Minecraft servers in the world) serves as the foundation, with an explicit promise: give as much power to creators as to solo or multiplayer players.

Launching today after a chaotic development cycle, Hytale is already pulling off a feat: coming back stronger than ever, with record pre-orders, a refreshed team, and long-term ambition that could make it the next big sandbox phenomenon.

And you—are you jumping into Hytale today? Tell us in the comments.

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Source Hytale founder on X

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