According to GameSpot, Hytale has been rescued from cancellation by its original founders just months after Riot Games shut down the project in June. Hypixel co-founders Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette have repurchased the rights and brought back 30 developers who previously worked on the Minecraft-inspired adventure game. The team is abandoning the current Cross-platform Engine build because it’s too far behind and instead reverting to a four-year-old Legacy Engine version to get to early access faster. Early access is expected to last “at least a few years” and will include Exploration Mode, Creative Mode, and modding at launch. The founders have committed to funding the project for 10 years with no outside investors or publishers.
The Development Reset That Actually Makes Sense
Here’s the thing about game development – sometimes moving forward means going backward. The decision to ditch the current engine and return to a four-year-old build sounds crazy on the surface. But it’s actually the smartest move they could make. That legacy build already has working gameplay systems, while the newer version would require years more work just to reach the same point. Basically, they’re choosing progress over perfection, which is exactly what this project needs after a decade in development hell.
Going Independent Might Be Their Secret Weapon
No more Riot Games, no publishers, no investors breathing down their necks. This is pure indie development at scale, and that freedom could be exactly what Hytale needs. When you’re answerable to corporate overlords, every delay becomes a financial crisis. But when the founders are funding it themselves for the long haul? They can actually take the time to get it right. The commitment to 10 years of funding shows they’re playing the long game – something you rarely see in today’s “ship it now, fix it later” gaming landscape.
The Reality of “Rough Edges and All”
Collins-Laflamme’s warning about the game being unpolished is refreshingly honest, but it’s going to test the community’s patience. We’re talking about a game that’s been hyped for years, with fans dreaming of the ultimate Minecraft killer. Now they’re being told they’ll get something incomplete, missing key features like Adventure Mode and minigames. Will players stick around through years of early access development? That’s the billion-dollar question. The modding community could be their saving grace – if they empower creators early, the game might evolve in directions the developers never imagined.
Second Chances in Gaming Are Rare
How many canceled games actually come back from the dead like this? Not many. Most just fade into obscurity while fans mourn what could have been. The fact that Hytale’s original creators managed to buy it back, reassemble the team, and chart a new course is pretty remarkable. It shows how passionate they are about this project, even after all the setbacks. Now the real work begins – delivering on a decade of promises while managing expectations for a community that’s been waiting far too long. Let’s hope this second chance doesn’t go to waste.
