Tag: Hytale

  • Hytale Modding Contest: Win $100K for NPCs and Biomes

    Hytale Modding Contest: Win $100K for NPCs and Biomes

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hytale has launched the “New Worlds Modding Contest” in partnership with CurseForge, offering a total prize pool of $100,000 for mod creators.
    2. The contest aims to inspire the development of new assets, NPCs, creatures, biomes, and bosses within Hytale, reflecting the game’s growing community.
    3. The contest features three categories: WorldGen V2, NPCs, and Experiences, with each category having a prize of $27,000 distributed among the top contenders.
    4. Community voting will determine five additional winners, each receiving $2,000 for the mods that earn the most votes.
    5. Hypixel Studios plans to introduce surprise mid-contest rewards, resulting in a total of 65 winners across various categories.

    Hytale has partnered with the modding platform CurseForge, operated by Overwolf, to kick off a modding competition called the “Hytale New Worlds Modding Contest.” This contest features a generous prize pool of $100,000, which will be awarded to creators who push the limits of what’s achievable in Hytale.

    Goals of the Contest

    The primary goal of the Hytale New Worlds Modding Contest is to inspire players to develop new assets, NPCs, creatures, biomes, or bosses. Since Hytale’s early access launch on January 13, the community has rapidly expanded, boasting over 2 million downloads and more than 5,000 mods on CurseForge, despite a rocky development journey and almost being put on hold by Riot Games.

    Simon Collins-Laflamme, the CEO of Hypixel Studios, shared his thoughts:

    “Games sustain themselves over time because of their communities, and the creators of Hytale have shown us this since the Early Access launch. Hypixel Studios is investing $100,000 in this contest as just the beginning of something much larger to acknowledge and reward those who are shaping the future of Hytale.”

    Community Impact

    Uri Marchand, CEO and co-founder of Overwolf, also expressed his excitement, saying:

    “The Hytale modding community has already demonstrated its potential with over 5,000 mods created and 20 million mods downloaded. This contest is our way of supporting those creators, giving them a $100,000 incentive to explore World Gen NPCs and Experiences further than we ever thought possible.”

    To mark this achievement, Hytale has divided its New Worlds Modding Contest into three categories, each with a total prize of $27,000.

    The first category, WorldGen V2, encourages modders to design custom worlds featuring new regions, biomes, and zones utilizing the game’s visual node editor.

    Categories and Prizes

    In the NPCs category, modders are invited to create new NPCs, bosses, and enemies or enhance existing creatures with fresh behavior patterns.

    The final category, Experiences, allows modders to experiment with the game to develop exciting new ways to experience Hytale, like minigames, heightened challenges, or revamped gameplay systems with additional skill trees and upgrade options.

    Each category divides the $27,000 prize pool as follows: $10,000 for first place, $7,500 for second, $2,500 for third, and $1,000 for those placing fourth to tenth.

    However, the Hytale New Worlds Modding Contest isn’t stopping there. Once the finalist mods are determined, the community will vote for their favorites across all categories. The five mods that receive the most community votes will each earn $2,000.

    To enhance the prize offerings, Hypixel Studios will also introduce three surprise mid-contest rewards during the submission phase, granting $300 to ten qualifying mods. In total, this will create 65 winners across various categories, providing modders from all backgrounds the opportunity to win substantial prizes.

    Hytale has been in development since 2015 and was launched into early access in mid-January 2026. It is available on Windows, Linux, and macOS, with some users even reporting success on Valve’s Steam Deck using Linux installers, despite the game not being officially listed on the Steam storefront.

    Hytale Website, CurseForge Website

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  • Hytale Update 3 Released by Hypixel Studios; Features May Change

    Hytale Update 3 Released by Hypixel Studios; Features May Change

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hytale’s early access launched on January 13, with regular updates and enhancements being made by Hypixel Studios to improve player experience.
    2. The third significant update introduced features like better notifications for bed use, improved UI navigation, and upgrades to inventory management and construction.
    3. Lead developer Collins-Laflamme advises players not to get too attached to the game’s current state, as gameplay mechanics will change significantly over the next year.
    4. Player feedback is crucial, and the studio is focusing on quick fixes for immediate issues, while also considering long-term changes.
    5. Upcoming quality-of-life improvements include the addition of infinite water, which may later be adjusted as the game’s systems evolve.

    Ever since Hytale opened its early access on January 13, fans have embraced the nostalgic yet innovative sandbox game. Hypixel Studios is actively maintaining the excitement by delivering regular updates, bug fixes, new features, and enhancements to improve player experience as they prepare for a complete launch. Nevertheless, some of these enhancements are just temporary fixes that may be scaled down when the game fully releases.

    Recent Updates

    With Hytale being available for only a month, the third significant update has already been released. This update includes features like better notifications when players use beds, improvements in UI navigation, and upgrades to inventory management and construction, which have been highly requested by the community.

    Developer Insights

    However, lead developer Collins-Laflamme warns players not to get too attached to Hytale’s current state or its features, as more updates are coming soon. He mentioned that the gameplay mechanics of Hytale will be quite different a year from now.

    In a recent community message shared on X, Collins-Laflamme stated, “The way you play the game is going to look very different a year from now.” Hypixel Studios is attentively taking player feedback into account to better understand what issues need to be prioritized.

    Future Changes

    Collins-Laflamme elaborated in his post, “We’re currently working on many changes, and thanks to all your feedback and suggestions, we have a much better idea of what to prioritize.” The studio is now concentrating on issues that are “quick fixes that alleviate real pain points today, even if they aren’t the long-term solution.”

    One noticeable upcoming quality-of-life improvement is the introduction of infinite water. The lead developer explained:

    “Infinite water is likely to be added in an upcoming update. Carrying buckets back and forth to fill a pond is boring, and draining rivers and lakes doesn’t look appealing either. However, water might become a valuable resource in future systems, so an infinite supply may not be permanent. But for now, it’ll make your life a lot easier.”

    As Hytale evolves, water may play a crucial role in more extensive mechanics such as farming and crafting, which could make the concept of infinite water seem out of place down the line.

    Collins-Laflamme added, “As the game’s systems deepen, some of these early quality-of-life improvements will need adjustments, and when that happens, we’ll strive to replace them with something equally beneficial through genuine gameplay.”

    Hytale is available to play on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Although it is not listed on the Steam storefront, it can be downloaded directly and played on the Steam Deck using the Linux launcher.

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  • Teen Modder Creates All-in-One Emulator for Hytale and More

    Teen Modder Creates All-in-One Emulator for Hytale and More

    Key Takeaways

    1. Windows 95 in Hytale: Young modder Sadat Sahib successfully booted and ran Windows 95 within the game Hytale.

    2. Hytale’s Popularity: Launched on January 13, 2026, Hytale has quickly become popular as a successor to Minecraft, attracting creative modders.

    3. Recognition from Hypixel Studios: Sahib’s achievement gained attention from Hypixel Studios co-founder Philippe Touchette, highlighting the rapid advancements in modding.

    4. Emulation of Classic Games: Sahib also ran Minecraft Classic 0.30 and Doom within Hytale, showcasing his skills in manipulating game data and rendering.

    5. Versatile Modding Tools: Hytale’s tools allow for innovative creations, as demonstrated by Sahib’s ability to run multiple classic games and operating systems within the game environment.

    A young modder has successfully booted Windows 95 and run it within Hytale, a game released earlier this year. The modder, Sadat Sahib, is just 15 years old and is known online as iamcxv7.

    Hytale’s Popularity

    Hytale was launched on January 13, 2026, and has quickly gained fame as the spiritual RPG successor to Minecraft, which is still in early access. Despite this, modders like iamcxv7 continue to explore the limits of the game. He has even managed to run Minecraft inside Hytale, and, in a twist reminiscent of Inception, he has also run Hytale within Hytale.

    Showcasing Windows 95

    Sahib, who refers to himself as a multidisciplinary engineer, shared a video showing Windows 95 functioning smoothly in Hytale, which was shared by the HytaleModding X account. While using the operating system within Hytale looked a bit awkward, he opted for a controller instead of the traditional mouse and keyboard setup.

    This in-game modification effectively emulated Windows 95 without any noticeable glitches, highlighting the versatility of Hytale’s tools for modders and creators who wish to build something unique within the game. He noted that his impressive creation runs on the server, utilizing software rendering.

    Recognition from Hypixel Studios

    His achievement did not go unnoticed; it caught the attention of Hypixel Studios co-founder Philippe Touchette, who remarked, “Hytale modder ran Windows 95 in-game, just 5 days after launch, what the heck is going on lol.”

    Despite this, Sahib continued to experiment with the game. He successfully ran Minecraft Classic 0.30 within Hytale’s world map by manipulating pixel data and using CPU-based 3D rendering, which outputs at a resolution of 320x420p at a relatively stable 35 FPS. He explained:

    “I’m running Minecraft Classic 0.30 entirely on the server with a custom software renderer I wrote from scratch. No GPU, no OpenGL calls—just pure CPU-based 3D rendering. Every frame, I compute the pixels myself and stream them to players through Hytale’s world map system.”

    Emulating Classic Games

    Additionally, Sahib tapped into the long-standing internet meme “Can it run Doom?” and successfully got Doom to run inside Hytale. For those interested in console emulation, he also managed to emulate both the Game Boy and Game Boy Color within Hytale’s world.

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  • Hytale Early Access Hits 1 Million Players in Sandbox RPG Comeback

    Hytale Early Access Hits 1 Million Players in Sandbox RPG Comeback

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hytale’s Early Access launched with over 1 million players on the first day, surpassing developer expectations.
    2. The game is available for PC, Mac, and Linux, with the Starter Edition priced at $19.99.
    3. After a rocky development journey, original founders regained rights to Hytale and worked towards the early access release.
    4. Players experienced some launch day challenges, including short login queues, but remained patient.
    5. Developers are actively working on patches for bugs and crashes to improve the game moving forward.

    Hytale’s Early Access has officially launched, and it’s been a rocky start for sure. The interest and demand have blown past what Hypixel Studios ever imagined. This surge of attention has led the developers to warn fans that while the first week may be bumpy, they’ll strive to ensure everyone can join in the fun.

    Developer Expectations

    Simon Collins-Laflamme, the lead developer of the project, anticipated over 1 million players on the first day. It seems he was right on target, as the game experienced an incredible spike in popularity overnight. The blocky sandbox RPG, often referred to as a Minecraft successor by excited fans, went live at 7 a.m. PST on January 13. It is currently available for PC, Mac, and Linux, with the Starter Edition priced at $19.99.

    A Remarkable Comeback

    This launch feels like a miracle for Hytale and Hypixel Studios after a rocky development journey. In 2020, Riot Games took over the project but canceled it in June 2025. After the cancellation, the original founders regained the rights to Hytale and Hypixel Studios for an undisclosed sum and began working towards an early access release using previous builds in November 2025.

    Quick Turnaround and Expectations

    After several updates and announcements, it seems the team at Hypixel Studios has delivered on their promise of a quick early access launch, just eight weeks after their initial announcement. They shared a blog post outlining what players should expect, stating, “The demand has exceeded our expectations, which means launch week will be bumpy, but everyone will get in.”

    Collins-Laflamme expressed his high hopes for Hytale’s revival, predicting a welcome of “over 1 million players” on launch day, a significant number for the studio that began working with early builds back in November 2025.

    Launch Day Challenges

    Interestingly, Hypixel Studios has managed to navigate the launch day challenges quite well. Players on various forums and Reddit have reported short login queues, but many have remained patient, with one player saying, “I guess we just gotta wait for the servers to calm down.”

    Looking Ahead

    This is just the start for Hypixel Studios as Hytale continues to evolve with upcoming updates. The developers are already on the case, working on patches for bugs and crashes, which will be integrated into the pre-release patchline once they’ve sorted out a good number of fixes.

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  • New Minecraft-Style Sandbox MMO in Early Access: 1M Players Expected

    New Minecraft-Style Sandbox MMO in Early Access: 1M Players Expected

    Key Takeaways

    1. Hytale combines sandbox gameplay with MMO and RPG elements, featuring voxel graphics similar to Minecraft but with enhanced resolution and environments.
    2. The game includes procedurally generated worlds, various zones and biomes, alongside structured content like dungeons, factions, and boss battles.
    3. Multiplayer gameplay is a key aspect, allowing for solo, co-op, and large server experiences, as well as user-generated content and custom game modes.
    4. Hytale is set to enter Early Access on January 13, 2026, with over a million players expected to join at launch, and it will only be available through the official website, not on Steam.
    5. Three editions are available for purchase: Standard Edition ($23.79), Supporter Edition ($41.64), and Founders Edition “Cursebreaker” ($83.29), each offering exclusive cosmetic items.

    Hytale is a eagerly awaited game for fans of Minecraft and MMOs alike. The game is being made by Hypixel, a studio that originated from the well-known Hypixel Minecraft server community. The development started in 2015, and the studio was officially established in 2018. The game showcases a voxel style similar to Minecraft, but with improved resolution and richer environments. Hytale uniquely combines the freedom of a sandbox game with structured MMO and RPG elements.

    Game Features and Mechanics

    The world of Hytale is procedurally generated and includes a variety of zones and biomes while keeping classic sandbox features like gathering, crafting, and building. Moreover, it includes structured content such as dungeons, ancient ruins, factions, and boss battles, which contribute to its strong MMO feel. Multiplayer gameplay is key – besides playing solo or in co-op mode, Hytale will allow for large servers, user-generated content, and custom game modes. Combat is designed to be rich and flexible, including melee and ranged weapons, magic, special skills, and evasion mechanics.

    Important Launch Details

    After more than ten years of development, Hytale is set to enter Early Access today, January 13, 2026, at 3 p.m. UTC. Simon Collins-Laflamme, co-founder and CEO of Hypixel Studios, advised players on X yesterday to download the launcher ahead of time to prevent “launch-day stress.” The developers anticipate that over a million players will join at the launch.

    Hytale is not available on Steam at the moment. Early Access can only be accessed through the official Hytale website. The Standard Edition is priced at $23.79 and includes full Early Access along with the first set of exclusive cosmetic items. The Supporter Edition is available for $41.64, while the Founders Edition, dubbed “Cursebreaker,” costs $83.29, both offering extra exclusive cosmetics.

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  • Hytale Founder Calls Early Access “Frankensteined” Yet Priced at $20

    Hytale Founder Calls Early Access “Frankensteined” Yet Priced at $20

    Key Takeaways

    1. Simon Collins-Laflamme has reassured fans that Hytale is still in development and not fully polished, despite his commitment to the project.
    2. After Riot Games canceled Hytale in June 2025, Collins-Laflamme successfully reacquired the game and studio, re-hiring 30 former developers.
    3. The game is currently using a mixed development build, lacking many game progression mechanics, as the team focuses on establishing a long-term gameplay loop.
    4. The Early Access pricing for Hytale is set at $20 for the base edition, with additional premium editions priced at $30 and $50, emphasizing community engagement over profits.
    5. Collins-Laflamme acknowledges the challenges ahead and encourages fans to understand the situation, promising his dedication to creating a great game regardless of the time it takes.

    Simon Collins-Laflamme, the founder of Hytale and Hypixel Studios, has adjusted fan expectations concerning the early access of the highly anticipated RPG inspired by Minecraft. He emphasized that the game is still not fully polished, even though he has personally committed time and resources to bring it back from a standstill.

    Hytale’s Journey

    The development of Hytale started in 2015 by the team behind Minecraft’s Hypixel servers. After gaining a lot of attention, Riot Games fully acquired the studio in 2020. However, by June 23, 2025, after more than ten years of work, Riot decided to cancel the project and shut down Hypixel Studios.

    Following the cancellation, Collins-Laflamme revealed that he was in talks with Riot to buy back Hytale. Reports suggest that he paid ten times more than the estimated market value to regain control of the studio and the game.

    Recent Updates

    On November 17, Collins-Laflamme shared via X that he had successfully reacquired Hytale, and the original website was back online. The website featured a blog post declaring, “HYTALE IS SAVED,” confirming that he has re-hired 30 former developers and aims to bring back even more.

    Nevertheless, in a comprehensive post on X dated November 22, he stated, “When I say Hytale is not good enough, I genuinely mean it. It’s not some reverse psychology trick!” He explained that the studio is moving away from its cross-platform engine to a “Frankensteined” combination of a four-year-old build and over 300 prototype branches compiled over just a few weeks.

    Game Progression and Pricing

    Collins-Laflamme further elaborated that this new build has “barely any game progression mechanics configured.” However, Hypixel Studios is focused on creating a long-term gameplay loop to ensure that the early access launch remains enjoyable for players.

    The pricing for Hytale’s Early Access has also been announced: the base edition is set at $20, which Collins-Laflamme considers “aggressively low,” aiming to prioritize community engagement over profits. Premium editions, which include cosmetic add-ons, are available for $30 and $50.

    In subsequent updates, Collins-Laflamme acknowledged, “I’m not going to recoup what I put into this game for a long time.” He anticipates that many early access players might label Hytale as “doomed,” but he encouraged longtime fans to grasp the current situation, stating:

    “I hope that people who share the game will explain the situation we are in and how we got here. The one thing I can promise is that the game is owned by someone who cares and understands the situation, and I will do my best to empower my team to make a great game, however long it takes.”

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