After a tumultuous period under Riot Games ownership, the enterprising sandbox RPG Hytale is returning to its roots with an early access launch tomorrow, January 13, 2026. The game, initially unveiled in 2018 to widespread acclaim, faced notable development setbacks following its 2020 acquisition, prompting a full reversal of ownership back to original creator Simon Collins-Laflamme and Hypixel Studios in November. Collins-Laflamme has openly detailed the extensive challenges in rescuing the project-which he says was broken in nearly every aspect-and is now bracing for a large player base while together committing to a long road of revitalization.
Hytale, the highly anticipated sandbox role-playing game, is preparing for its early access launch tomorrow, and developer Hypixel Studios is bracing for a potentially massive influx of players.
Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hytale, predicted a launch day peak of one million players in a post on X/Twitter, urging fans to download the launcher today, January 12, 2026, and log in to “help reduce launch day stress significantly.” The game’s blend of creative freedom and RPG elements has generated considerable buzz within the gaming community.
The anticipation surrounding Hytale stems from its ambitious scope and visually striking trailers, which have garnered millions of views. The game’s potential success is further fueled by a recent change in ownership that has returned the project to its original creator.
In November, Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends, announced it had sold the rights to Hytale back to Collins-Laflamme after acquiring the game in 2020. Riot stated that after evaluating “a number of options,” transferring ownership back to Collins-Laflamme “offers players the best chance to eventually enjoy a revised version of the game they’ve been waiting for.”
Development of Hytale had stalled following its acquisition by Riot, but Collins-Laflamme has since focused on revitalizing the project. He confirmed the re-hiring of over 30 developers who previously worked on the game.
Hytale was originally unveiled in December 2018 with a trailer that has since amassed over 61 million views on YouTube. The initial description positioned Hytale as:
“Hytale combines the breadth of a sandbox with the depth of a role-playing game, immersing players in a procedurally generated world where crumbling towers and deep dungeons promise great rewards throughout their adventures. Hytale supports everything from block-by-block building to scripting and minigame creation, and offers powerful yet easy-to-use tools.”
The enthusiasm for Hytale is also rooted in the experience of its developers, who are co-founders of Hypixel, one of the most influential Minecraft servers globally. Riot’s initial investment and acquisition of the studio paved the way for the project’s development, and now it’s poised to move forward independently.
“Hytale and Hypixel Studios are once again independent, and we’re returning to the original vision of the 2018 trailer,” Collins-Laflamme said in a November statement. “As we’ve reverted to an earlier version of the game that’s now used for prototyping, some parts of the game will appear dated, but momentum is strong and we’re moving quickly to turn it into the game we’ve all been dreaming of.”
“The creative and modding tools are in good shape, but aren’t where we want them long-term. That said, they’re ready for players who want to start creating content on day one. It’s a great time for modders, server owners, and creators to get their hands dirty! They will play a vital role in the future of Hytale.”
“Since the cancellation, we’ve rehired over 40 former and new team members, bringing the total to 50. Rescuing a game from a AAA studio and preparing an early access launch in a matter of weeks is unusual, and players will see the progress as it happens.”
“If you’re not comfortable backing it, don’t. This is a real early access, meaning it’s still very unfinished and will be buggy for a while, but you have my and the team’s commitment to make Hytale the game we’ve always wanted it to be. The first impression will be rough, but what matters is the road ahead.”
We’re moving fast to turn it into the game we’ve all been dreaming of
In a statement released in late 2025, Collins-Laflamme expressed his “frustration” with the previous direction of Hytale’s development: “The game has incredible potential, but four years of engineering were spent rebuilding the engine instead of gameplay features. That leaves us four years behind and a lot to catch up on, and that rebuilt engine will never be used.”
“When you don’t invest in gameplay, you don’t just lose time. You lose momentum, iteration, and feedback. Now the focus needs to be on gameplay first and rebuilding trust by shipping things at a rapid pace.”
“It’s a genuine miracle we were able to save Hytale. It was barely playable. All the core systems were broken. The camera, movement, combat, crafting, building, game loop, sounds, rendering… Everything, absolutely everything was wrong.”
“It should have taken years to fix, but we got the game playable and fun in a matter of weeks. And now, instead of slowing down or celebrating the launch, we have to push even harder for years to make up for lost time. So yes, I’m angry. And I’m turning that anger into focus and execution. I’m putting more money, more time, and personal sacrifices into delivering the game this vision deserves.”
