Riot Games Shuts Down Their Ambitious “Minecraft Killer” Hytale After 7 Years of Development
Riot Games Announces the Closure of Hytale Project
After a decade of development, Riot Games has officially announced the discontinuation of Hytale, the highly anticipated game dubbed as the “Minecraft killer.” Despite the excitement surrounding its initial reveal in 2018, the project has yet to deliver a playable version, leading to its eventual shutdown.
The Origin and Development of Hytale
Hytale was developed by Hypixel Studios, a team renowned for operating one of the most popular Minecraft servers featuring mini-games. In 2018, Riot Games took notice of the project, investing funds and launching a major marketing campaign to support its growth. The game’s first and only trailer garnered an impressive 61 million views, fueling hope among fans and industry insiders alike.
Why the Project Was Phased Out
Recently, co-founder of Hypixel Studios, known by the pseudonym Noxy, announced that development on Hytale has come to an end. The studio is winding down operations, but Noxy emphasized that neither Hypixel Studios nor Riot Games wanted this outcome. The core issue was that the team realized they couldn’t fulfill all the ambitious promises made to players.
Growing Ambitions and Reboots
Throughout the years, the development team’s ambitions only grew. Notably, in 2022, they attempted a complete overhaul of the project, and in 2023, Hytale transitioned to a new game engine. Despite these efforts, progress stalled, and the project ultimately reached an impasse.
The Challenges and Decisions
Developers faced a tough choice: compromise on the game’s scope or technical aspects, or stay true to their original vision. They believed that any deviation from their initial concept would diminish what made Hytale unique and the experience they wanted to create. As Noxy explained, “Any of those options would mean abandoning what made Hytale special. It wouldn’t be the game we envisioned or the game you deserve.”
Impact on the Gaming Community
Despite the project’s closure, Noxy reassured fans that Hypixel Studios’ shutdown does not affect the ongoing operation of the Hypixel Minecraft server. Riot Games compensated the developers accordingly, and they remain committed to future projects.
What’s Next for Riot Games
While Hytale’s story has concluded, Riot continues to explore new ventures, including developing an MMORPG set in the League of Legends universe. Riot’s founder has even expressed hope that this upcoming game might be released before humans embark on a mission to Mars.
Alex "Pixel" Petrov
Gaming journalist & industry insider. Covers the latest game releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes dev stories. Knows every Easter egg, patch note, and upcoming title worth hyping. Always gaming, always analyzing.