According to Kotaku, Hypixel announced on Monday that it has acquired the rights to Hytale back from Riot Games after the League of Legends company canceled the project and shut down the developer back in June. The studio released a 16-minute gameplay trailer showing the Minecraft-like game in action, featuring much more fluid combat than Mojang’s blocky classic. Hypixel says this proof-of-life reveal is meant to “break the curse” after months of silence while the team prepares for an Early Access launch. The exact date for Early Access hasn’t been set yet, but the company promises it will be revealed “in the coming days” according to their blog post announcement.
Minecraft but faster
Here’s the thing about Hytale – it looks like what you’d get if Minecraft decided to take combat seriously. The blocky art style is definitely familiar, but the combat shown in that trailer is way more dynamic than anything Mojang has ever delivered. We’re talking third-person action with actual mobility options and what looks like proper weapon variety. Basically, they’re taking the Minecraft formula and flipping the priorities – less about patient building, more about fast-paced action.
Second chance reality check
Now, let’s be real for a minute. This is a game that was literally canceled months ago. The developers buying it back is a great story, but it doesn’t automatically fix whatever problems made Riot pull the plug in the first place. Game development is hard enough when you’re fully funded – doing it after being resurrected from cancellation? That’s an entirely different level of challenge. And let’s not forget this is coming from the same team that’s been working on this thing for years without a release.
Early Access waiting game
So they’re targeting Early Access, which honestly feels like the right move. Get something playable out there, build community momentum, and iterate based on real feedback. But “coming days” for the date announcement feels suspiciously optimistic given the game’s history. I’ve seen enough vaporware comebacks to maintain some healthy skepticism. The trailer looks polished, sure, but trailers always do. The real test will be when players actually get their hands on it and see if the gameplay matches the hype.
Worth the wait?
Look, I want this to succeed. The gaming world could use more ambitious sandbox games, and competition pushes everyone to do better work. But after all these years of development hell, multiple ownership changes, and that brutal cancellation earlier this year, Hytale feels like it‘s carrying a lot of baggage. The combat looks genuinely exciting in that trailer, but is that enough to build an entire game around? We’ll find out soon enough – or at least, that’s what they’re promising.
