Hytale boss Simon Collins-Laflamme has called the Minecraft-like’s recent early access launch “the most challenging but rewarding experience” of his life.
Hytale started development in 2015 and soon began garnering a lot of attention. However, Riot Games, which acquired Hytale developer Hypixel Studios in 2020, opted to cancel the project last June. Thankfully, though, Hytale was saved when Hypixel co-founder Collins-Laflamme successfully re-acquired the game from Riot at the end of last year. Then, seven days ago, and after years of waiting, Hytale finally released in early access.
Reflecting on the past week, Collins-Laflamme has now thanked the community for its support, and offered a “big thank you” to the “rebuilt Hytale team” for trusting him to get the game “to the finish line” in just a few months.
“I haven’t been involved with Hytale development for many years and coming back was a big unknown and risk for me, and my family,” Collins-Laflamme wrote on social media. “I fully trusted the people and it just worked. Amazing team, every single one made a big difference.”
Ahead of Hytale’s release, Hypixel announced its Minecraft-alike had already sold enough copies to fund the next two years of development. “Combined with my personal commitment of ten years,” Collins-Laflamme said at the time, “we are looking very strong for the future.”
If you’re currently playing Hytale, but need a little point in the right direction, be sure to check out our guides. Here’s how to get and upgrade the Backpack in Hytale, to get you started.
Or, if you are unsure if Hytale is for you, our Matt has already given it a shot. “This week’s early access release feels like a splendid start; a flexible, well-featured – and already enjoyable – foundation with plenty of polish and attention to detail,” he wrote in Eurogamer’s Hytale Now Playing feature.
