Hypixel Studios reveals the shutdown and discontinuation of its Minecraft-inspired game, Hytale

Hypixel Studios, owned by Riot Games, is set to close its operations in the coming months, effectively ending the development of the long-anticipated game, Hytale.

In an announcement, Hypixel Studios co-founder Aaron 'Noxy' Donaghey described the closure as "a painful decision" but necessary after exploring every possible direction.

Announced in 2018, Hytale was envisioned as a sandbox game similar to Minecraft, infused with RPG elements, developed by the creators of the popular Hypixel server. The game's trailer garnered significant attention, racking up 61 million views.

The studio emphasized that Riot would support its staff with "generous severance and resources" to assist them in transitioning to new opportunities.

The cancellation stemmed from the "ambitious vision" for Hytale demanding more time than could be afforded. The statement detailed the intensive challenges of game development, stating, "Our technical ambitions grew more complex, and even after a major reboot of the game engine, the project hadn't progressed enough to meet our expectations."

Efforts to cut down the scope or adjust timelines were considered but ultimately rejected as they would compromise the game's unique essence. The developers concluded that these changes would stray too far from their initial vision of Hytale.

Hypixel Studios became a part of Riot in April 2020 after the latter had previously invested in the project. At that time, a public release of Hytale was anticipated for 2021.

The statement expressed gratitude toward Riot for their support and efforts to secure further investments for Hytale. "They backed us in seeking investors or acquirers who could continue advancing Hytale's development."

The existing Hypixel server on Minecraft will remain operational despite the studio's closure.