After years of anticipation, a dramatic cancellation, and a miraculous revival, the block-building RPG Hytale has finally launched into Early Access. But as lead developer Simon Collins-Laflamme predicted, the demand has been staggering, leading to a "bumpy" but hopeful start for what many are calling a potential successor to Minecraft.
The servers officially went live on January 13 at 7 a.m. PST, and the surge was immediate. Collins-Laflamme had braced his team for over 1 million players on day one, and early indicators suggest he was right. The game, priced at $19.99 for its Starter Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux, has captivated a community that refused to let it fade away.
“The demand has exceeded our expectations, which means launch week will be bumpy, but everyone will get in,” stated the development team at Hypixel Studios in a candid blog post ahead of the launch. This sentiment has defined the first days: short login queues and patience from fans who are just thrilled the game is finally playable.
A Phoenix From the Ashes: Hytale’s Turbulent Journey to Release
This Early Access launch marks nothing short of a turnaround for the ages. The project’s path has been fraught with uncertainty since its high-profile acquisition by Riot Games in 2020. Hopes were dashed in June 2025 when Riot announced the project's cancellation.
However, in a move that rallied the fanbase, the original founders fought back. They reacquired the rights to Hytale and Hypixel Studios later that year for an undisclosed sum. By November 2025, using prior builds, the team was already working furiously toward this Early Access goal.
Staying true to their word, the studio delivered Early Access a mere eight weeks after re-announcing the revived project. This swift execution has built significant goodwill within the community, making initial server strains more forgivable in the eyes of eager players.
Launch Day Reality: Queues, Patience, and a Supportive Community
Despite the warnings, the launch has been manageable. Reports from forums and Reddit highlight short login queues rather than catastrophic crashes. The mood among players is one of understanding. “I guess we just gotta wait for the servers to calm down,” remarked one player on social media, capturing the prevailing patient optimism.
For Hypixel Studios, this is just the foundation. The team has already signaled that patches for bugs and crashes are in the works, with updates planned for the “pre-release patchline” as fixes are finalized. The Early Access period is framed not as a finished product, but as the starting point of a shared journey with the community to shape the final game.
What’s Next for Hytale?
The launch is the first step in a long roadmap. As a sandbox RPG blending adventure, creativity, and modding support, Hytale’s potential in Early Access is vast. The developers have a chance to iterate based on direct player feedback, balancing and expanding the game's systems in real-time.
For now, the message from the developers is clear: thank you for the overwhelming support, bear with us, and welcome to the beginning of Hytale's new era. The servers may be rocky, but the dream—nurtured by both its creators and its fans—is finally, playably real.