Riot Games has concluded its plan of shutting down Hypixel Studios, the forces responsible for the long-delayed sandbox title Hytale. The project went into silence after almost 10 years of no playable release and development.
The plan for the closure was stated by CEO Aaron “Noxy” Donaghey, stating the studio will close down operations over the next few months. Riot acquired Hypixel in 2020, betting on its potential to deliver a Minecraft competitor, but their bet never paid off.
“After years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn’t bringHytaleto life in a way that truly delivered on its promise,“ says Donaghey in apost on X. ”This is a painful decision. We still believe inHytale. We believe in the team and are forever grateful to every member, past or present, who poured their love into the game.“
Hytale, created by veterans of a popular Minecraft server network, began life in 2015. It had a flashy trailer and buzzed three years after it was founded. In 2021, a beta was expected. It never came. Instead, a mid-development engine switch stalled everything.
“Our technical ambitions grew more complex, and even after a major reboot of the game engine, the team found that Hytale still wasn’t as far along as it needed to be,“ says Donaghey. ”It became clear we’d need a lot more time to get it to a place where it could support the ambitious vision for the game.“
The Hypixel Minecraft server runs independently and will not be affected, as it has been confirmed that it lives on.
Donaghey expressed appreciation to Riot despite the shutdown. He claims staff are receiving generous severance and support to transition forward. But for Hypixel Studios, the game is over before it ever truly began.
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