Riot Games’ Minecraft rival Hytale returns to original creators ahead of early access launch

Riot Games’ long-anticipated sandbox title Hytale, often viewed as the studio’s Minecraft rival, has officially been transferred back to its original creators, Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette. The shift marks a new chapter for the project, which has undergone several changes in direction since its acquisition by Riot in 2020.

Hytale began under Hypixel Studios in 2018 and quickly gained attention for its sandbox structure, role-playing mechanics, and creator-friendly tools. Riot Games later acquired the studio with the goal of supporting a full-scale release while keeping development semi-independent. However, despite early progress updates, the game’s timeline became uncertain.

In early 2025, Riot announced the shutdown of Hypixel Studios and an end to Hytale’s development under its leadership, citing challenges in bringing the project to completion. The decision sparked strong reactions from the community that had followed the game for years.

Re-acquisition and future plans
The original co-founders, who had stepped away from day-to-day development after Riot’s acquisition, opted to purchase the full rights to Hytale without reviewing its current internal state. The deal has now been confirmed, with both sides framing the move as the best path forward for the game and its community.
Collins-Laflamme and Touchette have committed to personally funding the project for the next decade while rebuilding a development team. More than 30 former developers have reportedly returned to continue work on the title.
An early access release is planned “as soon as possible,” according to the latest blog post from the new leadership. The initial version is expected to launch with exploration, creative tools, and modding support, while the game’s adventure mode and minigames will arrive later in the development cycle.