What happened to Minecraft rival Hytale? Riot cancels the game and shuts studio after 10 years in development
What began as a gutsy attempt to rival Minecraft, fueled by nearly a decade of ambition, investment, and hype, has officially come to an end as
Riot Games
announced the cancellation of
Hytale
. Its long-awaited
sandbox RPG
, developed by
Hypixel Studios
, will begin winding down the studio in the coming months. Despite years of effort and high expectations, developers say they could not deliver the game they had envisioned without compromising its core identity.
The game, in development since 2015 and fully backed by Riot since its acquisition in 2020, was intended to blend creative block-building with deep RPG mechanics and robust modding tools .
According to a post by co-founder and CEO Aaron Donaghey (aka 'Noxy'), despite ambitious vision and a major engine reboot, the team concluded the project was 'still not as far along as it needed to be' after ten years of development.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
While options like scaling back scope, changing timelines, or narrowing focus were considered, each compromise risked undermining the essence of what made Hytale unique, denying the experience the developers believed players deserved.
Donaghey expressed gratitude to Riot for continued support, including efforts to secure external investment to sustain the project, and for providing generous severance and resources to the team during this transition.
Live Events
'Game development is brutally hard,' he reflected, admitting the evolving genre and rising technical ambitions ultimately exceeded feasible boundaries.
Why Hytale Was Cancelled?
After years of evolving game scope and restarting the engine, first in C#, then ported to C++, Hytale became too large and costly to complete as envisioned.
Developers rejected the compromise. Narrowing features or trimming timelines would have, in their view, diluted the soul of Hytale, making it unrecognizable from its original pitch.
As competing sandbox and rival modding platforms advanced, the expectations for Hytale soared. Even with Riot's aid, the game failed to keep up structurally and creatively.
Background & Legacy
Originally funded by Riot in 2015 and fully acquired by 2020, Hytale generated massive excitement with its debut trailer, garnering over 31 million views within a month.
It promised procedurally generated fantasy biomes, deep RPG elements, modding frameworks, cinematic tools, and support for player-created content.
Despite this promise, development remained in pre‑beta stages by mid-2024, when the team undertook a full engine migration that delayed progress.
By June 2025, the decision to cancel was made, in part because the evolving scope and resources needed kept growing while the game's realization lagged far behind its initial promise.
Riot reportedly laid off around 150
Hypixel
employees as a result. Hypixel's popular Minecraft minigame server remains operational, its separately managed entity will continue unaffected.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Archana Puran Singh recalls shooting for Mohabbatein as she poses with Yash Raj's statue in Switzerland; says ‘We would talk for hours'
Archana Puran Singh recently took a nostalgic trip down memory lane during her family holiday in Switzerland, as she visited the statue of the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra. The veteran actress, who worked with him in Mohabbatein, got emotional as she remembered their time together on set. Sharing her heartfelt memories, Archana said, 'During the shooting of Mohabbatein, Yash ji and I would talk for hours. He would narrate how Silsila was shot and share several anecdotes. Yashji, you are very much in our memories and it's such an honour to have worked with you. What a tribute to him in Switzerland as he shot so many films here. He has made Switzerland famous in India. I am feeling very emotional right now because I miss him. ' Her husband, actor-director Parmeet Sethi , also recalled his special bond with the filmmaker. 'I did two debuts with Yashji. My first film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and then I made my debut as a director with Badmaash Company. He is my Godfather and wherever you are…' he said, with visible emotion. Their son, Ayushmaan, also shared a sweet memory from his childhood. 'I was very small and I remember meeting him very clearly. And he looks exactly the same in this statue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรด CFDs ด้วยเทคโนโลยีเทรดสุดล้ำ และ รวดเร็วกว่า IC Markets สมัคร Undo They have made it perfectly.' Archana mentioned that despite visiting Switzerland several times before, this was the first time they made a point to visit Yash Chopra's statue. The family is currently enjoying a long holiday in Switzerland and has been sharing glimpses of their trip through vlogs — featuring everything from snow fights and shopping to adventure sports and scenic moments. Archana, who is currently seen in The Great Indian Kapil Show, added a touch of warmth and nostalgia to her travels, paying tribute to one of Bollywood's greatest visionaries in a heartfelt way.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Panchayat' Season 4 X Review: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta's series is called 'emotional and sharp' as Manju Devi vs Kranti Devi heats up Phulera
The much-loved series 'Panchayat' is back with its fourth season, starring Jitendra Kumar , Neena Gupta , and the whole Phulera gang. Released at midnight on June 24, the new season has already caught the attention of many binge-watchers. Fans have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the latest episodes, making it clear that 'Panchayat' still holds a special place in their hearts. Politics takes centre stage This season dives straight into the local elections, setting up a face-off between Manju Devi and Kranti Devi. It's not just about politics, though—it's about people, emotions, and village life in its rawest form. One fan wrote, 'Binged the entire season, and I must say, #Panchayat4 remains as relatable and heartwarming as its predecessors. ❤️ This season skillfully blends comedy, emotion, and intense drama, as the story revolves around the elections in Phulera. It's MANJU DEVI VS KRANTI DEVI.. and it beautifully captures the grassroots political machinery in all its chaotic glory… The silences, the unspoken words — they stay with you. ✨' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Binge-worthy, but opinions split Many fans raced through all episodes in one go. 'Good night, binge watched #panchayatseason4' Another post read, 'Binged #panchayat season 4 on @PrimeVideoIN , I'm positive i won't be able to sleep after what is just witnessed, subtle, Desi yet entertainment overdose, hatsoff to all the people behind this✌️ can't wait for season 5 already 😭' But not everyone was fully satisfied this time around, A viewer wrote, 'Finished #panchayatseason4, dragged storyline, less comedy,more emotional as compared to previous seasons,but still fav.🤩(Why endings like these every season😏)#PanchayatOnPrime' More emotion, less humour While the earlier seasons struck a perfect balance between laughs and emotional depth, this season leans more on the emotional side. Some fans appreciated this, calling the show a complete cinematic experience. '#PanchayatSeason4 is not just a show it's an institution of cinema. A masterclass in storytelling, screenplay & emotion. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry every frame speaks. Some victories don't bring joy. Some victories hurt more than defeat. That's real. That's #Panchayat' One particular episode stood out for many, 'Panchayat Season 4 peaks at "Ashirvaad" (Episode 5). Not as good as previous seasons. Politics is the major plot, can't help but compare with previous seasons. @malikfeb is always a treat to watch ❤️' Some criticism from loyal fans Even the most loyal viewers had a few complaints. They noticed the slower pace, less comedy, and slightly stretched plot. '#panchayatseason4 is a step up but feels stretched with less humor. The love angle adds charm but lacks depth. Prahlad's role shows promise & Pradhan's arc could be key next season. A tighter screenplay is needed else dragging it further may do more harm than good.' Still a favourite for many Despite the minor drawbacks, the love for 'Panchayat' remains strong. The simple storytelling, loveable characters, and slice-of-life charm still connect with audiences. 'Hi @TheViralFever, Panchayat Season 4 once again proves why Panchayat is a storytelling gem. With every episode, it masterfully balances lighthearted village misadventures and deeper emotional undercurrents.🧡Now… Awaiting Season 5✨' The cast that fans have grown to adore returns with their strong performances, Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Sanvikaa, Chandan Roy, Durgesh Kumar , Ashok Pathak, Faisal Malik, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha . Each one continues to bring life to the Phulera village story. Etimes Review According to Etimes review, the season may not be as fresh as before. While it keeps its original mood and format, the review points out that there's a lack of story progression. It reads, 'While 'Panchayat' still carries its signature charm and simplicity, it's clear the new season treads familiar ground. The show continues its format of building entire episodes around small incidents, often without contributing to a larger narrative arc… Creative fatigue shows, especially in the fifth episode featuring Manju Devi's father—a subplot that adds absolutely nothing to the story…' Panchayat Season 4 Trailer: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy and Sanvikaa Starrer Panchayat Season 4 Official Trailer
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Drug case: Srikanth produced before a Magistrate, remanded to judicial custody till July 7
South Indian film actor Srikanth (46), who has appeared in over 54 films, including several in Telugu and Malayalam, was arrested on Monday by the Greater Chennai Police in connection with a narcotics case, police said. The arrest followed the detention of T. Prasad, a functionary of the AIADMK IT wing, who is suspected of having supplied the banned substance to the actor. During interrogation, police gathered evidence pointing to Actor Srikanth's alleged involvement in the drug network. According to officials, Tamil actor Shrikanth was produced before a Magistrate at the Magistrate's residence. They said the actor has been remanded to judicial custody until July 7, 2025, following his appearance. Shrikanth's advocate, Vignesh Ramanadhan, represented him during the proceedings. Earlier, he was taken to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for a medical examination as part of the procedure. Following this, Actor Srikanth was produced before Magistrate Dhayalan of the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Egmore. The hearing took place at the magistrate's residence in the Judicial Officers' Quarters, which is located in the Egmore area of Chennai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pätkiikö muisti? Et ole ainut - Tämä supertuote auttaa huomattavasti Lectinect Aivot Saa tarjous Undo Actor Srikanth was brought to the Nungambakkam Police Station on Monday afternoon and interrogated for more than nine hours. During this time, a blood sample was collected and tested, with the results confirming the presence of the narcotic substance in his system. Srikanth made his acting debut in 1999 with K Balachander's TV show Jannal--Marabu Kavithaigal. In 2002, he debuted on the silver screen with the Tamil film Roja Kootam. In April, Malayalam actors Shine Tom Chacko and Sreenath Bhasi were questioned by excise officials in a drug seizure probe. The drugs were discovered in the possession of a woman, who allegedly told the excise authorities that she had consumed drugs alongside both Chacko and Bhasi. Based on her statement, the excise department issued notices to the actors, prompting their appearance for questioning.
