Latest news with #HypixelMinecraft
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Hytale cancelled: Riot Games announce layoffs as Hytale gets cancelled after 7 years of development
Riot Games has officially cancelled development of the long-delayed sandbox RPG Hytale and will begin the process of closing Hypixel Studios, the team behind the project. The decision was confirmed by Hypixel co-founder Aaron "Noxy" Donaghey, who described it as a difficult outcome for both the studio and its parent company. 'This isn't the conclusion we had hoped for,' Donaghey said in a public statement. 'Despite years of iteration, technical overhauls and strategic reviews, we ultimately couldn't find a version of Hytale that delivered on its original promise.' Originally unveiled in 2018, Hytale had been in development for several years before being acquired by Riot in 2020. The game had attracted attention for its blocky aesthetic and sandbox structure reminiscent of Minecraft, but never reached a playable release. Target launch windows in 2021 and later 2023 were repeatedly delayed as the studio reworked its ambitions and engine. Over time, the project grew increasingly complex. As the genre evolved, internal expectations reportedly shifted, and the development roadmap became harder to follow. 'The further we went, the more we realised the scope required significant compromises,' Donaghey said. 'None of those options would have produced the experience we envisioned.' This was the Official Hytale - Announcement Trailer released on the December 13th 2018! 📅 The video has over 61 million views, the community waited years! for the game which sadly will never come! — Scott (ECKOSOLDIER) (@eckoxsoldier) June 23, 2025 Efforts to reduce features, change timelines or scale back the project were ultimately deemed incompatible with the creative identity of the game. According to the studio, Riot also explored the possibility of finding a third-party investor or buyer to continue development, but no viable path was found. Hypixel Studios employed over 70 staff globally, though the exact number of redundancies has not been disclosed. Riot is said to be offering severance packages and transition support to affected employees. While Hytale will not continue, the original Hypixel Minecraft server — operated separately from the studio — will remain online and unaffected. The cancellation arrives amid a challenging period for the games industry. Layoffs across multiple studios have persisted through 2025, continuing a trend from previous years. Donaghey closed by expressing pride in the team's work and gratitude for Riot's support: 'Although we're closing this chapter, the ideas and spirit behind Hytale remain with us. What we built wasn't wasted — the lessons will carry forward.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Hytale canceled as Riot Games confirms developer Hypixel Studios is shutting down
Hytale, the much-awaited sandbox game in development since 2015, has officially been canceled as Hypixel Studios begins the process of shutting down operations over the next few months. The announcement was made by CEO and co-founder Noxy (Aaron Donaghey) on Monday, June 23. Hytale canceled after being in development since 2015 In his statement, Noxy said this was not the outcome anyone at Hypixel or Riot Games wanted. He added that, despite almost a decade of adapting and exploring every possible path, they could not bring Hytale to life in a way that would 'truly' deliver on its promise. According to Xbox Era, the cancellation came after years of high anticipation for the video game, which was initially pitched as a blend of Minecraft-style creativity and structured RPG-style adventures. Hypixel Studios, which was acquired by Riot Games in 2020, had long promoted the game as a genre-defining sandbox experience for PC and Mac. Reports indicated that a playable beta version was in the works, with fans signing up in large numbers. Minecraft Hypixel server not affected Noxy stated that mounting technical challenges, an evolving creative vision, and a maturing sandbox genre raised the bar for what the game needed to be. This ultimately made development unsustainable. The CEO noted that despite a full reboot of the game engine, progress remained slower than necessary. This forced the studio to consider cutting features or compromising on its ambitions. Ultimately, Noxy said, they decided not to continue development since it would neither be the game Hypixel set out to make nor the one players deserved. Despite the studio's closure, he confirmed the popular Hypixel Minecraft server will not be impacted, as it is operated separately from the studio. Riot Games to support affected employees Noxy, aka Aaron, thanked the team and the community, expressing appreciation for Riot Games and the fans who supported Hytale. He praised Riot for taking care of the team with generous severance packages and job assistance. He acknowledged it was a tough decision, and although Hypixel won't be the ones to launch the game, he and the team still believe in 'its message and the great possibilities this genre has.' ALSO READ: Sports play through another dangerously hot day in parts of the US FAQs: What happened to Hytale? Development has officially ended due to technical difficulties and the inability to deliver on the game's full creative vision. Is Hypixel Studios closing? Yes, the studio is beginning the process of winding down operations over the coming months. Will this affect the Hypixel Minecraft server? No. The Hypixel server is operated separately and will continue to run as usual. Why did Hytale fail? According to the studio, technical complexity, rising creative ambitions, and industry shifts made development unsustainable.
