Latest news with #HypixelStudios
CNET
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Minecraft Competitor Hytale Shuts Down After a Decade of Development
Hypixel Studios is shutting down development of Hytale, its Minecraft-like sandbox creator game. The studio, a subsidiary of Riot Games, posted a blog post explaining that financial support wasn't enough to buoy the long development time. The game will not be released to the public. Hypixel Studios has long struggled with delivering on the initial vision for Hytale, and Riot Games' investment in the developer couldn't change the fact that the game had a troubled production. A blog post from Hypixel Studios explains that the development team couldn't keep up with the rising bar of contemporary sandbox gaming. "Over time, as our vision evolved and the genre matured around us, the bar kept rising," the post reads. "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." The Hypixel Studios team formed in 2016, taking its name from the wildly-popular Minecraft mod and server it created. An initial investment from Riot Games helped the team broaden its ambition from mod-making to full-fledged game development. Riot Games bought the independent studio in 2020, furthering the gaming juggernaut's investment in the completion of Hytale's development cycle. Hypixel spoke about development difficulties in its post announcing the shuttering of development on Hytale. It's unclear what, if any, role Riot played in stopping work on the game, but Hypixel Studios' blog post mentions that Riot Games helped the developer look for other investors before ultimately choosing to end development of Hytale. "As we begin winding things down, [Riot is] ensuring our team is supported with generous severance and resources to help them find what's next," the post reads. "It's not just thoughtful -- it's human. And it shows a genuine effort to take care of the people behind the work." The Hypixel Minecraft server currently runs completely independently from Hypixel Studios, and will not be affected by the studio closure. The latest games industry layoffs continue a nasty trend, as the past several years have been rife with career instability. Over 10,500 games industry jobs were lost in 2023, with an additional 14,600 disappearing in 2024. The layoffs have continued at Hypixel Studios and elsewhere, with Microsoft rumored to be preparing for a sizable layoff next week, according to The Verge. Representatives for Riot Games and Hypixel Studios did not immediately respond for comment.
Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
NI game studio developing the ‘next Minecraft' announces they are ‘winding down'
Hypixel Studios – headquartered in the Patrick Street area of the city but with staff around the world working remotely – made the announcement on their website on Monday. The studio's CEO Aaron 'Noxy' Donaghey said the decision was 'incredibly tough news' and a 'painful decision'. Hypixel had been working on much-anticipated game Hytale for the last decade, having in 2020 been bought over and backed by Riot Games – one of the biggest gaming companies in the world based in Los Angeles. Billed by many in the industry as a potential successor to megahit game franchise Minecraft, Hytale's reveal trailer back in 2018 currently has 61 million views on YouTube. In his update on the studio's website, Mr Donaghey said: 'This is not the outcome any of us - at Hypixel or at Riot - wanted. "But after years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn't bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise. 'Game development is brutally hard - especially when you're trying to build something original that speaks to a creative, passionate community. Over time, as our vision evolved and the genre matured around us, the bar kept rising. "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. "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. 'We looked at reducing scope, adjusting timelines, and finding new angles to keep moving forward. But each of those options would have meant compromising on what made Hytale special in the first place. "It wouldn't have been the game we set out to make. And it wouldn't have been the game you deserve. 'This is a painful decision. We still believe in Hytale. We believe in the team, and are forever grateful to every member, past or present, who poured their love into the game. "We're also incredibly proud of the work we did: the world we imagined, the risks we took, and the heart we poured into this project. None of that can be taken away. "And just to clarify - this doesn't affect the Hypixel server on Minecraft. It's run separately from Hypixel Studios and will continue to operate as usual. 'We're also deeply grateful to Riot - not just for the years of support and the opportunities they gave us, but for the care they're showing our team during this transition. News Catch Up - Monday 23rd June "They supported us in going out into the world to see if there were investors or acquirers who could continue to help carry Hytale forward. And now, as we begin winding things down, they're ensuring our team is supported with generous severance and resources to help them find what's next. "It's not just thoughtful - it's human. And it shows a genuine effort to take care of the people behind the work.'
The Verge
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Riot is shutting down studio behind its Minecraft-like game
Riot Games is closing the studio behind Hytale, its Minecraft-like game that has been in development for nearly a decade. Hypixel Studios, which Riot acquired in 2020 for an undisclosed sum, is shutting down 'over the next few months,' according to Hypixel CEO Aaron 'Noxy' Donaghey. 'After years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn't bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise,' says Donaghey in a post on X. 'This is a painful decision. We still believe in Hytale. We believe in the team, and are forever grateful to every member, past or present, who poured their love into the game.' Hytale has been in development since 2015, when Hypixel was founded as a small indie studio by members of a popular Minecraft server network. A trailer was released in late 2018, and Hypixel was supposed to deliver a beta of Hytale in 2021 following the Riot acquisition a year prior. That beta never arrived, and in 2021 there was a major change to the game engine powering Hytale that set development back. '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 closure won't affect the Hypixel server on Minecraft, which is run separately from Hypixel Studios. Despite the studio closure, Donaghey says he's 'deeply grateful to Riot' and that the team is being 'supported with generous severance and resources to help them find what's next.'
Express Tribune
14 hours 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
a day 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.
