After a turbulent development history, which includes a cancellation and a studio buy-back, Hytale is officially coming to early access on Jan. 13, 2026, and the sandbox fans finally have a date to play the game.
“This is true early access, meaning it’s still very much unfinished and broken, but you have my and the team’s commitment to make Hytale the game we’ve always wanted it to be. The game isn’t good yet; eventually, it will be. If you don’t feel comfortable pre-ordering or participating in Early Access, please don’t,” Simon Collins-Laflamme, Hypixel co-founder, said on X (formerly Twitter).
The game’s pre-orders will open on Dec. 13, 2025. The developers acknowledge that the early access build may leave a rough first impression, but they’re choosing to put the game in players’ hands sooner and refine it together with the community.
The return to early access comes just weeks after the original founders reacquired Hytale’s rights from Riot Games. With that acquisition, Hypixel reinstated development by rehiring most of its original developers, returning to the game’s legacy engine to streamline and accelerate progress toward a playable version for the players.
According to the co-founder, modding and creative tools are in a “decent state,” not yet where the team wants them long term, but sufficiently functional for players who want to start creating content from day one. In Simon’s words, “This is a good moment for modders, server owners, and creators to step in early!” emphasizing that these early contributors will play a significant role in shaping the future of the game.
What to expect in Hytale early access
At early access release, players can expect Exploration mode with a variety of things to explore, like caves, biomes, dungeons, creatures, and environments. Some of them have already been showcased on YouTube. There is also the Creative mode, which gives players the sandbox building tools for construction, crafting, and world-building, allowing them to personalize their worlds to tell their stories to the players.
There is also a big focus on modding and community support from the developers to give tools for creators from day one, plus support for custom servers, mods, and community-driven content. Mini-games and full adventure mode are slated for future updates and won’t be playable with the early access update.
For many fans, this marks the end of a nearly decade-long wait. Hytale began life in 2015, gained major attention as a potential Minecraft-style sandbox + RPG, but saw its development derailed when Riot Games cancelled the project earlier.
The decision to use the legacy engine and release early suggests Hypixel is prioritizing playability and progress over perfection, trusting players to shape the game’s future.
For players and modders, this early access allows shaping Hytale from the ground up. While for the developer, it’s a chance to rebuild trust, deliver on long-standing promises, and grow the game together with its community.
