June 24, 2025 – Hypixel Studios has officially announced its closure and the discontinuation of the highly anticipated game, Hytale, which aimed to blend action role-playing elements with the sandbox creativity reminiscent of Minecraft.
The development journey of Hytale predates the 2020 acquisition of Hypixel Studios by Riot Games, the renowned developer behind hits like League of Legends and Valorant. However, despite the excitement and anticipation from fans worldwide, Hypixel Studios has been compelled to make the tough call to halt the project. According to Aaron “Noxy” Donaghey, the CEO of Hypixel, the decision came after the team realized they “could not deliver Hytale in a manner that truly fulfilled the promises made about the game.”
Donaghey elaborated, “As time went on, our vision evolved, and the genre itself progressed, setting increasingly ambitious goals for us. Our technical aspirations grew more intricate, and even after a significant overhaul of the game engine, the team found that Hytale wasn’t progressing as it should have been.” The studio’s shutdown will be a gradual process, unfolding over the next few months, while development activities will cease immediately.
Despite the disappointing news, Donaghey was quick to clarify that he does not hold Riot Games responsible for the outcome. On the contrary, Riot Games has shown remarkable support by offering “generous severance packages” to Hypixel’s employees and actively assisting them in securing new employment opportunities.
The cancellation of Hytale is undoubtedly a setback for the gaming community, especially considering the promising development updates that showcased redesigned biomes, enhanced graphics, and other exciting features. Now, these elements will remain a part of players’ imaginations, a testament to what could have been.
