On November 17, 2025, Hypixel Studios officially announced they have fully repurchased Hytale from Riot Games, returning the voxel sandbox adventure game to its independent origins after Riot’s 2020 acquisition.
The landmark blog post titled “HYTALE IS SAVED!” confirms 100% ownership by the original team with no external publishers or investors involved.
Key Details from the Official Hytale Blog
- Riot Games transferred ownership because continuing development “in its existing form” no longer aligned with their goals, but they prioritized what is best for players.
- Hypixel founders Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette personally committed to funding the project for the next 10 years.
- Over 30 former developers who worked on Hytale have already been rehired, with more returning soon. The core leadership includes Simon (vision and daily involvement), Philippe (finances), Kevin Carstens (technical lead), and Patrick Derbic (operations).
Hypixel’s Response and Future Plans
Simon Hypixel confirmed the repurchase in a near-simultaneous post, expressing excitement about “bringing Hytale home.” He was transparent about the game’s current state:
- The project is still rough, messy, and janky with substantial work remaining.
- New plan: Release an early access version as soon as possible instead of pursuing years of perfection.
- Development shifts back to the original Legacy engine (C#/Java, PC-focused, more complete) instead of the troubled cross-platform C++ rewrite.
- Strong emphasis on community feedback to shape the final game.
Community and Industry Reaction
The announcement exploded across social media with #HytaleIsSaved trending worldwide. Long-time fans, Minecraft creators, and industry figures celebrated the rare positive outcome of a studio regaining independence. Thousands praised Riot for not shelving the IP and Hypixel for stepping up despite development halting in June 2025.
This marks the end of a five-year wait and the beginning of Hytale’s revival as an independent title, with playable early access finally on the horizon.
