Riot Games is closing Hypixel Studios, the developer behind Hytale, a Minecraft-like game in development for nearly a decade. Hypixel Studios was acquired by Riot in 2020, but the studio will shut down over the next few months, according to Hypixel CEO Aaron “Noxy” Donaghey.
Donaghey stated on X that despite years of effort and adaptation, the team could not deliver Hytale as originally envisioned. He expressed gratitude for the dedication of everyone involved and reaffirmed belief in the game and its team.
Founded in 2015 by members of a popular Minecraft server network, Hypixel Studios released a trailer for Hytale in 2018 and planned a beta release in 2021. However, the beta was delayed after a major overhaul of the game engine, which set development back.
“Our technical ambitions grew more complex,” Donaghey said. “Even after a major reboot of the game engine, Hytale wasn’t as far along as needed.” He added that additional time would have been necessary to realize the game’s vision.
The closure does not impact the Hypixel Minecraft server, which operates independently from Hypixel Studios. Donaghey also thanked Riot for support, noting that the team is receiving generous severance and assistance for their next steps.