Hytale Is Saved Riot Sells Cancelled Game Back to Original Co-Founder

🎮 What Happened: Riot Sells Hytale Back

On November 17, 2025, Hypixel Studios announced a dramatic turnaround: Hytale has been reacquired from Riot Games by its original co-founder, Simon Collins-Laflamme. hytale.com+2PC Gamer+2
This move comes after Riot canceled Hytale in June 2025 and began winding down Hypixel Studios. hytale.com+1

According to the official announcement:

• Over 30 former Hytale developers have already been rehired, with more expected soon. hytale.com
• The team is fully independent now. GamesRadar++1
• Simon and his co-founder Philippe Touchette are personally committing to fund the project for 10 years—no outside investors or publishers. Massively Overpowered+2hytale.com+2
• They plan to return to Hytale’s original “legacy” engine, rather than the newer cross-platform build Riot had pushed. Yahoo Tech+1
• Early access will launch on Windows first, with Linux and Mac versions considered later. GamesRadar+
• At early access launch: Exploration Mode, Creative Mode, and Modding will be available. Minigames and the full Adventure Mode will come later. hytale.com
• The team is warning players honestly: the build is “messy, janky,” and day one won’t be perfect. GamesRadar+

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🔙 Why Hytale Was Canceled in the First Place

• In June 2025, Hypixel Studios announced it was winding down. hytale.com
• Their leadership admitted that despite years of development, technical ambition and scope creep made it impossible to deliver the game they originally envisioned. GameSpot+1
• They had tried a major engine reboot, but even after that, the game wasn’t “far enough along.” hytale.com

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🔁 What “Original Vision” Means Now

This isn’t just a relaunch—Simon and his team are trying to restore Hytale to its roots:

1. Legacy Engine Move
   The decision to go back to the older engine signals a return to earlier designs and systems that the original team built. Yahoo Tech
2. Developer Rehires
   By bringing back developers who “know this game inside and out,” the team hopes to recapture the passion and direction from earlier days. hytale.com
3. Long-Term Independence
   With 10 years of personal funding and no external publishers, the team wants the freedom to build Hytale for the players, not to meet corporate milestones. Massively Overpowered
4. Modding First
   From day one of early access, modding will be supported a core part of Hytale’s original promise. GamesRadar+

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✅ Why This Is a Big Deal for Gamers & the Community

• Hope Restored: Many fans thought Hytale was truly dead after the cancellation; now there’s real momentum again.
• Transparency: The team is probably going to be very open with development: admitting bugs, rough edges, and focusing on iterative progress. GamesRadar+
• Passion Project: This isn’t just a business deal. The founders are personally funding this, showing they deeply care about the vision they first pitched.
• Modding & Community Power: With mod support at early access, fans may help shape the game’s future in meaningful ways.

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🔮 What’s Next What to Expect

• Early Access announced soon: The Hytale team promises a date will come “in the coming days.” GamesRadar++1
• Rough but Real: Expect bugs, unbalanced content, and frequent updates. But the team’s goal is to build legitimacy before polish. hytale.com
• Long Development: Early access likely lasts “at least a few years.” hytale.com
• Community Input: Because of the modding tools and open development, community feedback could heavily influence Hytale’s evolution.
• No Rush to 1.0: The founders have made it clear they don’t want to force a launch; they’d rather do things “the right way.”

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ltas Gaming Opinion

From Altas Gaming’s perspective, this is one of the biggest “video game comebacks” of 2025. Here’s why:

• Passion over profit: The original team is not just saving a franchise they’re rescuing their dream. That gives the revival authenticity.
• Risk, but with purpose: Running a 10-year self-funded project is risky, but if they succeed, Hytale could become a beloved sandbox classic with deep mod support.
• Legacy engine is a smart move: Going back to what originally worked can speed up early access, avoid the pitfalls that likely plagued the newer engine, and let players actually play sooner.
• Community-driven: This isn’t a closed AAA studio. By supporting modding from day one, they’re giving power to players to shape content.

If Altas had to guess, Hytale’s early access will be messy for the first few months but that rough period might be where the magic of the original vision truly shines through.

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❓ FAQs

Q1: Did Riot completely give up Hytale?
Yes Riot sold the game back to Simon Collins-Laflamme and his team, transferring 100% of the IP back. hytale.com+1

Q2: How many developers are coming back?
Over 30 former developers have already rejoined the project, and more are expected soon. hytale.com

Q3: Will Hytale support mods at early access launch?
Yes, modding is a key part of the roadmap and will be available from the start. GamesRadar+

Q4: What platforms will Hytale launch on?
Early access will be on Windows first. Linux and macOS are being considered, but consoles are “much later.” hytale.com

Q5: Is there a release date?
Not yet. The team says the early access date will be announced soon, but they emphasize it will be a “messy, janky” build at first. GamesRadar+

Q6: Who is funding the revived Hytale?
Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchette are personally funding the project for the next 10 years, without outside investors. Massively Overpowered+1

Q7: Why did they go back to the legacy engine?
According to the team, the newer engine was behind in gameplay progress. Returning to the legacy engine is faster, more stable, and aligns better with their original vision. Yahoo Tech+1

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