Hytale Is Saved: Original Co-Founder Reclaims Game From Riot Games

Sagar Mankar
3 days ago
2 min read

Riot Games has officially sold Hytale back to its original co‑founder, Simon Collins‑Laflamme.

The decision comes just five months after Riot announced it was ending development of the project, leaving many fans uncertain about the game’s future. Now, with ownership back in the hands of its creator, Hytale is set to begin a new chapter.

Hytale is an upcoming sandbox RPG developed by Hypixel Studios that blends Minecraft‑style creativity with RPG‑inspired exploration and storytelling. At its core, Hytale offers a procedurally generated fantasy world built from blocks, giving players the freedom to build, explore, and shape their own adventures. What sets it apart from traditional sandbox titles is its strong RPG influence—expect quests, dungeons, boss battles, and a narrative layer that adds depth to the open‑world experience. — Simon Collins‑Laflamme Buys Back Hytale After Riot Cancels Development | Image: Hypixel via Gaming Amigos

In a statement, Riot explained that "after reviewing multiple offers," it chose to return the IP and all associated assets, including the Hypixel brand, to Collins‑Laflamme. Riot CEO Dylan Jadeja said this move gives players “the best chance to one day experience a revised version of the game they’ve been waiting for.”

Collins‑Laflamme, who co‑founded Hypixel in 2018, shared his excitement in a blog post titled “Hytale is saved!”. He revealed that more than 30 developers who previously worked on the game have already been rehired, with more expected to return soon. “Hytale has always been deeply personal to me and to our community,” he wrote, adding that his goal is simple: get the game into players’ hands as soon as possible, even if it’s rough around the edges.

Hypixel, famous for the massively popular Hypixel Minecraft server, first got backing from Riot Games in 2015 to develop its own game. That idea grew into Hytale, a fantasy sandbox adventure inspired by Minecraft but packed with extras like RPG-style boss battles, dungeons, minigames, and a coding system players can use to mod and customize servers. Riot went on to acquire the studio in 2020, turning the project into a cross-platform experience.

However, delays piled up, and by June 2025, Riot officially cancelled development. According to Collins‑Laflamme, that could have been the end, but he and co‑founder Philippe Touchette made a last‑ditch offer to buy back the IP. Riot agreed, and the handover is now complete.

The revived plan is to return to the game’s original engine, built in C# and Java, rather than the ambitious cross‑platform rebuild. Early access will launch first on PC, with Mac and Linux support considered later. Consoles may follow down the line, but the immediate focus is on delivering a playable version "sooner." Two core modes will be available at launch: Exploration Mode, where players roam a living world filled with creatures and dungeons, and Creative Mode, which lets you build freely with mod support from day one.

Modding is once again "top priority." The team shared, "Modding isn't just a feature for us. It's the foundation of longevity. We're committing to this completely."

Collins‑Laflamme has set expectations clearly: early access will have bugs, missing features, and a strong “work‑in‑progress” feel. But he believes that together with the community, Hytale can grow into something special. In his words, “Thanks for believing in Hytale. Time to get to work.”