Minecraft-style game Hytale officially canceled after 10 years in development

After 10 years of development, Riot Games is shutting down Hytale, a highly ambitious sandbox game that aimed to rival Minecraft.

Hytale was first revealed in 2018 and quickly gained attention for its minigames, moddability, boss encounters, and dungeon exploration. The ambitious nature of the game caught the attention of League of Legends developers Riot Games, who acquired the project in 2020.

However, on June 23, Hypixel Studios co-founder Aaron ‘Noxy’ Donaghey confirmed that his team is ending development and beginning the process of winding down the studio.

Ambitious Minecraft-style game Hytale shuts down

“This is not the outcome any of us at Hypixel or at Riot wanted,” Noxy said. “But after years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn’t bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise.”

Despite the changes, Noxy admitted the game still wasn’t where it needed to be. “We looked at reducing scope, adjusting timelines, and finding new angles. But each of those options would have meant compromising on what made Hytale special in the first place.”

Riot is currently providing severance and job placement support to help team members who have been affected by the game’s cancellation.

“This is a painful decision. We still believe in Hytale. We believe in the team, and are forever grateful to every member, past or present, who poured their love into the game,” Noxy continued. “We’re also incredibly proud of the work we did: the world we imagined, the risks we took, and the heart we poured into this project. None of that can be taken away.”

The developer was also keen to thank the Hytale community, who helped keep his team working hard on the project.

“Your belief in Hytale kept us going through thick and thin. Your energy, creativity, and support inspired us to do the best work of our lives. Even though we won’t be the ones to bring this game into the world, we still believe in what it stood for and in the incredible potential of this genre.”