Hypixel Studios Reacquires Hytale from Riot Games

Hypixel Studios has reacquired the rights to its long-in-development sandbox game Hytale from Riot Games, reviving a project that appeared headed for cancellation just months ago. The independent studio, founded by the creators of one of Minecraft's most popular servers, announced the move on Monday, with plans to launch an early access version in the coming months.

The turnaround follows Riot's decision in June 2025 to end development on Hytale and wind down Hypixel Studios after acquiring the team in 2020. Simon Collins-Laflamme, Hypixel co-founder and lead developer, along with co-founder Philippe Touchette, proposed repurchasing the intellectual property in response to widespread fan disappointment. Riot agreed to the deal without disclosing financial terms, stating it aimed to give the project its best chance with its original creators. "Huge thanks to Riot for working with me to make this happen. They wanted what's best for players, and that's for us to eventually play the game," Collins-Laflamme wrote on X.

Now fully independent, Hypixel Studios has rehired more than 30 former developers and secured personal funding from its founders to support development for at least...