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Hytale Rescued: Riot Returns Cancelled Game to Hypixel Co-Founder in Stunning U-Turn
November 19, 2025Hytale isn’t dead after all. Only months after Riot Games pulled the plug on its ambitious Minecraft-inspired sandbox, the original co-founder of Hypixel, Simon Collins-Laflamme, has bought it back from the gaming giant, promising to revive development and give the project a second chance.
If you’ve been following Hytale’s long and messy journey, these last 24 hours have been a rare moment of hope. “This game has always been close to my heart,” Collins-Laflamme told fans, announcing the deal as a “new and exciting chapter.” The dev team is officially independent once again, and they’re not wasting time: “My plan? Get it out to you as soon as possible. No more waiting. You’ll get to play it, rough edges and all.”
How Hytale Came Back From the Brink
Hytale’s story has had more twists than most. What started in 2015 as a side passion project for Hypixel’s team quickly exploded in visibility, catching the eye of investors, and then Riot Games. Riot acquired the team and poured resources into the game, fueling massive expectations. But by June this year, the dream was cut short. News broke that Riot had cancelled Hytale entirely, leaving its massive player community stunned.
The community didn’t go quietly. Some fans organised a bold display, painting a “#Save Hytale” digital mural across WPlace in Santa Monica, the same area where Riot’s headquarters loom. That street-level show of support didn’t undo the cancellation. But it’s part of what kept the spotlight on Hytale during months of silence.
Then, unexpectedly, hope flickered back to life. On social media and Hytale’s own website, Collins-Laflamme confirmed he had personally acquired the rights from Riot. “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,” he wrote. Riot, for their part, was gracious in their statement: “After evaluating multiple offers, we’ve reached an agreement to return Hytale to @simon_hypixel, giving this community its best shot at experiencing a revised version of the game. Wishing the team the best of luck for what’s ahead.”
What’s Next: A Rougher, Rawer Hytale
If you’re expecting a slick, triple-A launch, recalibrate. Collins-Laflamme isn’t sugarcoating what lies ahead: “Hytale isn’t some polished AAA release waiting in the wings. It’s messy. It’s janky. And there’s a lot of work to be done.” Instead of holding everything back for years, the plan is to open the doors early and let the community in; even if the build is rough at the start.
The new Hytale team is returning to their roots. “We’re fully independent and personally committed to funding Hytale for the next 10 years,” Collins-Laflamme said. He’s promising fans a return to the project’s “original vision,” and says an early access release date is coming “in the next few days.” The clear message: Hytale will launch early and evolve fast, with full transparency about its state. “My hope is that together, we’ll shape it into something truly special.”
For fans who never gave up hope on Hytale, it’s been a whiplash few months. But the news is official: the game is back in the hands of developers who care about it the most, and it’s alive for another shot.
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