Hytale
Hytale is an upcoming sandbox role-playing video game by Hypixel Studios. Production began in 2015 by developers from the Minecraft multiplayer server Hypixel with funding and assistance from Riot Games, who later fully acquired the studio. It is planned to be released for Microsoft Windows and macOS in 2021.
Hytale | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Hypixel Studios |
Publisher(s) | Hypixel Studios |
Director(s) | Aaron Donaghey |
Platform(s) | |
Release | 2021 |
Genre(s) | Sandbox, role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
Hytale features a procedurally-generated fantasy world composed of blocks of numerous shapes arranged in a three-dimensional grid, featuring different randomly generated biomes, creatures, and dungeons.[1] Players can participate in minigames similar to those found on the Hypixel server.[2] Players will be able to build and share mods and custom content using a set of browser-based and in-game tools.[3][2]
Hytale includes several procedurally-generated areas of the world known as "zones", made up of many biomes, blocks, and mobs.[4] This mode will feature RPG-styled combat for singleplayer and multiplayer and include dynamic boss encounters and dungeon exploration. Hytale will feature block-based construction and includes many different world editing and cinematic tools players can use in-game.[4] It will feature a Java scripting system that allows players to create and execute code in-game, as well as a web-based 3D modeling, texturing, and animation toolkit where players can create custom assets for the game.[2] The game will feature both official and community-run servers.[2]
Development
Hytale is being developed by studio Hypixel Studios, lead by Aaron Donaghey, for Microsoft Windows and macOS.[1] The Northern Ireland-based studio consists of about forty employees who split off from Hypixel Inc., the company behind the development of the Hypixel server in Minecraft.[5][6] The first mention of a planned Hypixel game was in late 2013 when the Minecraft server started selling early access as part of a donor package.[7] The idea for Hytale arose due to EULA changes by Mojang in 2014 which blocked servers from having microtransactions that affected gameplay, leading to an 85% drop in the Hypixel server's revenue.[1] The developers realized they were not in control of their project and decided to make their own stand-alone game in 2015.[8][9] They originally wanted to avoid making a voxel-based game, but eventually decided to do so as they had experience in that genre from the Hypixel server in Minecraft.[1]
Hypixel Studios was at first self-financed with revenue generated by the Hypixel server. The studio subsequently received support from Riot Games, which invested several million dollars in the studio,[10][11][12][13] along with an advisory group that includes businessmen Dennis Fong, Rob Pardo, and Peter Levine.[10] The game was announced via a trailer in December 2018, with it amassing over 31 million views within a month.[14] In April 2020, Hypixel Studios was fully acquired by Riot Games.[15] The game is expected to be released by 2021.[16]
Reception
Hytale was nominated for "Most Wanted Game" at the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards.[4][17]
References
- Simpkins, Jen. "First Look: Hytale is putting adventure and creativity at the heart of its ambitious block-building sandbox". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- Walker, Ben (11 February 2019). "Hytale Interview - Hypixel Studios Talk Modding, Post-Launch Plans, and Minecraft Origins". DualShockers. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- Pearson, Craig (21 August 2019). "Cosplay as a cat and more with Hytale's mod tools". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- "Hypixel's Hytale nominated for Most Wanted Game Award". Northern Ireland Screen. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- Cartmill, Claire (21 April 2020). "Videogame developer Hypixel Studios to set up NI headquarters". News Letter. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- Phillips, Tom (13 December 2018). "Hytale is a brand new game from giants of the Minecraft community, backed by Riot". Eurogamer.
- "Announcing Hypixel Studios and Hytale!". Hypixel Forums. 10 December 2018.
- "Hytale is a Minecraft follow-up that remembers the Minigames". RockPaperShotgun. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "Hytale is a brand new game from giants of the Minecraft community, backed by Riot", Eurogamer, 13 December 2018
- Jarvey, Natalie (13 December 2018). "Riot Games Leads Investment in Hypixel Game Studio". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Fogel, Stefanie (13 December 2018). "Creators of Popular 'Minecraft' Server Announce New Game 'Hytale'". Variety. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- Takahashi, Dean (13 December 2018). "Beware, Minecraft and Roblox. Here comes the blocky world of Hytale". VentureBeat. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
- Tarason, Dominic (13 December 2018). "Hytale is a blocky sandbox RPG spawned from a massive Minecraft server". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- Fischer, Tyler (12 January 2019). "First Trailer of 'Minecraft' Inspired Game 'Hytale' Has 31 Million Views In Less Than 30 Days". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020.
- Webster, Andrew (16 April 2020). "Riot continues to expand beyond League by acquiring studio behind Minecraft-like game". The Verge. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- McGlynn, Anthony (27 November 2019). "Minecraft-like RPG Hytale to be "playable by everyone" by 2021". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- "Golden Joysticks Awards 2019". Games Radar. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)