A Lifeline for a Lost World: Original Hytale Founder in Active Discussions with Riot Games to Acquire the IP

The story of Hytale, the highly-anticipated Minecraft rival that captured the hearts of millions, took a tragic turn in June when Riot Games announced its cancellation and the subsequent closure of developer Hypixel Studios. After a decade of development and immense community hype, the game was deemed too ambitious and technically complex to complete. However, in a stunning and emotional development, the game’s original founder, Simon “Hypixel” Collins-Laflamme, has emerged as a beacon of hope. In a series of public statements, he has revealed that he is now in “active discussions with Riot Games about acquiring” the game’s intellectual property, going so far as to offer an astronomical price that he says is “10x what the true market value is.”

This is a monumental turn of events for a game that was widely considered dead. Collins-Laflamme’s passion for the project is undeniable, and his willingness to personally invest a staggering amount of his own money—reportedly up to $25 million—to see the game finished and released is a testament to his belief in the project. The news has sent a new wave of optimism and excitement through the devastated Hytale community, which has been actively campaigning to save the game since the cancellation was announced. While the chances of a successful revival are still slim, the fact that an official dialogue is taking place is a massive step forward, and it’s a testament to the power of a dedicated creator and a passionate fan base.

The Canceled Dream and Its Fallout

Hytale was always more than just a Minecraft clone. Its initial 2018 trailer promised a procedurally generated fantasy world with deep RPG mechanics, intricate combat, and robust modding tools. The game was meant to be a creative sandbox that also offered a compelling adventure mode, and the community’s response was overwhelming, with the trailer amassing over 30 million views in a month. This led to Riot Games investing in Hypixel Studios in 2018 and eventually acquiring them outright in 2020. However, the game’s ambition proved to be its undoing. The project suffered from multiple engine reboots, growing scope, and a development timeline that continuously stretched, leading to the heartbreaking decision to cancel it after years of work.

The cancellation was met with an outpouring of grief and anger from the community. Fans took to social media and even created a gigantic “#SaveHytale” art piece on a digital canvas that was painted over Riot Games’ office in Santa Monica. This collective expression of disappointment and passion is what ultimately fueled Collins-Laflamme to act. His offer to buy the IP, rather than the entire company, is a strategic move to simplify the transaction and avoid the complexities of acquiring a shuttered studio. He plans to use the money to fund a new, smaller team, likely comprised of former Hypixel developers, to work on the game with a reduced scope and a focus on a “Very Early Access” PC-only release to get the game into the hands of players as quickly as possible. This approach, he believes, is the only way to save the game and honor the community that has supported it for so long.

The Path Forward: Challenges and Hope

Despite Collins-Laflamme’s optimism and a final counter-offer being submitted to Riot Games, the path to a successful acquisition and revival is still fraught with challenges. The original announcement from Riot Games and Hypixel Studios CEO Aaron Donaghey (Noxy) stated that the game was “still not as far along as it needed to be” after ten years of development. The cost of development was also a major factor in the cancellation, and while Collins-Laflamme is offering a generous sum, it may not be enough to recoup Riot’s multi-million dollar investment. Riot Games’ response, or lack thereof, to the public campaign and the offer is a major point of anxiety for the community.

However, there are reasons for cautious optimism. As a company that prides itself on being “player-focused,” Riot Games may be swayed by the sheer passion of the community and the dedication of Collins-Laflamme. The offer of a massive sum, well beyond the “true market value” of the canceled IP, could also be a tempting proposition for Riot, as it would allow them to recoup some of their losses on the project. For now, all eyes are on Riot Games to see if they will accept the offer and grant a second life to the game that so many people were hoping to play. The saga of Hytale is far from over, and with its original founder fighting to bring it back to life, the dream of a new block-based adventure may yet be realized.