Hypixel are bracing for a heavy launch, as Hytale finally opens its doors to early access players.
Hytale’s early access launch is gearing up to be a major day for sandbox RPG fans. With servers expected to be under heavy load, Hypixel is already asking players to prepare ahead of time.
Hypixel urges players to prepare ahead of launch day
On 11 January, Hypixel CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme posted a warning on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the studio is expecting a huge turnout on launch day:
“IMPORTANT We expect over one million players on the early access release day for Hytale (13 January). Please download the launcher today and log in now to help us significantly reduce launch-day stress," the announcement read on X.
Although some on social media were skeptical about the predicted one million player count, the dev team continued to drum up the hype, by sharing creative gameplay on social media instead:
Hytale’s return to development follows a turbulent history. Riot Games originally acquired Hypixel Studios in 2020 while Hytale was in development, with plans to release the game under Riot’s publishing banner. However, Riot later shut down Hypixel Studios, and Hytale was never released, leaving the community waiting with no clear outcome.
In November 2025 however, Hypixel announced that it had reacquired Hytale from Riot Games. Following the acquisition, the studio began rebuilding its development team and pushing the project forward once again.
Soon after reclaiming Hytale, Collins-Laflamme confirmed that development would move quickly, a decision that raised concerns among fans about the game’s readiness. Hypixel later addressed those concerns directly, admitting that the early access build launching on 13 January will be in a very rough state, with a high likelihood of bugs and technical issues.
Hytale remains in active development, with changes planned throughout the early access period leading up to a full release. Players joining early access will be able to provide feedback and take part in modding, as the game continues to evolve.
