Fans of the canceled game Hytale are expressing their disappointment and seeking to revive the project through an online petition. This initiative has gained significant traction, amassing nearly 1,600 signatures. The petition targets publisher Riot Games and developer Hypixel Studios, as well as Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme, but so far, none of these parties have responded to the appeal. Hytale was first unveiled in late 2018 by a team of former Minecraft modders, captivating gamers with its blocky visuals reminiscent of Minecraft’s style.
The game promised innovative features such as a strong focus on role-playing and tools that would enable players to create custom in-game content. Unfortunately, excitement turned to disappointment earlier this week when Hypixel announced Hytale’s cancellation and the shutdown of the development studio. In light of this news, a fan created the Change.org petition in hopes of persuading Hypixel or Riot Games to release any playable version of the dropped game. Though the petition has gathered 1,582 signatures and is still growing, none of the developers have engaged with the fans’ requests.
The abrupt end to Hytale’s development has elicited a range of emotional responses. Some fans who had been eagerly anticipating the game’s release reported feeling disheartened by its cancellation, while others expressed sadness for the community that had formed around the game rather than for the game itself. However, it’s important to note that releasing an incomplete version of Hytale goes against the expressed intentions of the development team, who stated that altering the game’s scope would compromise their vision. Even if the petition bears fruit and fans get access to a playable build, it is highly unlikely that official development will continue.
Hypixel co-founder NoxyD acknowledged the challenges of game development and emphasized that Hytale was far from meeting the team’s ambitious goals after years of work.