In a remarkable debut, the long-awaited fantasy sandbox game Hytale has stormed onto the scene, briefly becoming the most-watched game on Twitch following its early access launch. This success comes despite the project's near-cancellation last year and its absence from major digital storefronts.
A Turbulent Journey to Launch
The road to release for Hytale has been anything but smooth. Initially announced in 2018 with a trailer that amassed over 62 million views, development was supercharged in 2020 when Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends, acquired Hypixel Studios. However, in a surprising turn of events, the project was cancelled in June 2025. The story didn't end there; by November, co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme had bought the game back from Riot, allowing development to resume and leading to its eventual early access launch on 13 January 2026.
An Instant Streaming Sensation
The game's launch metrics tell a story of explosive interest. For a period, Hytale dethroned perennial favourites like Grand Theft Auto V and Minecraft to become the number one most-viewed game on Twitch. At its peak, it accrued over 420,000 concurrent viewers, according to PC Gamer. While it has since slipped from the top spot, it remains a strong presence, sitting in Twitch's top ten with around 62,600 viewers at the time of writing—still outperforming giants like Fortnite and the newly updated Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
With no official sales figures released, this streaming data serves as the primary independent metric of its success. Hypixel Studios had expressed hopes for at least one million players at launch, and the overwhelming viewership suggests a highly engaged initial audience. The game is only available for purchase directly from the Hytale website, with the standard edition priced at approximately £18.
What Sets Hytale Apart?
While comparisons to Minecraft are inevitable—both are block-based sandbox games set in procedurally generated worlds—Hytale carves its own identity with a stronger fantasy role-playing game (RPG) focus. It promises structured adventures including explorable dungeons, boss fights, and a dedicated story mode, alongside the expected creative freedom. The current early access build offers exploration and creative modes, mod support, and multiplayer options.
Hypixel Studios, which originated as a popular Minecraft multiplayer server, seems buoyed by the response. Co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme took to social media to express his gratitude, stating: "We got a long way to go to achieve our goals with the game but I’m happy to see the positive reaction, I was not expecting such support and understanding!" He added that much of the player feedback aligned with existing development plans, giving the team confidence for the game's future.
This successful early access opening chapter proves there is significant appetite for a fresh take on the creative sandbox genre. While overtaking Minecraft's colossal legacy remains a monumental task, Hytale has firmly established itself as a compelling and vibrant alternative for players and streamers alike.
