Emerging from a custom server, the survival crafting RPG Hytale was announced in 2018, and in recent years, its future has seemed far from certain. However, the wait is nearly over, as it readies for its Early Access launch.
Whether you’ve been eagerly awaiting it all this time or it’s entirely new to you, Hytale is worth watching, as one of the most anticipated games of the year. Here’s everything you need to know about Hytale, including when you can start playing.
Why Is Hytale’s Launch Such A Big Deal?
Over its lengthy development, Hytale has faced a turbulent journey. Its developers were behind a popular Minecraft server that hosted minigames for the crafting sandbox, before forming a studio called Hypixel to create their own game in the same voxel style. The studio was later acquired by Riot Games, which funded the project until 2025, when it announced the cancellation of the game and the dissolution of Hypixel.
There was immediate speculation about whether the studio’s original founders could revive the project, which appeared to hit a dead end until November, when they revealed they had indeed purchased the game back from Riot and development was restarting.
Throughout its rocky development phase, Hytale was eagerly anticipated by players who were members of Hypixel’s Minecraft server, gaining further popularity for its ambitious plans to add RPG mechanics and other features to its survival crafting foundation. A reveal video posted after Hypixel reformed provided a highly promising glimpse of the game, and the buzz surrounding it only grew. On the eve of Hytale’s launch, reports indicate that pre-sales alone have funded the next two years of development for the game.
When Is the Hytale Release Date and Time?
Hytale is set to launch on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. A countdown on the game’s official site shows the time left until it unlocks worldwide, rather than being tied to different times across time zones. Here’s when it’s set to unlock:
- North America West Coast: 7 am PST
- North America East Coast: 10 am EST
- U.K.: 3 pm GMT
- Central Europe: 4 pm CET
- Japan: Midnight on January 14
- Australia: 2 am AEDT on January 14
Can you Preload Hytale?
You can’t preload Hytale, but there is one step you should take before the game’s launch. Given the hype surrounding its release, Hypixel is expecting more than one million players to join on launch day, according to Collins-Laflamme, who advises that everyone download the launcher ahead of time to avoid delays. Whether Hytale reaches that highly ambitious number or not, it’s probably a good idea to do so regardless.
Are There Any Hytale Preorder Bonuses?
Not exactly, but purchasing the game during Early Access does come with some bonuses. Even buying the $20 standard edition in Early Access unlocks three in-game cosmetic sets and a cape exclusive to early supporters. The $35 supporter tier adds three more armor sets, a pair of goggles, and more capes. The $70 Cursebreaker set adds four more cosmetic outfits and still more capes. There’s been no announced end date for Hytale Early Access, but if you purchase the game any time before its 1.0 launch, you’ll get the rewards associated with your purchase tier.