Discussion in progress between Hytale's initial founder and Riot Games regarding the potential acquisition of the Minecraft-like survival game, with the former reportedly proposing a price 10 times higher than the game's actual market value.
Hypixel Studios' Simon Collins-Laflamme in Active Discussions to Acquire Canceled Game Hytale from Riot Games
Simon Collins-Laflamme, co-founder of Hypixel Studios and the original developer of the Minecraft-inspired voxel survival game Hytale, is currently in active discussions with Riot Games to acquire the game after it was abruptly canceled in June 2025.
Collins-Laflamme, in a move that was foreshadowed as early as July, has made a final counter offer to Riot, valuing the acquisition at approximately 10 times the true market value. This bold move signals his strong commitment to revive and finish the game himself, reportedly willing to invest up to $25 million personally.
The negotiations are ongoing, but details such as the exact offer price or specific terms have not been publicly disclosed. Collins-Laflamme expressed optimism and determination, highlighting that although Riot no longer has a development team capable of working on Hytale, he has rehired many of those original developers and plans to continue doing so to ensure the game's revival.
Hytale, which was in development for about 10 years, reportedly collapsed under its own weight due to mismanagement and over-scoping. Updates are currently limited as both parties work through the acquisition process.
If Collins-Laflamme is able to acquire the IP, assemble a development team, and get the game launch-ready, it could take a couple of years. Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, has expressed that saving Hytale isn't his main focus due to his current project Haunted Chocolatier, but he would be open to the idea if presented with it.
As early as 2020, Collins-Laflamme believed Hytale to be "maximum 2 years away from a PC release." Collins-Laflamme responded to a fan's question about the game's future with a quote from The Office, emphasizing that Hytale is "for the players, by the players."
Collins-Laflamme announced these discussions on Wednesday afternoon, signaling a new chapter for the much-anticipated game. The latest development is that the talks have moved from an offer stage to active negotiations, with Collins-Laflamme fully committed to acquiring and continuing Hytale's development despite Riot's initial cancellation.
[1] Collins-Laflamme's Twitter Announcement [2] Polygon Article on Hytale's Cancellation
- Simon Collins-Laflamme, in a future Twitter announcement, shared his plans to continue the development of Hytale after acquiring it from Riot Games.
- Technology news outlets like Polygon and Engadget are eagerly awaiting more details about the ongoing discussion between Hypixel Studios and Riot Games about the acquisition of Hytale.
- Once Hytale is relaunched, gamers can look forward to immersive RPG and adventure gameplay on their consoles, with the potential for it to be featured prominently in upcoming news segments about the gaming industry.
- A successful acquisition and resurgence of Hytale could also mean an opportunity for content creators, influencers, and streamers to produce engaging videos featuring the game, attracting a wide audience that enjoys television style content similar to the series Rick and Morty or Stranger Things.
