After a long road, Hytale is officially entering Early Access on January 13, 2026, with pre-purchase opening on December 13, 2025. If you’ve followed Hytale for years, you already know how big this is. The project was officially ended on June 23, 2025, and Hypixel Studios began winding down. Then, in a twist nobody expected, the original founders repurchased Hytale, brought the project back under independent ownership, and committed to pushing forward with a community-shaped Early Access launch.
So what is Hylesion?
Hylesion is a Hytale-meets-Halo inspired competitive server, built around fast, skill-based multiplayer with a clean sci-fi vibe but still fully rooted in Hytale’s sandbox creativity. Our mission is simple: deliver game modes that feel instantly fun, easy to queue into, and deep enough to grind for months.
What we’re building
At (or very near) Early Access launch:
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Ranked + Casual matchmaking (separate queues, separate goals)
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Core modes:
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Team Deathmatch
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Free-For-All
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Capture the Flag
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Map rotation built for competitive clarity (readable callouts, strong flow, fair spawns)
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A social hub where you can party up, spectate, and see what’s live
As Hytale evolves (and tools expand):
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Seasonal ranked updates (resets, rewards, balance passes)
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More modes + event playlists
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Larger “setpiece” maps that lean harder into that Halo-ring meets Hytale world feeling
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Creator collaborations (community map submissions, featured rotations)
Because Hytale Early Access will change fast, we’re designing Hylesion to be modular: we’ll iterate with patches, adjust balance quickly, and keep the experience stable even as the game itself updates.
How you can get involved right now
Over the next stretch leading into January 13, we’ll be requesting for your help in:
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Modding/Plugin Developers
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Asset creators like artists, modelers etc.
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General Staff and Moderation
If you want to help shape the server from day one, keep an eye on the forum updates.
The community feedback loop is going to be everything in Early Access.