24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
NI game studio developing the ‘next Minecraft' announces they are ‘winding down'
Hypixel Studios – headquartered in the Patrick Street area of the city but with staff around the world working remotely – made the announcement on their website on Monday.
The studio's CEO Aaron 'Noxy' Donaghey said the decision was 'incredibly tough news' and a 'painful decision'.
Hypixel had been working on much-anticipated game Hytale for the last decade, having in 2020 been bought over and backed by Riot Games – one of the biggest gaming companies in the world based in Los Angeles.
Billed by many in the industry as a potential successor to megahit game franchise Minecraft, Hytale's reveal trailer back in 2018 currently has 61 million views on YouTube.
In his update on the studio's website, Mr Donaghey said: 'This is not the outcome any of us - at Hypixel or at Riot - wanted.
"But after years of pushing forward, adapting, and exploring every possible path, it became clear we couldn't bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise.
'Game development is brutally hard - especially when you're trying to build something original that speaks to a creative, passionate community. Over time, as our vision evolved and the genre matured around us, the bar kept rising.
"Our technical ambitions grew more complex, and even after a major reboot of the game engine, the team found that Hytale still wasn't as far along as it needed to be.
"It became clear we'd need a lot more time to get it to a place where it could support the ambitious vision for the game.
'We looked at reducing scope, adjusting timelines, and finding new angles to keep moving forward. But each of those options would have meant compromising on what made Hytale special in the first place.
"It wouldn't have been the game we set out to make. And it wouldn't have been the game you deserve.
'This is a painful decision. We still believe in Hytale. We believe in the team, and are forever grateful to every member, past or present, who poured their love into the game.
"We're also incredibly proud of the work we did: the world we imagined, the risks we took, and the heart we poured into this project. None of that can be taken away.
"And just to clarify - this doesn't affect the Hypixel server on Minecraft. It's run separately from Hypixel Studios and will continue to operate as usual.
'We're also deeply grateful to Riot - not just for the years of support and the opportunities they gave us, but for the care they're showing our team during this transition.
News Catch Up - Monday 23rd June
"They supported us in going out into the world to see if there were investors or acquirers who could continue to help carry Hytale forward. And now, as we begin winding things down, they're ensuring our team is supported with generous severance and resources to help them find what's next.
"It's not just thoughtful - it's human. And it shows a genuine effort to take care of the people behind the work.'
