Hytale Future Plans - Official Development Roadmap

Simon Hypixel has outlined Hytale's development roadmap for early access and beyond. These plans represent the team's vision for evolving the game, though he cautioned they are "subject to change of course."

Here's everything Hypixel Studios plans to add to Hytale during development.

Living World Features

Planned: More interactive world systems and NPC behaviors

What This Means

Enhanced Interactions:

• Deeper NPC conversations and behaviors
• Dynamic world events
• Reactive environments
• Persistent world changes

Living Ecosystems:

• Animal behaviors and interactions
• NPC daily routines
• Weather effects on world
• Seasonal changes (potentially)

The goal is making Orbis feel alive beyond static blocks and basic entities.

Combat Content Expansion

Planned: Additional dungeons, bosses, and combat challenges

What's Coming

More Dungeons:

• New procedurally generated dungeons
• Unique dungeon mechanics
• Varying difficulty levels
• Better loot distribution

Boss Encounters:

• Additional raid-level bosses
• Diverse boss mechanics
• Coordinated group challenges
• Epic boss fights

Combat Challenges:

• Arena modes
• Survival challenges
• Timed encounters
• Difficulty modifiers

Hytale's skill-based combat system will get more content to test player mastery.

World Generation v2

Planned: Complete Orbis restoration with improved world generation

Restoring Orbis Vision

The current early access build uses older world generation. Version 2 will restore the intended Orbis experience shown in early trailers.

Improvements:

• Better biome variety and distribution
• Improved structure generation
• Enhanced terrain features
• More interesting exploration

What Players Saw:

• Early Hytale trailers showed stunning landscapes
• Current build doesn't match that vision
• World Gen v2 restores original quality

This is a major technical undertaking that will significantly improve the exploration experience.

In-Game Modding Systems

Planned: Revolutionary mod installation and discovery features

1-Click Mod Installation

Mods will be installable directly from in-game interface:

• Browse available mods
• Click install
• Mod downloads and activates
• No manual file management

Auto-Install on Server Join

When joining modded servers:

• Required mods download automatically
• No manual setup needed
• Seamless modded experience
• Switch between modded servers effortlessly

Mod Discovery

In-Game Marketplace:

• Browse popular mods
• Search by category
• Read reviews and ratings
• Install directly from game

This transforms modding from technical process to casual user experience.

Modder Support

Missing Features:

• Add tools and APIs modders request
• Expand modding capabilities
• Better documentation
• Support community developers

Hypixel is committed to giving modders everything they need to create content.

Server Owner Support

Planned: Official minigames and assets shared with server owners

Sharing Official Content

Hypixel will develop minigames and then:

• Release source code to server owners
• Share assets and resources
• Provide implementation guides
• Enable servers to customize and improve

Simon's goal: "Let them outcompete us."

Philosophy:

• Empower community servers
• Don't monopolize content
• Share knowledge and resources
• Community creates better than official

This approach benefits the entire server ecosystem and ensures diverse content across Hytale.

Social Features

Planned: Friends list, guilds, proximity voice chat, and safe community spaces

Cross-Server Guild System

Someone asked: "What does guilds mean in this context? Are guilds specific to each server built into the game, so people can create guilds on each server, or a cross-server guild system where people can represent their guild on each server?"

Simon clarified: "Like a large group of friends with shared chat"

How Guilds Will Work:

• Cross-server friend groups
• Shared guild chat across all servers
• Represent your guild anywhere
• Not tied to individual servers

Example: Your guild can play together on Guilds factions server, then switch to a minigame server while staying in the same guild chat and maintaining guild identity.

Friends List System

Basic Social Features:

• Add friends across servers
• See online status
• Join friends' games easily
• Private messaging

Proximity Voice Chat

Spatial Voice Communication:

• Talk to nearby players
• Distance-based volume
• Immersive communication
• Optional participation

This enhances roleplay servers and cooperative gameplay significantly.

Safe Community Space

Simon emphasized: "Increase user retention by creating a good, safe space."

Safety Features:

• Moderation tools
• Parental controls (see below)
• Report systems
• Community guidelines enforcement

The goal is retaining players by making Hytale welcoming and safe.

Adventure Mode Completion

Planned: Quests, voice acting, cinematics, and rich storytelling

Quest Systems

Structured Adventures:

• NPC quest givers
• Storyline progression
• Side quests and optional content
• Quest tracking and objectives

Voice Actors (Possibly)

Simon mentioned "possibly voice actors" for adventure mode.

Professional Voice Work:

• NPC dialogue voiced
• Cinematic narration
• Quest character personalities
• Immersive storytelling

This elevates adventure mode from text boxes to cinematic experience.

In-Game Cinematics

Scripted Sequences:

• Story moments with cutscenes
• Camera work and direction
• Dramatic storytelling
• Epic reveals and moments

Hytale could feature Blizzard-quality cinematics for major story beats.

Parental Controls

Planned: Comprehensive parental control systems

Simon explained the reasoning: "The game is funded as a passion project, and I want to have proper parental controls so that when my kids are playing, I feel comfortable with it."

Expected Features

Chat Controls:

• Filter inappropriate language
• Limit communication channels
• Approve friend requests

Gameplay Restrictions:

• Time limits
• Content restrictions
• Server access controls

Safety Features:

• Reporting systems
• Block/mute capabilities
• Age-appropriate content filtering

This is personally important to Simon as a parent, ensuring Hytale is safe for children.

Automation Systems

Planned: Systems for players who love to tinker

What This Could Include

Mechanical Systems:

• Redstone-like logic systems
• Automated farming/mining
• Conveyor belts and transport
• Computer-like programming

Engineering Content:

• Build working machines
• Automate resource gathering
• Create complex contraptions
• Technical gameplay depth

This appeals to Minecraft's technical community and extends gameplay for creative engineers.

Accessibility Options

Planned: Controller support and accessibility features

Controller Support

Console-Style Controls:

• Full gamepad support
• Remappable controls
• UI adapted for controllers
• Comfortable couch gaming

Essential for eventual console releases and PC players preferring controllers.

Accessibility Features

Inclusive Design:

• Colorblind modes
• Text-to-speech options
• Customizable UI scaling
• Subtitle options
• Input assistance

Making Hytale playable for everyone regardless of physical limitations.

Visual Improvements

Planned: Lighting upgrades and graphics enhancements

Lighting System Improvements

Better Illumination:

• Enhanced shadow systems
• Improved global illumination
• Better atmosphere and mood
• Ray tracing possibilities

Overall Visual Polish

Graphics Upgrades:

• Texture improvements
• Particle effect enhancements
• Animation refinements
• Visual effect upgrades

Hytale already looks good but will receive continuous visual improvements throughout development.

Community Interaction

Planned: Active listening and transparent communication

Simon concluded with: "Listen and interact with the community and much much more."

Development Approach

Community Feedback:

• Regular dev blogs
• Social media interaction
• Community surveys
• Beta testing programs

Transparent Development:

• Share progress updates
• Explain decisions
• Acknowledge issues
• Show work in progress

Hypixel Studios commits to involving the community in development rather than going dark for years.

Timeline Expectations

None of these features have specific release dates.

Subject to Change

Simon explicitly stated plans are "subject to change of course."

What This Means:

• Features may be added or removed
• Priorities might shift
• Timeline could extend
• Scope may adjust

Early Access Duration

No official timeline for early access completion.

Expected Duration:

• Likely multiple years
• Major systems take time
• Iterative development
• Community feedback influences pace

Priority Features

Some features will come sooner than others:

• Modding support probably early (core promise)
• Social features likely prioritized (retention)
• Visual improvements ongoing throughout
• World Gen v2 major milestone

What This Means for Players

Long-Term Investment

Pre-ordering Hytale means supporting years of development.

You're Buying:

• Current early access state (limited)
• Promise of future development
• Influence on game direction
• Long-term journey

You're Not Buying:

• Finished product
• Guaranteed feature list
• Specific timeline
• Complete game experience

Evolving Game

Hytale will change dramatically during early access.

Expect:

• Major feature additions
• Significant improvements
• Regular updates
• Constant evolution

Don't Expect:

• Stability in game systems
• Feature completeness
• Quick turnaround
• Unchanging vision

Guilds Server and Future Features

Many of these planned features directly benefit competitive servers like Guilds.

Cross-Server Guild System

When official guild system launches:

• Your Guilds factions guild could integrate with official system
• Cross-server guild chat while playing other modes
• Represent your guild identity everywhere

Proximity Voice Chat

Tactical Advantages:

• Coordinate raids with voice
• Call out enemy positions
• Real-time strategy adjustments
• Immersive guild warfare

Improved Combat Content

More Challenges:

• New bosses for guilds to tackle cooperatively
• Dungeon raids for guild groups
• PvE content between PvP wars

Social Features

Better Community:

• Official friends list integration
• Enhanced guild management
• Improved player retention
• Safer community space

Join Guilds

• Discord: discord.hyguilds.com
• Website: www.hyguilds.com

Launch: January 13, 2026 alongside Hytale early access

The Bottom Line

Hytale's future is ambitious but uncertain.

Planned Features:

• Living world interactions
• Expanded combat content
• World Generation v2
• In-game mod installation and discovery
• Server owner support with official content sharing
• Cross-server guilds and social features
• Proximity voice chat
• Adventure mode with quests, voice acting, cinematics
• Parental controls
• Automation systems
• Controller support and accessibility
• Visual improvements
• Active community interaction

Reality Check:

• All plans subject to change
• No specific timelines
• Multi-year development ahead
• Community feedback influences direction

Simon's Vision: "The game is funded as a passion project."

This isn't corporate deadline-driven development. It's passion-driven creation funded by community support. Features arrive when ready, not when scheduled.

Support Hytale if you believe in this vision and accept the long journey ahead.

Published by Guilds Team — 2025