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2025-12-06

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Will Hytale Be On Steam?

No, not initially. Hytale will not launch on Steam for early access on January 13, 2026. The game will be available exclusively through direct purchase from Hytale's official website.

This decision has generated significant community discussion. Here's everything you need to know about Hytale's Steam plans, the reasoning behind this choice, and what it means for players.

Why Hytale Isn't Launching on Steam

Hypixel Studios' decision centers on community-focused development rather than avoiding criticism.

Community-Driven Development Priority

Patrick 'Lyall' Derbic, Hytale's Executive Director, explained: "We want to spend our time in Early Access working with our existing community to improve the game, rather than chasing a flood of cold first impressions that could overcorrect the game's direction."

The Core Reasoning:

Early access is about iteration based on informed feedback. Hypixel wants initial feedback from players who understand:

A massive Steam launch would bring millions of first impressions from players unfamiliar with the game's state and goals. This could create pressure to chase trends or make changes based on uninformed expectations rather than thoughtful feedback from engaged players.

Not About Avoiding Criticism

Important Clarification: This isn't about avoiding negative reviews.

Simon Hypixel addressed this directly on Twitter: "Negative reviews are the most important ones to me; that's all I've been reading from our testers in the past two weeks."

Hypixel Studios has been publicly critical of their own game's current state. They posted negative assessments on social media throughout testing. The team wants honest, critical feedback - but from players who understand what they're testing.

What They Want:

Technical and Feature Considerations

Steam Workshop doesn't currently support all of Hytale's planned modding features.

Simon Hypixel explained: "The Steam workshop doesn't support many of the features we would like to see."

Hytale's modding system includes:

Steam Workshop's current infrastructure doesn't accommodate all these features. Hypixel will contact Valve to discuss possibilities, but this remains a technical barrier.

Steam Search Quality Concerns

Simon Hypixel also noted: "If you type Hytale on Steam, you see Hitler games, I mean, what?"

Steam's search algorithm showing inappropriate content when searching for "Hytale" creates brand association concerns. This is a minor point compared to community focus and technical limitations, but it factors into the decision.

Will Hytale Ever Come to Steam?

Maybe, but no commitment. Hypixel's stance: "This doesn't mean Hytale will never be on Steam; right now, we don't see the need for it."

Current Position

Steam is a great platform and marketing tool, but Hypixel might never need it. The best-selling game of all time (Minecraft) isn't on Steam, proving massive success is possible without Valve's platform.

Factors for Future Steam Release:

No Timeline

There's no timeline for Steam release evaluation. Hypixel will focus on developing the game first, then assess platform expansion based on community needs and technical feasibility.

Where to Buy Hytale

Official Website Purchase

Pre-Orders Open: December 13, 2025
Early Access Launch: January 13, 2026

Purchase directly from Hytale's official website (exact URL TBA).

Edition Pricing

Standard Edition: $19.99

Supporter Edition: $34.99

Cursebreaker Edition: $69.99

Payment and Access

Payment Methods: Credit/debit cards, PayPal (exact options TBA)
Regional Pricing: In development, not guaranteed for December 13 launch
Download: Direct download from official platform
DRM: Details TBA

No Third-Party Key Sellers

Purchase only from official sources. Third-party key resellers may sell invalid or stolen keys. Stick to Hytale's official website for guaranteed legitimate access.

Platform Availability

PC Only for Early Access

Confirmed Platforms:

Under Development:

Mac and Linux availability is still TBD for early access launch. Hypixel is working on these platforms but hasn't confirmed January 13 availability.

Console Plans

No console version for early access. Console releases are planned for later but require significant backend work.

Patrick Derbic explained: "We are planning for a console release at a later stage, but this requires a lot of work on backend systems to make this a reality. For now, we would like to focus on making a good game first."

Future Console Platforms:

Timeline: After PC early access stabilization, no specific date announced.

Mobile Version

No mobile version for early access. Mobile development is under evaluation with no timeline.

Hypixel is assessing what mobile Hytale would require technically and from a design perspective. This is neither confirmed nor cancelled - it's simply being evaluated.

Community Response

The Steam decision has generated passionate responses from the community.

Understanding the Passion

Simon Hypixel acknowledged: "Now we see that people are REALLY passionate about Steam, almost to the extreme. I also don't really buy games outside of Steam, so I get the hate."

Many PC gamers prefer Steam for:

These preferences are valid. Steam provides convenience and features many players value.

Balancing Vision and Preference

Hypixel understands the preference for Steam but prioritizes development approach over platform convenience.

Their Perspective:

Player Perspective:

Both perspectives are understandable. This is a developer vision versus player convenience situation.

Alternatives to Steam Features

If you're concerned about missing Steam features, here's what Hytale offers:

Game Updates

Steam: Automatic updates through platform
Hytale: Direct launcher updates (similar to Minecraft, League of Legends)

Modding

Steam Workshop: Limited capability for Hytale's needs
Hytale: Native modding platform with full feature support

Community Features

Steam: Friends, achievements, trading cards
Hytale: Built-in social features, official Discord, native friend system

Refunds

Steam: 2-hour play window, 14-day purchase window
Hytale: Refund policy TBA (likely similar standards)

Implications for Multiplayer Servers

Hytale's direct distribution model affects third-party servers like Guilds.

Server Access

No Impact on Connectivity: Whether purchased from Steam or official site wouldn't affect server access anyway. Players connect to third-party servers regardless of purchase platform.

Community Building

More Cohesive Community: Players purchasing directly from official site are more likely to be engaged, informed community members. This creates better server culture and more dedicated player bases.

Server Economy

Third-Party Monetization: Hypixel's 0% cut policy for first two years means servers like Guilds can invest more resources into quality and features rather than revenue sharing.

Join Guilds for Early Access

Guilds launches alongside Hytale early access on January 13, 2026, regardless of platform distribution method.

Platform-Independent Server

Direct Purchase Compatible: Buy from Hytale's official site and connect to Guilds immediately
No Steam Required: Our server works with any legitimate Hytale installation
Community Focused: We want engaged players, not mass casual audience

This aligns perfectly with Hypixel's community-driven approach. Guilds is built for dedicated factions players seeking competitive guild warfare.

Pre-Alpha Access

Join now to prepare for early access:

Timeline:

Get Started

Pre-orders open in 9 days. Whether or not Hytale comes to Steam eventually, Guilds will be ready for competitive players on day one.

The Bottom Line

Hytale will not launch on Steam for early access. This decision prioritizes community-driven development over platform convenience.

Key Points:

Your Choice:

The decision may be controversial, but it's clear: Hypixel Studios values community-driven development over platform convenience.

Hytale platform availability showing PC-only early access launch without Steam

Published by Guilds Team — 2025

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