Hytale Skipping Steam Initially to Avoid Negative Reviews, Console Launch Planned

Insider Gaming
Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:37:16 +0000

Hytale will launch in early access on January 13 for PC at a price of $19.99, but will not be available on Steam initially to avoid negative reviews. Hypixel Studios aims to focus on community feedback and game improvement before considering a Steam release. Future plans include console launches, though a mobile version is still under evaluation.

2025-12-04 | Rock Paper Shotgun: Hytale won't be on Steam right away, as its devs want to avoid "overindexing on negative reviews" from players who "aren't as well-informed yet"

Hytale, set for early access on January 13th, will not launch on Steam initially to avoid negative reviews from less informed players. Executive director Patrick 'Lyall' Derbic emphasized the focus on community feedback during early access. The game will have a base price of $20, with no pay-to-win elements, and features like pets and fishing are planned for future updates. Hardware specifications for the game have also been shared.

2025-12-04 | GamesRadar+: Hytale won't be on Steam at launch as devs "do not see the necessity of it" and want to avoid bad reviews from "people that aren't as well-informed"

Hytale will not launch on Steam on January 13, 2026, as the developers aim to avoid negative reviews from uninformed players. Executive director Patrick 'Lyall' Derbic stated that the team prefers to focus on community feedback during Early Access rather than deal with potential backlash. The game, which was previously canceled by Riot Games, is being developed under original owner Simon Collins-Laflamme, who cautions that it is still in a rough state.

2025-12-04 | PCGamesN: Minecraft rival Hytale skips Steam at launch to dodge negative reviews, and its developer says it "might never need" Valve's store

Hytale will not launch on Steam during its early access phase starting January 2026, opting for its own launcher instead. Hypixel Studios aims to avoid negative reviews that could arise from early players. The game, revived by its original creator after being canceled by Riot Games, will focus on community feedback and will not include pay-to-win options. Early access will be PC-exclusive, with plans for Mac, Linux, and consoles later.

2025-12-04 | PC Gamer: Hytale won't be on Steam when it launches into early access: Developers want to focus on the game, not 'on negative reviews from players that aren't as well-informed yet about what we are doing'

Hytale is set for an early access launch in January but will not be available on Steam. Developer Hypixel Studios aims to focus on community engagement and game improvement without the distraction of potentially negative reviews from less informed players. Executive director Patrick Derbic emphasized that while Steam is a powerful marketing tool, they do not see it as necessary at this stage. The decision reflects Hytale's established audience and the challenges of early access feedback on Steam.

2025-12-05 | GamesRadar+: Hytale lead isn't putting his Minecraft competitor on Steam at launch because "everything is wrong" with it, and Palworld lead "totally" understands his hesitance

Hytale's creator, Simon Collins-Laflamme, has decided not to launch the game on Steam due to its unfinished state, stating "everything is wrong with the game." After regaining rights from Riot Games, he plans to release Hytale in early access on January 13, 2026, focusing on community feedback for improvements. Palworld's John Buckley supports this decision, emphasizing the importance of confidence in a game's state before publishing on platforms like Steam.

2025-12-05 | GamesRadar+: Hytale owner calls Minecraft "one of the greatest" games of all time, but his own sandbox is going in a "different direction" with crafting more like Terraria

Hytale's lead, Simon Collins-Laflamme, praised Minecraft as "one of the greatest games of all time" but emphasized that Hytale will take a "very different path," focusing on adventure and modding. He noted that Hytale's crafting system will resemble Valheim and Terraria rather than Minecraft's grid system. Hytale is set for Early Access on January 13, 2026, and will not launch on Steam to avoid negative reviews from uninformed players.