Hytale will not be released on Steam and there will be no advance keys for the press. We explain how this will affect the early access test of the Minecraft alternative.
On January 13, 2026, after years of waiting and countless trailers, the sandbox role-playing game Hytale will finally be released. However, it is far from finished and will initially only be available in early access – and without a Steam release. And that’s ten years after development began!
But if you’re looking for a final rating on GlobalESportNews right on time for the launch, you won’t find it for now. The current circumstances surrounding the release make it impossible to conduct a thorough test immediately upon release.
Update from January 15, 2026: The first part of our Hyrule test is now live. In it, we provide an overview of the content of the Early Access version and draw a preliminary conclusion!
Why there is no test for the launch of Hytale
We requested review keys from the developers at Hypixel Studios quite some time ago. Our goal was to provide timely and in-depth coverage right on time for the launch. However, we have not yet received a personal response from the studio. Instead, we were referred to a form for automatic code delivery. But the keys have not arrived yet.
We don’t know if this is a general policy or if only press outlets such as GameStar are affected. It’s quite possible that content creators on YouTube and other social media platforms will be able to play Hytale before its release.
This means the same starting point for you and us: we will only be able to purchase and download the title once it is officially released. Only then will our actual testing phase begin under live conditions.
Our schedule for the Hytale test
Since we did not receive any advance keys, our test will not be published until a few days after the release. However, we are working hard to provide you with our initial conclusions as quickly as possible. Here is our schedule (subject to change):
- On January 15, 2026, our tester will give a first brief conclusion about the game: How is the technology? Are building and fighting fun? Is crafting motivating?
- By January 19, 2026, we will provide a test update with a rating forecast.
- Depending on the scope of the game, we will then complete the test over the course of the next week and draw conclusions about the early access version.
It is currently impossible to estimate how much playing time the early access release of Hytale will offer, which is why it is difficult to make accurate predictions about the duration of the test. However, we will ensure that we can comprehensively assess the long-term motivation, complex crafting, and online components for the review and rating.
Development history and awards
Hytale has had an extremely turbulent history. What began in 2015 as an ambitious project by former Minecraft modders quickly developed into the great hope of the genre .
The acquisition by Riot Games in 2020 provided the necessary financial resources, but also led to massive internal changes. The team decided to completely redevelop the engine to prepare the game for the future and enable cross-play.
In August 2025, Hytale development was officially discontinued , but in November of the same year, 30 original developers the license from Riot. Instead of the new engine developed by Riot, Early Access will now return to using the original technical foundation.
If you want to dive into the world of Orbis on the very first day, you’ll have to give Steam a wide berth. Hytale will not be available on Valve’s platform for the time being, primarily due to its early stage of development. Instead, it will be distributed exclusively via the game’s official website.
There are three different pricing options available. The standard version costs around $23. If you want to invest more, you can opt for the supporter version for $40. For particularly dedicated fans, there is the Founder’s Edition for $80. The more expensive editions include various cosmetic skins.
While a later release of Hytale for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S is planned, the focus at the start of Early Access is clearly on the PC.
