Hypixel Studios confirmed Hytale will not appear on Steam when early access launches on January 13, 2026, saying the move is meant to avoid “overindexing on negative reviews from players that aren’t as well-informed yet about what we are doing.” The studio posted the explanation in a FAQ on the Hytale website. The developer has set the base early access price at $19.99 and will open pre-orders on December 13, 2025. Hypixel says the initial release will be PC only, with console launches planned for a later date.
Executive director Patrick ‘Lyall’ Derbic framed the decision around taking time to “work with the community and improve the game,” and noted that “Steam is a great marketing tool” but one the studio may not need at launch. The FAQ also says console versions are expected later, but that supporting consoles “requires a lot of work on backend systems” so the team wants to “focus on making a good game first.”
Hypixel added that a mobile version will not be available during early access and that the team is “still evaluating what it would take to make this a feasible reality.” The choice to delay or skip Steam at launch appears informed by recent launch reactions on Valve’s platform, where high-profile releases have seen rapid negative review swings. ConsolePCGaming covered one such example in our write-up of a recent Steam launch backlash, a reminder of how quickly first impressions can harden on the storefront.
Hypixel’s approach means early access buyers will get the first look on PC without the immediate pressure of Steam user reviews, while the studio works through early feedback and backend tasks needed for consoles.
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Hytale
Developed by Hypixel Studios
