Hypixel Studios announced on March 3, 2026 that Hytale has surpassed 20 million mod downloads during Early Access and is celebrating the milestone by funding a major modding competition with CurseForge.
The New Worlds Modding Contest carries a total prize pool of $100,000 and will name 65 winners across three main categories, plus additional community prizes and rolling cash drops during the submission window. The studio said the contest is designed to accelerate the game’s mod ecosystem. Hytale entered Early Access on January 13, 2026 and the community has produced more than 5,000 mods since that date.
How the $100,000 prize pool is distributed
Each of the contest’s three primary categories receives a $27,000 pool that will be split among the top finishers. Prizes in each category are distributed like this:
- 1st place $10,000
- 2nd place $7,500
- 3rd place $2,500
- 4th to 10th place $1,000 each
The contest categories spell out what Hypixel and CurseForge want creators to build in 2026.
- WorldGen V2. Use the visual node editor to produce fully generated biomes, regions, or themed zones. Entries should emphasize environmental identity, memorable landmarks, and exploration rewards.
- NPCs. Design or overhaul critters, enemies, and boss encounters. The judging will look for memorable behavior and creative use of Hytale’s asset configuration system.
- Experiences. Submit full gameplay overhauls, adventure maps, minigames, hard modes, or progression systems such as skill trees or crafting reworks. PvP and multiplayer entries are eligible.
When finalists are announced, players will vote to choose five Community Favorites. Each Community Favorite receives $2,000, for a total of $10,000 in community-picked prizes. The contest will also run three Mid Contest Drops during the submission period. Each drop will reward 10 qualifying creators with $300 apiece, adding $9,000 in rolling incentives meant to highlight standout projects before final judging concludes.
Uri Marchand, CEO and co-founder of Overwolf, commented that the event encourages creators to push World Gen, NPC systems, and gameplay experiences further. Hypixel emphasized that the New Worlds Modding Contest is an early step in recognizing and rewarding the community shaping Hytale’s future. Creators who want the full rules and submission guidelines can find them on the official contest page via CurseForge. The studio is also offering cash bounties for bug hunters as another way to reward community contributions and help improve the Early Access build.
Which category would you enter if you were building a Hytale mod? Share your pick and why in the comments, and connect with updates on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
Hytale
Developed by Hypixel Studios
