Hytale's Ghost Still Haunting? Stardew Valley Dev Downplays Rescue Mission, But Hope Flickers On
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Despite internet hopes, Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone won't be leading the charge to revive the cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but the game's original founder is making a serious attempt to bring it back from the brink.
Right, so remember Hytale? The Minecraft-alike that Riot Games unceremoniously yeeted into the abyss after a decade of cooking? Yeah, the internet hasn't forgotten either, and they're trying to resurrect the poor thing. According to Eurogamer, everyone's been badgering Stardew Valley's Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone to ride in on a pixelated white horse and save the day. But hold your horses, mate.
Last week, Riot pulled the plug, saying they just couldn't "bring Hytale to life in a way that truly delivered on its promise." (Which, let's be honest, sounds like corporate speak for "we messed up big time.") Apparently, Hypixel, the original developer, had been trying to find someone to take the reins, but no luck. Cue the heartbroken fans.
Someone on Discord apparently pitched Barone the idea, with the subtle suggestion that it would be a good investment for him too. His reply? A very sensible, "Possibly, but I would have to hear more about what the plan is, why it failed initially (behind the scenes), etc." But the internet being the internet, that “possibly” was amplified into a full-blown rescue mission in their collective minds.
Barone has since clarified to Rock Paper Shotgun that he's not actively doing anything. "I'm not actively doing anything to make this happen. If something were presented to me, I would be open to entertaining the idea, that's all." Fair enough, he's busy conjuring up spooky chocolates in his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier. Can't blame a bloke for having his priorities.
But here’s where it gets a bit more interesting. Simon Collins-Laflamme, Hypixel's original founder, has thrown his hat in the ring. He's apparently willing to “reach out” to Riot with a $25 million investment proposal. That's a fair chunk of change. His plan? A "very early access release with temporarily removed features." So, basically, a slightly less polished version of what was already planned.
Collins-Laflamme wisely cautioned everyone to "keep your expectations extremely low." He knows the odds are stacked against him. But, bless his heart, he feels he owes it to the community. "It's the least I can do to the same community that gave me the opportunity to be where I am today... It will take months to get answers and months to get done. I will share as much as possible as I go through the process." Fair dinkum, that’s a noble gesture.
So, what does this all mean? Hytale might still have a pulse, but it's on life support. Barone isn't the messiah the internet hoped for (at least not yet), but the original creator is willing to give it a shot. Keep your fingers crossed, folks, and maybe, just maybe, Hytale will rise from the ashes. (Or, more likely, remain a cautionary tale about over-ambitious game development.)
Tags: Hytale, Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Indie Games, Riot Games
Original article: Eurogamer