Hytale Early Access Available Jan. 2026 On Official Website, Not Steam!
The wait for Hytale is finally – well, almost – over. Hypixel Studios has announced that Early Access will commence on Jan. 13, 2026. However, getting your hands on the game isn’t as straightforward as opening a launcher and clicking “buy.” There are a few hoops to jump through, some specific hardware checks to make, and a decision on how much you’re willing to spend.
Hypixel Studios Preparing Early Access on Their Site, Not Steam
Let’s rip the bandage off: No, Hytale is not launching on Steam. At least, not yet. If you head over to Steam, you’re going to come up empty-handed. Hypixel Studios has made a deliberate choice to keep the game off Valve’s platform for the initial early access launch. This is mainly due to how the players’ feedback and reviews are channeled.
The developers want to avoid the dreaded “Mixed” review status that plagues so many Early Access titles. By keeping the launch on their own platform, they filter out the casual browsers who might rage-quit and leave a negative review because of a single bug. They want a community of informed players who understand that “Early Access” actually means the game is unfinished. They desire constructive feedback, not a review bomb because of hiccups on day one.
HOLD IT! Check Hytale’s System Requirements First!
Before you drop some hard cash, make sure your rig can actually run Hytale. The good news is that blocky games generally aren’t as demanding as Crysis, but you still need decent specs. You never know if there’s a component you need and don’t have.
Minimum (1080p @ 30 FPS):
- OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-7500 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- RAM: 8GB (12GB if using integrated graphics)
- GPU: GTX 900 Series or AMD Radeon 400 Series
- Storage: 20GB SSD (SATA is fine)
Recommended (1080p @ 60 FPS):
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 or Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: Bar isn’t sky high; something modern helps, with Integrated Intel Iris Xe listed
How to Buy Hytale Early Access
Alrighty! Now for the good stuff! With all the requirements met, we can jump into how you can get your hands on the Early Access. Since you can’t gift it to yourself on Steam, you’ll need to go directly to the source: the official website!
- Head to the Website: Go directly to the official Hytale website.
- Pick Your Poison: Hit one of the “Pre-Purchase” buttons of the three different editions present.
- Account Time: You need to create and verify a Hytale account. Yes, another login to remember, and no, there is no way around it.
- The “I Understand” Check: Before you pay, the site will make you acknowledge that the game is in active development. Basically, a promise not to panic if you encounter bugs.
- Download: Once the purchase is done, you’re set to download when servers go live on Jan. 13.
Hytale Editions and Prices Breakdown
Hypixel knows that gamers love to show off (I myself am an item collector…not a klepto!), so they have tiered the pricing based on all the cool goodies available in-game with that purchase. All three tiers get you into the game, so don’t worry about being locked out of the actual gameplay.
Standard Edition ($19.99)
This edition is for the pragmatist: you get full access to the game, the ability to reserve your desired username (important if you want “John” instead of “John6967”), and two exclusive cosmetic outfit sets—Voyager and Forest Guardian. You’ll also receive a unique standard cape only available with this edition.
Supporter Edition ($34.99)
With a little extra cash, the Supporter tier adds the Featherbound, Scavenger, and Arctic Scout sets. You also get “Explorer Goggles,” which are universally understood as code for “I take this adventure seriously.” This also includes all the gifts from the Standard Edition, but the cape is upgraded to the exclusive Supporter cape.
Cursebreaker Edition ($69.99)
At nearly $70 stands the exclusive “Cursebreaker” cape and flashy sets like the “Pop Star” and “Void Hero.” If you want to strut around Orbis looking like fantasy royalty, this is the one for you. It also supports the devs a great deal. This edition is the Standard and Supporter combined with extra prizes. You practically purchased all three editions at a reasonable price.
Early Access Will Be Buggy, But This Sandbox Holds Promise
The devs of Hytale have been super clear: features will change, saves might get wiped, and things will break. But if you want to help shape the future of what could be the next genre-defining sandbox game (or mainly just to have the “Void Hero” armor), Jan. 13, 2026, can’t come soon enough. The devs are giving gamers a clear voice in their creative process and repairs without the drama of one-and-done players. The devs want the gaming community’s serious input to give us a game worthy of the industry.
