Hytale tops Twitch charts on launch day, nearly beating “Just Chatting”
The Early Access release drew hundreds of thousands of viewers and secured years of future development.
It has been a banner launch day for Hytale. After years of anticipation and a development cycle that could only be described as a roller coaster, the game finally arrived in Early Access on January 13, 2026. The impact was immediate: within hours of going live, Hytale shot to the top of Twitch, briefly becoming the most-watched game on the platform with over 420,000 concurrent viewers.
As reported by PC Gamer, the title even challenged the “Just Chatting” behemoth for the top overall spot in the streaming service, trailing by only a few thousand views at its peak. While viewership eventually settled around 260,000 later in the day, there was anticipation for the game to finally arrive. Even in its “raw” Early Access state, the demand is so high that the game has already generated enough revenue to secure at least two more years of development.
A miraculous comeback story
The most remarkable part of Hytale’s launch is that, just six months ago, many believed the project was dead. Originally announced in 2018, the game was acquired by Riot Games in 2020. However, after several delays and shifts in scope, Riot officially canceled the project in June 2025. In a move rarely seen in the industry, co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme re-acquired the IP rights in November and led a rapid turnaround to get a playable build ready for fans.
Related stories
This revival version intentionally returns to the game’s “legacy” engine, prioritizing the original vision that captured the world’s attention years ago. This decision has paid off for the player experience; while the developers warn the build is still “rough,” the core gameplay systems—including a deep combat overhaul and a vastly expanded building system—are already proving to be a hit.
Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!
Complete your personal details to comment