This has been an incredible week for the entire Hytale team. As we publish this, the Hytale announcement trailer has been viewed more than 11 million times - a number that far exceeds our wildest expectations!We can't thank the gaming community enough for all of the amazing support we’ve received so far: the tweets, reaction videos, fanart, suggestions, speculation, all of it! We’ve been absolutely blown away by the excitement surrounding the game.It's been great to receive so much attention from the press, too. Seeing the game covered everywhere from Eurogamer, PC Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, PCGamesN and GameInformer to VentureBeat, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and more has been fantastic for the team after so many years of working on Hytale in secret.Nonetheless, we understand that with all of this attention comes high expectations. For that reason, we're taking extra steps to ramp up production and ensure that we deliver a game you'll love. For one thing, we're expanding our hiring plans. Keep an eye on our jobs page in the new year for a full list of the positions that we'll be recruiting!We know that many of you are hungry for more information about Hytale. Starting in early January, we’ll be publishing a series of articles on this blog going into detail about different features of the game, from our world generation tech to the Hytale Model Maker.In particular, we know that combat, modding and server specifics are important to large parts of the community. We're paying special attention to these topics, and in the new year we're going to be reaching out to community leaders to make sure we're providing you with the information you need. Watch this space!In the meantime, we want to provide a quick look at something we’ve been working on recently. Amongst all of the excitement of the announcement, we’ve been researching improvements to Hytale’s weather and fog system - and this week we implemented it into the game. These effects weren't finished when we produced the trailer, but here's a glimpse of what Hytale's engine is capable of:<div class="video-container"><div data-youtube-video class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IV3TKfD-S6U?showinfo=0"></div></div>The effects in this video have been drastically turned up in order to best demonstrate their impact. Not every misty winter morning will be quite this misty, but we're really pleased with the effects we're able to achieve with these new features. Of course, modders and content creators will be able to tweak weather and fog settings to their heart's content!Make sure you watch that video with sound on, too, or you’ll miss out on a preview of Hytale’s atmospheric soundtrack.This is only a glimpse of a small aspect of the game, but we hope you’ll join us in the new year for much more Hytale content. In the meantime -<img data-src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c1bc331d621950018ca0729_happy_holidays.jpg">Happy holidays, everyone!

Today we're going to provide a first look at Hytale's world generation system: the technology that underpins every area you'll explore as you progress through adventure mode. As you might expect, there's a lot to cover - so let's get to it!First, however, a quick note: in order to focus on worldgen and avoid spoilers, we've disabled creatures and enemies in most of the screenshots below.<h2>The world of Orbis</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fe72d77b784001878475e_1_world_slices_research.jpg">This piece of concept art is one of the first we produced when development of Hytale began. It depicts four of the zones that make up the planet of Orbis, which is where the bulk of Hytale's storyline takes place.As you can see, each zone is unique. Our world generation system draws from a different set of rules for each one, and each has its own set of biomes. If you look closely, you'll get a sense for how underground topography changes from the winding caves and dungeons of zone 1 to the subterranean forests of zone 4!<h2>Generating a zone</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fc88277b7840018784733_2_generating_a_zone_1.jpg">Here's an example of zone-based worldgen in action. You're looking at a top-down view of zone 1, comprising several different biomes: forests, lakes, hills, ravines and more. Our worldgen system ties these together seamlessly along with topographical features like ponds and rocky outcrops. You can also see a handful of generated points of interest.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fc8d877b7840018784735_2_generating_a_zone_2.jpg">Each zone has its own set of blocks and distinct content, including furniture sets, NPC races, creatures and critters, plantlife, weather, and geology. Exploring a cave in Borea will be very different from exploring a cave in the Emerald Grove!<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fca7b77b7840018784739_2_generating_a_zone_3.jpg"><h2>Coastal Areas and the Deep Ocean</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fc9ba77b7840018784737_3_oceans_1.jpg">Zones have different coastal features, too, including specific biomes for the shoreline. Above you can see a mountainous coast in zone 3, whereas below you can see the sands of zone 2.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcab877b784001878473b_3_oceans_2.jpg">These unique worldgen elements continue underwater, with secrets to find if you're brave enough to venture beneath the waves.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcb1677b784001878473d_3_oceans_3.jpg">That's not all, however! Venture far enough from land and you'll encounter the ocean shelf: a sudden drop-off at the edge of each zone that leads to the deep ocean. The deep ocean is, effectively, a zone all by itself: it holds many dangers - and rewards - for intrepid explorers to discover. You’ll have to prepare carefully in order to survive in the depths!<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcb5d77b784001878473f_3_oceans_4.jpg">Beyond the oceans lie the infinite lands. Hytale's storyline won't take you out that far, but our worldgen tech will ensure that there's always something for you to find beyond the edges of the world.<h2>Generated caves and dungeons</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd15177b784001878474d_4_caves_1.jpg">World generation applies to underground areas too, including caves and dungeons. While these will play differently in each zone, there are a few universal principles that govern each.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd15777b784001878474f_4_caves_2.jpg">Caves are full of secrets and creatures to encounter, and will be an important source of resources. They are entirely procedurally generated, based on rules that differ from zone to zone.Dungeons are a little different. They comprise multiple chambers and encounters joined by connecting passageways, often culminating in a “Final Room”, providing challenges and special rewards tailored by our worldteam.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcdc277b7840018784741_4_caves_3.jpg"><h2>Prefabs!</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd15f77b7840018784751_5_prefabs_1.jpg">Dungeons are just one example of how prefabricated content is incorporated into Hytale’s world generation. We’ve created thousands of prefabs - 3,785 so far! They run the range from environmental features like trees and rock faces all the way up to ruins, buildings, and special encounters. These are distributed throughout the world at random and sometimes appear only once, but may feature hand-designed challenges, objectives, and rewards.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd16277b7840018784753_5_prefabs_2.jpg">Each prefab is custom-built, and is the equivalent of a blueprint for a particular piece of content. In addition to their visual design, they can have their own triggers and events attached too.<h2>Portal dungeons</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd1c077b7840018784755_6_portal_dungeons_1.jpg">Above you can see concept art for a specific kind of prefab: the entrance to a portal dungeon. When you meet the criteria necessary to unlock one, you'll enter a hand-designed encounter with its own rules and terrain. You'll be limited in what blocks you can break within these portal dungeons, challenging you to overcome obstacles using your other skills.Depending on where you find them, portal entrances can take several different forms:<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd1c177b7840018784757_6_portal_dungeons_2.jpg">What you find on the other side will vary massively. Here's a glimpse at an early portal dungeon - the Temple of Gaia - along with one of its component parts, the Garden of Elements.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd1c077b7840018784756_6_portal_dungeons_3.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fd1c177b7840018784758_6_portal_dungeons_4.jpg"><h2>Happy little accidents</h2><img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcf0a77b7840018784747_7_happy_accidents_1.jpg">You've now got a sense of the broad principles that govern world generation in Hytale - from unique zones to hand-designed dungeons. All of this is governed by a set of rules, and some of our favourite environmental features come about when two contrasting sets of rules collide. We call these happy little accidents: moments when the principles we've laid out for a given zone combine in surprising ways.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcf1777b7840018784749_7_happy_accidents_2.jpg">We've discovered rivers that carve their way through mountains and dungeons that have been split in half by a ravine. Swampy terrain might creep halfway up a mountain, or you might be exploring a cave only to discover a lost mine deep within. These small touches help ensure that every world - and the adventures you have there - truly feel different.<img src="https://cdn.hytale.com/5c2fcf1c77b784001878474b_7_happy_accidents_3.jpg">What’s more, all of the world generation systems we’ve created will be fully customizable by content creators. You can tweak worldgen rules - or write your own - through configuration files. You can also build and share your own prefabs and dungeons, including instanced portal dungeons. You can create and configure your own blocks, environments, and even NPCs. Combining all of these options together gives content creators the power to craft biomes, zones - and ultimately worlds - of their own!

Worldgen Introduction

We&rsquo;ve just unleashed a hurricane of information about Hytale, so it&rsquo;s natural that you might have some questions. Below, you&rsquo;ll find an extensive FAQ covering many important topics, including an extra FAQ aimed squarely at content creators.
<h2>General FAQ</h2>
<ul>
 <li>When is Hytale coming out?
 <ul>
 <li>This date is still to be confirmed. We&rsquo;re eager to get it into the hands of players but we want to make sure we do so at a time that makes sense. We want to be confident that we deliver a first impression worthy of player expectations as well as our own ambitions. Rest assured that we are ramping up production to deliver the game to you as fast as we&rsquo;re able while also meeting these standards.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What are the different ways that I can play Hytale?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale is comprised of three main pillars:
 <ul>
 <li>Adventure mode, where you embark on a journey through a procedurally generated fantasy world either solo or with friends.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Minigames: session-based experiences where you test your skills in PvP and co-op.</li>
 <li>Creative tools designed for all types of content creators.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Community servers can take advantage of all of these aspects of Hytale to realize their own vision.</li>
 <li>Find out more about all of these modes on the <a href="/game">game page</a>!</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What platforms will Hytale be released on?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale will launch for PC and Mac, with the capacity to run game servers on Linux. We&rsquo;ll explore the possibility of releasing the game on other platforms during development, but for now our focus is on PC and Mac.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What languages will be available at release?
 <ul>
 <li>This is to be confirmed. Please stay tuned for more information!</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Can you reserve my username, please?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale usernames will be unique. This means that there can only be one &lsquo;Bob&rsquo; or one &lsquo;Sally&rsquo;. We understand how important names are to players, so we&rsquo;re excited to let you know that we&rsquo;ve developed a name reservation system that will become available at some point within the next few months. More details to come.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What age rating is Hytale?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale is not yet rated, but we&rsquo;re aiming for T for Teen.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Will you have parental controls built into the game?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale will include a comprehensive set of tools that will allow account holders to limit access to online play and custom content. However, as with every online game, we encourage parents to pay attention to the content that their children are consuming as well as their interactions with others online.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Is Hytale going to be free to play or paid?&nbsp;
 <ul>
 <li>We&rsquo;re still finalising the exact details of the business model. When that&rsquo;s done, we&rsquo;ll share more details!</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Are you going to have beta tests?
 <ul>
 <li>Yes. You can register for the waiting list right now, in fact! Keep an eye on our website and social media for more information about upcoming tests.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What makes Hytale different from existing Hypixel server minigames?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale was built from ground up with minigames in mind which means that we - and community creators - have the freedom to create experiences you&rsquo;ll enjoy. We can even make a top-down shooter if we want to! It also gives us new opportunities like anti-cheat, client optimizations specific to minigames, and much more.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Does this mean that you&rsquo;re going to stop supporting Hypixel minigame servers?
 <ul>
 <li>No! The Hypixel server will remain active and supported - exactly the same as it is now. In fact, the team working on Hytale broke off from the Hypixel server team over two years ago. Current Hypixel server players shouldn&rsquo;t notice any change in the rate of updates, new content, or quality of support.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Will I be able to move my stats/progress from the Hypixel server to Hytale?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale is a brand new game and it is not possible to move anything between the two.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What is the difference between Hypixel Inc. and Hypixel Studios?
 <ul>
 <li>Hypixel Inc. is the company that runs (and will continue to run) the Hypixel server. Hypixel Studios is a new company that has been formed in order to develop Hytale.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Where can I get more information about the development of Hytale?
 <ul>
 <li>You&rsquo;ll find regular updates from the developers on this website - be sure to follow our various social media channels for even more information. You can follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/Hytale">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HytaleGame">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/Hytale">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/HytaleGame/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://snapchat.com/add/Hytale">Snapchat</a>. If you <a href="/signup">sign up for the beta</a>, you&rsquo;ll also get occasional updates via email.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Can you tell us more about PvP?
 <ul>
 <li>During the trailer creation process we made a conscious decision to only touch lightly on PvP. We understand that the PvP community will hold us to high standards, and we wanted to make sure you had an opportunity to give us your requests and feedback now that Hytale is public. We are consulting with community leaders and experts in order to deliver deep and varied PvP that&rsquo;s both fun and fair. You can expect individual aspects and elements of PvP to be covered more deeply in future preview articles.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
</ul>
<h2>Technical FAQ</h2>
<ul>
 <li>What engine does Hytale run on?
 <ul>
 <li>Hytale runs on a proprietary, custom-built engine. We were unable to find any off-the-shelf engines that were suitable for our vision of a high-end blockgame.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Will there be two-factor authentication (2FA)?
 <ul>
 <li>Optional app-based 2FA will be available from the moment you are able to create an account.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Will you support modding?
 <ul>
 <li>Yes. Hytale was made with creators in mind and includes a comprehensive collection of tools that grant players more creative power than ever, from model creation and animation to filmmaking, in-game scripting, and - of course - building with blocks.</li>
 <li>However, to combat abuse we will not permit modifications to the client itself. With the amount of freedom you are given with Hytale&rsquo;s toolset, however, you won&rsquo;t need to do so. Having a single version of the game to support makes things easier for us as developers, too.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>How extensively can I mod the game?
 <ul>
 <li>Every aspect of Hytale is customizable, from damage values to animations, models, weather, combat mechanics, and more. Our ambition is to empower our community to make entire new worlds for themselves. We will cover this more deeply in an upcoming post showcasing the breadth of content you can make.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>How do players customize their playing experience if the client is not open to modding?
 <ul>
 <li>When a client connects to a community server with a custom version of the game, a handshake process occurs in which all of the required files, data, sounds, models, animations, and so on are downloaded by the client.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Will I be able to run my own server?
 <ul>
 <li>Yes. You will be able to run your own adventure servers, your own minigames, and more. More details will follow in the next few months.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Where will official servers be located?
 <ul>
 <li>We can easily transfer players&rsquo; connections around the world to ensure they are playing with the lowest ping possible, as long as there&rsquo;s an opponent to connect them to.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>What minimum computer specs do I need?
 <ul>
 <li>We don&rsquo;t have official minimum specs yet, but currently you can play Hytale on a low end integrated laptop GPU with default view distance just fine. We understand that many players in our community are running lower-end computers. That said, there will also be extensive graphics options available for players with more powerful systems.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
</ul>
<h2>Content Creators&rsquo; FAQ</h2>
<ul>
 <li>Can I use Hytale announcement assets on my channel or stream?
 <ul>
 <li>Yep! You also have permission to activate monetization on videos using Hytale assets, including the trailer, as long as they are being used for the purpose of reaction, analysis, or commentary.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Where can I find more assets?
 <ul>
 <li>Screenshots, wallpapers, and concept art are available in the <a href="/media">media section</a> and as part of articles in the <a href="/news">news section</a>. Feel free to use/crop/modify our assets to suit the needs of your coverage of Hytale.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
 <li>Will I be able to monetize Hytale content?
 <ul>
 <li>You will be able to make your own Hytale content and services and monetize them. There will be a lightweight set of rules and guidelines regarding the creation of monetized in-game content, as well as some basic do&rsquo;s and don'ts with regards to using our IP. These rules are aimed at improving user security, prohibiting extreme content, combatting scamming, and so on. They will be informed by drawing from our own experiences operating our server and consulting with community members. We are very confident that our guidelines will be easy to agree to. A core goal of Hytale is to empower and enable all sorts of content creators, and we want you to be able to support yourselves by chasing your passions.</li>
 </ul>
 </li>
</ul>

Happy holidays from the Hytale team!