Hytale’s development is flexible, with features like friend lists and proximity chat already underway as the Minecraft-inspired sandbox prepares for early access.

Hytale has officially kicked off its early access phase, and it’s time to start anticipating what lies ahead. The developers have indicated that the Hytale roadmap is still flexible, as they aim to gather player feedback to determine their priorities. However, some essential features are already in the works.

In a recent blog post accompanying the launch, the team mentioned that early updates will roll out “quickly and frequently” due to a “large backlog of obvious construction sites” that need attention. They’ve been clear that Hytale will have its rough edges as early access begins, and addressing these issues will be the initial focus before diving into more significant updates.

“The development of official minigames will commence in the coming months,” the team stated, “allowing us to introduce new systems and features that enhance gameplay and broaden access to third-party servers. Additionally, we already have prototypes for social features like friend lists and proximity voice chat in the works.”

They also noted that the “roadmap isn’t entirely set,” as they anticipate feedback from players experiencing Hytale for the first time in the coming weeks and months. If you encounter any bugs while playing, the studio encourages you to utilize the in-game bug report tool.

The studio has ample time to ensure a successful early access experience. Recently, lead developer Simon Collins-Laflamme shared that Hytale’s 50-person development team is funded for the next two years solely through pre-orders.

Hytale, a Minecraft-inspired RPG, is gearing up for “over 1 million players” at launch, with the lead developer reflecting on the “incredibly difficult” journey of its development: “No sacrifices, no Hytale.”