League of Legends, creators of Riot Games, has bought Hypixel Studios. Hypixel is the studio behind Hytale, a community-driven block game that "combines the power of a fun sandbox and the richness of a roleplaying game." League of Legends maker Riot has purchased Hypixel Studios for an undisclosed amount.
What is Riot buying from Hypixel?
Hytale is a free-to-play open-world sandbox game where players can explore, build, battle, and survive together. Hytale was released in June 2018 with a monthly active user base of over 2 million players. The game is available on PC and Mac and attracts diverse players. Hytale also has a thriving online community.
Why would Riot acquire a game studio?
Hytale has a very active and engaged player base, with a large and growing number of players each month. Hytale also has a strong community, which Riot could leverage to develop its customer base. Riot may also have been attracted to Hytale's business model - F2P and supported by in-game purchases. Riot's flagship game, League of Legends, is also F2P, but some of Riot's other games are premium. Acquiring a successful F2P game studio could allow Riot to experiment with and improve its F2P offering and business model. In July, Riot acquired Radiant, a game studio focused on PvP.
What happens next?
Hytale and Radiant will operate as separate entities for the foreseeable future. Riot said the teams will retain autonomy and "continue to build great games and enrich their respective communities." Hytale will continue to develop and evolve, with Riot providing support and investment. Riot may also support Hytale with new hires as the studio scales its operations. Riot will also look to build synergies between Hytale, Radiant, and their other games. This will likely include cross-promotional activities and potentially game integrations.
Some Features
Hytale blends the realism of a sandbox and the richness of a roleplaying game, immersing players into a dynamically generated world with teetering castles and deep dungeons offering rich rewards. The game was designed with imaginative players at heart. The Hytale engine can handle everything from building castles using blocks to scripting and modification using simple-to-play and robust tools. It is a worldwide adventure game, including combat making and construction for individuals and groups. In addition, it has an array of online minigames, including players' ability to make and create their own.
Final Thoughts
Riot Games announced that it had acquired the San Francisco-based startup Hytale Studios, creating a new esports division within Riot.
The new division, Riot Games Los Angeles, will be led by existing Riot Games LA team leaders Jonathan 'KingCaffeine' Martin and Nick 'Crown' Clawson. These two are joined by four additional Riot employees passionate about esports and will join the Riot sports team in Los Angeles. The new division is focused on building a successful first-party esports experience for League of Legends players and providing a platform for third-party sports content creators.
Published by Jack Gibson on March 02, 2023
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