The streamer Jynxzi, currently one of the most popular content creators on Twitch, has been permanently banned from League of Legends for violating the rule that only allows players to use their own accounts. Despite having no prior experience in the game, Jynxzi managed to access ranked matches, which generated controversy and complaints about preferential treatment from Riot Games, the developer of the title. Banned, but with privileges The controversy arose hours after Jynxzi started playing, when he received a message in the game client notifying him that he had been […]
Despite having no prior experience in the game, Jynxzi managed to access ranked matches, which generated controversy and complaints about preferential treatment from Riot Games, the developer of the title.
Banned, but with privileges
The controversy arose hours after Jynxzi started playing, when he received a message in the game client notifying him that he had been sanctioned. The streamer, who currently holds the second position in viewing hours on Twitch, represented a key opportunity to revitalize interest in League of Legends, especially in North America, where the game is struggling to attract new users.
After the ban, Riot Games informed Jynxzi that, instead of receiving a permanent punishment, he would be given a custom game account designed specifically for him, starting at the lowest rank: Iron 1. This decision has been well received by both the player community and Jynxzi himself, who began playing almost immediately with the help of other content creators. This approach suggests that Riot Games is considering significant changes to the experience of new users, especially in light of the game’s relaunch planned for 2027, which promises to make access to ranked matches more accessible.
The situation highlights a growing need to evolve the way new players interact with the game, making the learning curve associated with League of Legends less burdensome. With the support of creators like Jynxzi, Riot seems to be looking for new ways to attract and retain this valuable player base.
The situation of 2XKO, the fighting game set in the universe of League of Legends, has taken an unexpected turn for Riot Games. After failing to meet high commercial and popularity expectations, the company underwent a restructuring that resulted in over 80 layoffs in its development team. However, Riot has issued a statement to assure the community that they have no plans to discontinue the title and that they will continue to release additional content in the coming months. Riot remains confident in 2XKO According to the announcement, 2XKO will focus on the gaming community […]
The situation of 2XKO, the fighting game set in the League of Legends universe, has taken an unexpected turn for Riot Games. After failing to meet high commercial and popularity expectations, the company underwent a restructuring that resulted in over 80 layoffs in its development team.
According to the announcement, 2XKO will focus on the existing fighting game community, rather than trying to attract a broader audience. According to Riot, “we are going to double down on our efforts to create content aimed at the members of the ‘fighting game community’ who love the genre.”
This approach includes the implementation of a local play duo mode, the promotion of a competitive environment, and balance adjustments to the game.
In addition, the arrival of two new characters to the game’s roster has been confirmed: Akali and Senna, both popular within the League of Legends community. Akali is expected to be included in the game at the beginning of the next season, while Senna should be incorporated shortly after.
Although these characters are well received, the lack of clarity regarding long-term plans for 2XKO has left players with doubts about the future of the season system and the arrival of new champions throughout the year.
As Riot Games embarks on this new approach for 2XKO, many are wondering not only about the immediate updates but also about their strategic plans for the coming years.Can Riot Games clarify their roadmap for the game in the future? Only time will tell.
Fighting games are one of the most particular genres of video games. They are undoubtedly niche, but they are treated as if they were still mainstream. Everyone wants them to appeal to the general public, but at the same time, they get furious if they are not basically esports designed to have high-level competitions around them. And in this constant contradiction of having to be treated like sports, but wanting to open up to the general public, is where they exist: never managing to break out of the big titles that have already attracted an audience for decades. Riot Games seems to want to be the one […]
Fighting games are one of the most unique genres in video gaming. They are undoubtedly niche, but they are treated as if they are still mainstream. Everyone wants them to appeal to the general public, but at the same time, they get furious if they are not basically esports designed to have high-level competitions around them. And in this constant contradiction of having to be treated like sports, but wanting to reach the public, is where they exist: never managing to break out of the big titles that have already attracted an audience for decades.
Riot Games seems to want to be the one to break this idea. To create a fighting game that is not only competitive but also introduces new players to the genre. And for that, it has the necessary keys. Characters with whom we already have a prior relationship, a competitive structure, and the money to make the game treated as a sport from the start. But is that enough for 2XKO to succeed?
A game that has a long history
Until we reached where we are today, with the game being launched, many things had to happen. To begin with, it had to be announced. That happened in 2019 and it was done under the name of Project L. Riot did not want to provide more details about what was happening with the game, except that it was being developed by its studios in Los Angeles, Sydney, and San Francisco.
For years, that was all we knew. At least, until February 22, 2024, when we learned two new things: that it would be a 2 vs. 2 game, where we can switch between characters at any time, and that its name would be much more alluring in English than in any other language: 2XKO.
Since its announcement until today, many things have happened. To begin with, the game was launched in early access in a closed beta by invitation on October 7, 2025. Harvesting great success among casual and specialized audiences, it managed to become the buzz of fighting games for a few weeks. So much so that, by the end of the year, it was nominated for the Best Fighting Game category at The Games Awards 2025 despite not having been officially released. An award that was ultimately won by Tekken 8.
Now 2XKO is officially out for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with a roster of 13 characters from famous characters of Runeterra, the universe of League of Legends, and the impressions are clear: there is potential for something big here.
The first reason is that Riot is behind it. They have money and they are going to use it, not by organizing the tournaments themselves, but by helping established tournament and competition organizers to create their own 2XKO competitions. This ensures that an organic competition for the game is created. Especially considering that Riot has already stated that it is not their intention to create a professional league for the game, as they did at one time with some of their other games, such as League of Legends.
The second reason is that it is a relatively accessible game. Although the tutorials are quite questionable, the assistance systems are excellent and allow for casual play in an easy and effective way. Since we add to that the fact that the game is free-to-play and has characters that are familiar to a wide audience, 2XKO has real potential to become a game that captivates many people outside of fighting games.
So, what problems do we find? It falls short in everything it wants to do. Its monetization is the classic Riot model, with costly cosmetics. The depth of the game is noticeably lower than that of other games on the market, raising the question of whether the ceiling will be too low to really interest professional fighting game players. And the jump from playing with assistance to playing without it is very harsh, and the tutorials do not help in this regard, not addressing the biggest concern that fighting games have: making players feel comfortable making the leap from novice to intermediate level.
Are these problems enough for 2XKO to fail? Only time will tell. Especially since they are conditional: we still don’t know how serious they are compared to how they appear on paper. What is clear is that, for now, it is a game with a potentially thriving competitive scene thanks to the money it will generate and a casual audience that can engage due to the ease of picking up the controller and feeling good playing with their favorite characters, even without knowing anything about fighting games. So, just for that reason, what is certain is that 2XKO will have a spectacular launch.
2XKO is a two-player fighting game that offers a unique competitive experience by combining combat mechanics with iconic characters from League of Legends. This title allows players to form teams of two and face off in intense battles, using special abilities and strategies to outsmart their opponents. Gameplay focuses on cooperation and coordination among team members, adding a layer of tactical depth to the fights.
The recent success of Hytale, a project that Riot Games decided to abandon after years of unfruitful development, has reignited criticism towards the company, especially regarding its own ongoing projects. One of the most anticipated is the MMO-RPG based on Runaterra, announced in December 2020, which has faced multiple changes in its direction and a significant reboot in early 2023. A high-profile signing The departure of Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street, who was leading the development of the MMO and was an active voice in reporting on its progress, generated a wave of concern […]
The recent success of Hytale, a project that Riot Games decided to abandon after years of unfruitful development, has reignited criticism towards the company, especially regarding its own ongoing projects. One of the most anticipated is the MMO-RPG based on Runaterra, announced in December 2020, which has faced multiple changes in its direction and a significant reboot in early 2023.
A high-profile signing
The departure of Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street, who led the development of the MMO and was an active voice in informing about its progress, generated a wave of concern and rumors suggesting the possible cancellation of the project, given the silence surrounding any updates since his departure. This context has led many to wonder about the future of the game, as similar events have foreshadowed the end of other initiatives in the video game industry.
However, the recent hiring of Raymond Bartos, a former producer of World of Warcraft, by Riot Games could signify a positive change in the direction of the MMO-RPG. Bartos expressed his enthusiasm for joining the team and his commitment to “adding value to players” and “enhancing the experience within the MMO”. His words have raised expectations among the community, which hopes that this new addition will bring a new momentum to the project.
In this context, Bartos’ arrival aligns with Riot Games’ desire to regain the trust of fans, who have been restless due to the lack of news. With an expert in the field joining the team, there are hopes that significant progress will be made in the development of the MMO-RPG based on Runaterra, finally bringing the project closer to its realization.
Hytale, the ambitious voxel RPG from Hypixel Studios, has made its debut in early access and quickly catapulted to the top of streaming platforms, attracting millions of players in just a few hours. With this impressive launch, the game has achieved what many considered unlikely after years of uncertainty and delays in its development. A game that has taken the world by storm at its launch The purchase of Hypixel Studios by Riot Games in 2020 generated high expectations for Hytale. However, the project faced multiple obstacles, including development issues and significant revisions in its […]
Hytale, the ambitious voxel RPG from Hypixel Studios, has made its debut in early access and quickly skyrocketed to the top of streaming platforms, attracting millions of players in just a few hours. With this impressive launch, the game has achieved what many considered unlikely after years of uncertainty and delays in its development.
A game that has taken the world by storm at its launch
The purchase of Hypixel Studios by Riot Games in 2020 generated high expectations for Hytale. However, the project faced multiple obstacles, including development issues and significant revisions to its graphics engine, which led to a prolonged silence from the studio. During this time, updates on the progress of Hytale were limited to sporadic communications, mostly during the holiday season.
Recently, in an unexpected turn of events, Riot Games cut off financial support to the studio, forcing it to buy back its shares to ensure the continuity of development. Despite the challenges, the Hypixel team, made up of just 50 developers, has self-funded and has made progress in creating Hytale. This context highlights the resource differences between a small developer and a giant like Riot Games.
Riot’s response has been swift; through a message on their social media, the company congratulated Hypixel on the launch of early access, reflecting a recognition of the game’s success, despite the internal challenges the company faces. This recognition suggests that if Hytale had been released under the Riot Games label, it would likely have received harsher criticism given the high expectations associated with it. In this sense, Hytale’s success highlights the ability of a smaller team to create a product that resonates with the gaming community, even in the face of adversity.
There are games that have bizarre and incredible stories. Stories of insane developments, impossible launches, or unexpected massive sales. Few are those that are all of that and also can say they survived being, literally, canceled. But that is what has happened with a game that has just been released in early access and promises to be talked about not only during 2026 but for years to come. Its name is Hytale, Riot Games wanted to kill it and its developers have shown that it was a mistake to try. The game that Riot Games canceled and has been a success Hytale […]
There are games that have bizarre and incredible stories. Stories of insane developments, impossible launches, or unexpected massive sales. Few can claim to be all of that and also say they survived being, literally, canceled. But that is what has happened with a game that has just been released in early access and promises to be talked about not only during 2026 but for years to come. Its name is Hytale, Riot Games wanted to kill it, and its developers have shown that it was a mistake to try.
The game that Riot Games canceled and has been a success
Hytale is a game that was born with the premise of becoming a new Minecraft. Literally. Starting its development in early 2015, the game is created by Aaron “Noxy” Donaghey from Hypixel Studios, a studio with more than forty employees, whose origin is the Hypixel server of Minecraft.
Although perhaps not known outside the Minecraft community, Hypixel Network, or Hypixel, is one of the most important servers of the game. Launching its beta on April 13, 2013, by Simon Collins-Laflamme and Philippe Touchett, its premise was simple: to offer adventure maps they created together. But that is not what made the server popular. To ensure that the waits between player connections were not tedious, they created minigames for already connected players to entertain themselves in the meantime. And they became so popular that Hypixel became a server specialized in minigames.
With four Guinness World Records, two of them for being the Minecraft or any independent game server with the most concurrent players (64,533 as of July 7, 2017), having the most games on a Minecraft server (43 as of August 11, 2017), and having the most registered users on a Minecraft server (11,982,298 players as of August 24, 2017), it is one of the largest, if not the largest Minecraft server in the world. And for this reason, it is logical that Hypixel wanted to create their own game.
Especially because they had a more than evident reason to want to have control over their servers. A change in the terms of use of Minecraft by the developing company, Mojang, meant that, in 2014, there could be no microtransactions that affected gameplay on the game’s servers. This caused an 85% drop in Hypixel’s revenue, leading the server to lose the vast majority of its profits. This made them decide to respond by creating their own version of the game less than a year later.
The development began with the funding of the Hypixel server, but in December 2018 they not only announced the existence of the game and revealed its name, Hytale, but also received significant support from one of the largest companies in the world: Riot Games. Investing several million dollars, they maintained a close relationship that led to Riot acquiring Hypixel Studios in April 2020 for an amount that has still not been disclosed.
By then, Hytale already had two and a half million pre-registered users. With over 30 million views of its trailer during its first month, this led to the game growing in scale. Although it was scheduled for a release in 2021, it was delayed several times, leading players to think that the game would never be released. This seemed to be confirmed when Donaghey announced the cancellation of Hytale and the closure of Hypixel Studios on June 23, 2025, after more than ten years of development, because he believed that the game was too ambitious to succeed.
A story of rebirth
Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of the studio, did not share the same opinion. After the project’s cancellation, he negotiated with Riot Games to take over the project and, on November 17, 2025, officially confirmed that he had acquired the intellectual property of Hytale. This way, he re-hired more than 30 developers from the original project, abandoned the engine they were developing for the game, and reverted to the previous engine.
Hytale has finally been released on January 13, 2026, although with some caveats. It is in early access and according to Collins-Laflamme himself, “it’s still not very good.” If you want to buy it, it’s not available in stores, only on its official page. And you have three possible editions: the standard, the supporter, and the cursebreaker, costing respectively €20.72, €36.27, and €72.55.
Although the official figures are expected to take a few more days to be released, we already know that the game has been a success. Not only because it has taken social media and streaming services by storm as a true Minecraft killer, offering an adventure game that iterates and improves everything that made Mojang’s game great, but also because Collins-Laflame has confirmed this. Stating that, just with what they have sold so far, they can already cover the development of at least the next two years of the game.
That’s why, although we still need to see how it will evolve over time, it seems that we will have Hytale for a long time. And it seems that, for the first time in history since its launch, Minecraft has found a competitor of its caliber.
Hytale is an open-world RPG that emerged under the umbrella of the Minecraft community. It provides the player with a great level of freedom to explore, create, and unleash all their creativity.
Hytale will be released tomorrow in early access, marking the end of a development that has lasted six years. Acquired by Riot Games, the title has generated notable anticipation since its announcement in 2018, having evolved from a popular Minecraft server to an ambitious role-playing project. According to Simon Collins-Laflamme, known as Simon Hypixel, more than a million players are expected to connect to the game at its launch, which could overwhelm the servers, so the developers urge users to download the launcher in advance. An appealing price This voxel aesthetic RPG combines […]
Hytale will launch tomorrow in early access, marking the end of a development that has lasted six years. Acquired by Riot Games, the title has generated significant anticipation since its announcement in 2018, having evolved from a popular Minecraft server to an ambitious role-playing project. According to Simon Collins-Laflamme, known as Simon Hypixel, more than a million players are expected to connect to the game at its launch, which could overwhelm the servers, so developers urge users to download the launcher in advance.
An appetizing price
This voxel-style RPG combines building and creativity in the style of Minecraft, while integrating exploration, combat, and the possibility of delving into dungeons filled with creatures. Early access will be available from a base price of 20 euros on the official game website. Although the version being released is considered early by the developers, the anticipation to discover what Hytale offers is palpable among the gaming community.
In their efforts to manage the massive influx of users, Collins-Laflamme has shared a message on Twitter, asking players to log in and be ready for launch day. The story of Hytale’s development is one of an unlikely success, as the studio’s founders managed to buy back their rights from Riot Games after being acquired six years ago, and now they are ready to present their long-awaited creation to the world.
For those interested in exploring the game before purchasing early access, the developers have uploaded several gameplay snippets and mechanics on the official Hytale YouTube channel. However, the most reasonable option may be to wait until the title is available online and, thus, enjoy the streams that may arise on launch day.
Hytale, the ambitious open-world game that promises a Minecraft-like experience, has changed hands once again. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original owner, has reacquired the rights to the project after its cancellation by Riot Games, giving new hope to a community that has been eagerly awaiting the game’s release since its viral trailer in 2018. They confirm that the first impression is not going to be the best. The latest news indicates that Hytale will launch in Early Access on January 13, 2026, for PC. However, Collins-Laflamme has been honest […]
Hytale, the ambitious open-world game that promises a Minecraft-like experience, has changed hands once again. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original owner, has reacquired the rights to the project after its cancellation by Riot Games, giving new hope to a community that has been eagerly awaiting the game’s release since its viral trailer in 2018.
They confirm that the first impression is not going to be the best
The latest news indicates that Hytale will launch in Early Access on January 13, 2026, for PC. However, Collins-Laflamme has been honest about the state of the game, warning that it is still “incomplete and broken.” In a communication to players, he emphasized that “the first impression will be difficult” and that the current elements of the game are outdated, as the team has decided to revert to a version from four years ago to continue development. Collins-Laflamme stressed that the game “is not good” in its current state, but promised a commitment to turn it into the experience they always wanted to offer.
The developer’s marketing approach has been considered unusual. Instead of encouraging players to pre-order the game, it has emphasized that those who do not feel comfortable doing so should refrain. This honest and transparent approach has been well received, especially since 60 playtesters have given their approval, indicating that while there is progress, there is still a long way to go.
The Collins-Laflamme strategy of keeping expectations low could prove beneficial. By openly acknowledging the current imperfections of the game, an atmosphere of understanding is created among the players. If the initial launch turns out better than expected, the community could welcome it positively. However, time will tell if this bold communication strategy pays off once Hytale is finally available in Early Access.
The uncertainty surrounding Hytale has come to an end. Hypixel has acquired the game from Riot Games, ensuring that the project, which had suffered a temporary cancellation, will continue its development. Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel, announced this good news through a statement published on the recently reactivated official website of the video game. Hytale achieves its independence The release of Hytale will take place in early access format, with an incomplete version that will include a sandbox mode, creative mode, and mod support. Although specific details about the release date will be announced in the coming days, […]
The uncertainty surrounding Hytale has come to an end. Hypixel has acquired the game from Riot Games, ensuring that the project, which had suffered a temporary cancellation, will continue its development. Simon Collins-Laflamme, founder of Hypixel, announced this good news through a statement published on the official website of the video game, which has recently been reactivated.
Hytale achieves its independence
The launch of Hytale will take place in early access format, with an incomplete version that will include a sandbox mode, creative mode, and mod support. Although specific details about the release date will be announced in the coming days, it has been indicated that this early access will last for several years, while Hypixel works on building the game alongside the community.
To achieve this goal, the study has rehired 30 developers and has decided to return to the original game engine. This decision comes after, under the direction of Riot Games, the project attempted to transition to a new platform that complicated its development and resulted in years of stagnation. Collins-Laflamme has stated that this new direction will facilitate the focus on creating the game, although it will delay a future console version.
The responsible parties are aware of the risks of launching an incomplete product and have called for community collaboration to help build content, report bugs, and provide feedback. “Without risk, there is no Hytale,” emphasized Collins-Laflamme, who, along with his partner Philippe Touchette, has committed to funding the game’s development for a decade, ensuring that there is no rush to reach the final version.
With Riot Games’ exit from the project, Hytale is entering a new chapter and players can expect a renewed focus on its development. It remains to be seen how these promises will materialize and how the community will react to the early access launch.
Riot Games is working on a new first-person shooter (FPS) game that will apparently be set in the Valorant universe. This claim arises from a deleted job posting that sought candidates with experience in FPS development and familiarity with the popular tactical shooter released in 2020. Although the company has removed these references, interest in the project continues to grow. It would be another FPS Since 2023, several job postings have hinted at the development of a new first-person shooter, sometimes modified or deleted to suppress mentions of the current project
Riot Games is working on a new first-person shooter (FPS) game that will apparently be set in the Valorant universe. This claim arises from a deleted job posting that sought candidates with experience in FPS development and familiarity with the popular tactical shooter released in 2020. Although the company has removed these references, interest in the project continues to grow.
It would be another FPS
Since 2023, several job offers have hinted at the development of a new first-person shooter, sometimes modified or removed to suppress mentions of the current project. However, the consistency of this information suggests a strategic move by Riot to expand its catalog. Alongside the MMO based on League of Legends, the company seems to be looking to diversify its investment and take advantage of the accumulated success of Valorant as one of the main alternatives to Counter-Strike.
Recently, Riot’s official recruitment page shared a vacancy for its headquarters in Los Angeles that quickly went viral, thanks to its mention of the need for experience in character creation for FPS, as well as familiarity with the Valorant universe. Despite the quick removal of these details, it is argued that this move is not isolated and has been part of a continued pattern in the company’s efforts to keep its new developments under wraps.
Valorant, the tactical shooter, has achieved remarkable acceptance in the market since its launch, allowing Riot Games to diversify its projects and resources. It is speculated that this new title could include MMO elements, which would reaffirm the company’s intention to remain relevant in a constantly evolving landscape within the video game industry. Therefore, the gaming community eagerly awaits more details about this new project in development.
