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As Hytale finally prepares to take its place in the sandbox hall of fame, Mojang’s Chief Creative Officer, Jens Bergensten, has been investigating what the competition looks like. His assessment of the current early access build? It’s undeniably “polished,” but perhaps a bit too familiar for his taste.
In a recent interaction on Bluesky, Bergensten (widely known as Jeb) responded to fans eager for his thoughts on the project. Having previously expressed curiosity about the game’s evolution following its acquisition by Riot Games and subsequent independent revival, his first-hand impressions are now in.
“I’d love to see it differentiate itself more from Minecraft,” Bergensten noted. “The level of polish is impressive, but while playing, I often felt like I’d simply rather be in Minecraft. That said, it’s still very early, and I know modding is going to be a cornerstone of the experience. I’ll definitely be checking back in later.”
This critique feels balanced, particularly as Hypixel CEO Simon Collins-Laflamme—who steered the project through its turbulent development and reboots—has been candid about the game’s unfinished state.
Responding via a detailed thread on X, Collins-Laflamme embraced Bergensten’s feedback as a badge of honor.
“To have Jeb describe Hytale as ‘very polished’ is perhaps the highest compliment we could receive,” Collins-Laflamme said. “He’s a developer I hold in immense regard, and given his selective public commentary on other games, his words carry weight.”
Collins-Laflamme elaborated that few truly grasp the “intricate design layers of Minecraft,” a game that has benefited from over a decade of continuous iteration. By contrast, Hytale is still in its infancy. The fact that the game is playable at all after several internal engine overhauls is something of a feat.
“I am my own harshest critic—I spend my days cataloging negative feedback and looking for ways to improve,” Collins-Laflamme continued. “I’ve maintained for months that we have a long road ahead of us. Jeb’s intent to return to the game later is encouraging; hopefully, by then, he will see our true vision for Hytale realized.”
Addressing the “I’d rather play Minecraft” sentiment directly, the Hypixel lead admitted that the current build lacks the unique features intended to define the game. “He’s probably right to feel that way right now. We haven’t yet integrated the systems that make us unique. The early-game loop is still quite basic compared to what’s possible with our upcoming World Gen V2 and other core mechanics.”
The roadmap for Hytale focuses on elements that lean more toward an RPG: instanced dungeons, cinematic boss fights, and deep lore-driven quests. This direction makes Hytale feel less like a Minecraft clone and more like a “3D Terraria,” prioritizing gear progression, combat, and structured exploration—a pivot that has already piqued the interest of players looking for more intrinsic goals in their sandbox games.
When asked by a user if the game would still feel like a sandbox or if players would be “forced” into quests, Collins-Laflamme replied that maintaining that delicate balance is a “difficult challenge,” but one the team has a clear plan to solve.
“We aren’t trying to replace or even compete directly with Minecraft; we simply want to build something that speaks to our specific tastes,” he concluded. “In the years ahead, the gap between the two games will become much more apparent as we roll out our advanced modding suite and our unique fantasy systems.”
Read more: Hytale Update 2 introduces necromancy and advanced modding tools
