HYTOPIA Alpha Release Marks a Big Milestone

HYTOPIA's Alpha Release: A Milestone Moment

HYTOPIA has officially launched its alpha release. This marks a big step forward for the platform and its growing community. After years of development, changes, and challenges, players can now explore HYTOPIA. 

The alpha version focuses on core features. The team is using this release to test infrastructure and gather player feedback. While more features are in development, this is the first glimpse into HYTOPIA's future.

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The alpha version offers a basic and early version of HYTOPIA. Players can now:

• Log in, register, and claim usernames if they pre-registered.
• Browse games, join servers by region, and see the number of active players.
• Add friends by username, check their online status, and join their games.
• Play games made by the HYTOPIA team and community creators.

Many of the games available are submissions from HYTOPIA’s recent game jam. Some games are live, while others are being fixed before launch. For players who created game jam entries, HYTOPIA will contact you if any issues need resolving.

Currently, the alpha is only available on desktops (PC, Mac, Linux). Mobile support is expected within a few weeks.

Being an early release, several features are not yet available. The team is focusing on the basics first. Missing features include:

• HYTOPIA Marketplace – A hub to buy, sell, and trade in-game items and content.
• The Locker System – A tool for managing and storing in-game assets.
• Token Integrations – Blockchain-based features to enhance the gaming experience.

The focus right now is to ensure a smooth and polished experience for players before rolling out more advanced features.

From NFT Worlds to HYTOPIA

HYTOPIA, a RPG and survival game, has come a long way since its beginning. The project started as NFT Worlds in October 2021. It was a web3-based gaming project built on Minecraft, integrating blockchain and NFTs. Players could buy, sell, and own digital assets within Minecraft servers.

In July 2022, Minecraft’s developers banned blockchain integration. This forced NFT Worlds to pivot. Instead of giving up, the team decided to create their own platform. This led to the birth of HYTOPIA, an independent game engine and ecosystem.

Creating their own platform gave the team full creative control. Without outside restrictions, HYTOPIA has been able to grow and evolve.

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The alpha release also introduces a new authentication system. Previously, HYTOPIA used HYPLAY for account creation and login. Now, the team has switched to Privy’s authentication SDK.

The decision to switch was based on performance. Other games, such as Loot Legends and Dragon Legends, had login congestion due to HYPLAY's maintenance problems. Privy's system is more dependable and speedier. This guarantees a more seamless login process and fewer issues. 

The blockchain infrastructure of HYCHAIN and HYTOPIA is unaffected by this modification. HYTOPIA is still the owner of all accounts and platform information. The staff can now concentrate on platform enhancement rather than login system management thanks to the transfer. There is more to this alpha release than a test.  It is the first time players can actively use HYTOPIA. It marks the beginning of a new phase for the platform.

Players are encouraged to explore the alpha, even if bugs are present. The team is actively collecting feedback to improve the platform.

Co-founder ArkDev shared a message with the community:
"Keep in mind, we started our entire bespoke game engine just 5 months ago. We've made monumental progress in that time by any metric. I'm so excited by the future of HYTOPIA, all the roadblocks are gone, and we're finally free to control our destiny!"

HYTOPIA is more than a gaming platform. It is a community-driven, blockchain-powered world for players and creators to thrive. After facing setbacks, the team is now in full control of its future. The alpha release is just the start of what’s to come.