Tag: hychain

  • HYTOPIA February Update: Alpha Launch, AI-Powered Building, SDK Upgrades, and More!

    HYTOPIA February Update: Alpha Launch, AI-Powered Building, SDK Upgrades, and More!

    Hey HYTOPIA community!

    February has been an incredible month for HYTOPIA, and we’re thrilled to share some exciting updates with you. From the long-awaited Alpha release to new AI experiments and SDK upgrades, there’s a lot to dive into. Let’s get right into it!

    HYTOPIA ALPHA IS HERE!

    This is a major milestone for all of us. After years of hard work, dedication, and community support, the first early versions of HYTOPIA are now live and ready for you to experience.

    Play HYTOPIA Games Now: https://hytopia.com/games

    This is just the beginning, but it’s a huge step forward. The Alpha release includes core features that allow you to:

    • Login or register and claim your username if you preregistered.
    • Explore the play page to see available games, player counts, and join servers by region.
    • Add friends by their HYTOPIA username, see who’s online, and join their games to play together.

    A few important notes:

    • Currently, HYTOPIA is optimized for desktop play. Mobile support is coming soon.
    • This is an Alpha version, so expect some bugs. Your feedback is invaluable as we stress-test and polish the platform.
    • Core features like the HYTOPIA marketplace, locker system, and token integrations are still in development and will roll out soon.

    Community made games takes centre stage

    Many of the games available in this Alpha release were created by you—our amazing community. These games are submissions from our recent HYTOPIA Game Jam – SDK Exploration Edition.

    If you missed it, check out the full recap of the Game Jam here:

    HYTOPIA Game Jam Blog Post

    AUTH System Update: Welcome PRIVY

    We’ve made a significant change to HYTOPIA’s authentication system. Instead of using HYPLAY for auth, we’ve partnered with Privy to streamline the process.

    What does this mean for you?

    • Simpler logins and account recovery.
    • Faster, more reliable access to HYTOPIA.
    • No changes to your HYTOPIA accounts or platform data—everything is still securely held by us.

    This shift allows us to focus on what matters most: building an incredible platform for you to play, create, and connect. You can read more about this announcement here.

    Game Night every Friday!

    Mark your calendars—it’s Game Night  on the HYTOPIA Discord!

    Whether you’re a casual player or a competitive pro, there’s a spot for YOU. Let’s play, connect, and have a blast together!

    AI + HYTOPIA: Revolutionizing Game Development

    We’ve been experimenting with AI models like Claude 3.7 to push the boundaries of what’s possible in HYTOPIA.

    A recent demo by @Potrock_ showcased how AI can be used to build entire game worlds just by chatting with it. Imagine typing a simple command like /build a house with a tree in front, and watching the AI generate the code, place the blocks, and even self-correct errors—all in real-time.

    Here’s how it works:

    • The AI writes the code to define structures (like walls, floors, and windows) using nested loops and functions.
    • The code is executed on the server, and if there’s an error, the AI fixes it automatically.
    • This approach eliminates the need for manual block placement, making it faster and more efficient to create complex builds.

    This is just the beginning. As AI continues to evolve, we’re excited to explore how it can empower creators to build bigger, better, and more immersive games in HYTOPIA. Watch the demo here

    HYTOPIA SDK Updates: Empowering Creators with Powerful Tools

    We’ve been improving the HYTOPIA SDK to give creators the tools they need to build incredible games. Here’s a consolidated look at the latest updates across multiple versions:

    Key Improvements Across SDK Versions

    1. Physics Engine Overhaul
      • Version 0.2.3: We removed cross-platform determinism and enabled SIMD support, resulting in a 30% to 300% performance boost for physics simulations.
      • Version 0.2.8: Fixed collision event inconsistencies, ensuring that events like started = false fire correctly when colliders despawn.
    2. New Math Functions
      • Version 0.2.3: Added support for Matrix2, Matrix3, Matrix4, Vector2, Vector3, and Quaternion transforms, making it easier to handle complex game mechanics.
    3. Smooth Terrain and Player Movement
      • Version 0.2.8: Resolved terrain clipping and juttering issues, making movement and jumps feel more natural.
      • Improved player wall collisions and edge clipping, fixing issues in games like Hole in the Wall and stair-jumping scenarios.
    4. Account Authorization
      • Version 0.2.8: Players now have their correct usernames and unique IDs in your games, accessible via player.id and player.username.
    5. New Event System
      • Version 0.3.1: Replaced myEntity.onBlockCollision with a more robust .on(), .off(), and .once() pattern. Learn more here.
    6. Automatic GLTF/GLB Model Optimization
      • Version 0.3.1: Models are now optimized automatically, resulting in 50% to 300%+ improvements in frame rates. This happens behind the scenes, so you don’t need to do anything!
    7. Chunk Rendering Fixes
      • Version 0.3.1: Games that use setBlock() will see significant performance improvements, especially in games like Block Splat and Color Run.
    8. Coming Soon: Persistent Player State
      • The next update will introduce the ability to save and retrieve persistent state data for players, allowing you to store JSON-compatible objects that persist across lobbies and regions.

    These updates are designed to make your game development process smoother, faster, and more powerful. Whether you’re building a physics-based puzzle game or a sprawling open-world adventure, the HYTOPIA SDK has you covered. To take advantage of these improvements, simply run bun update hytopia in your project folder.

    In-game Usernames & Chats are Live

    • See who’s who with usernames displayed above players’ heads.
    • Chat in real-time with other players during gameplay.

    This feature adds a whole new layer of interaction and fun to your HYTOPIA experience.

    A New Chapter: Sunsetting Hychain Game Publishing

    As of February 28th, 2025, we will be sunsetting the Hychain game publishing arm to focus all our efforts on growing HYTOPIA. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Hychain over the years. Your trust and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind our journey, and we’re excited to channel that energy into making HYTOPIA the ultimate platform for gaming and creativity.

    Read the full update here: https://tinyurl.com/hychain

    WHAT’S NEXT?

    This is just the beginning of an exciting journey. As we continue to refine and expand HYTOPIA, your feedback and support are crucial. Go play some games, report any bugs, and join us for Game Night to celebrate this new chapter together.

    Thank you for being part of the HYTOPIA community. Let’s make history!

    Play Now: https://hytopia.com/games
    Join the Community: HYTOPIA Discord

  • A Strategic Shift: Sunsetting HYCHAIN Game Publishing arm to Consolidate all efforts to grow HYTOPIA

    A Strategic Shift: Sunsetting HYCHAIN Game Publishing arm to Consolidate all efforts to grow HYTOPIA

    This is a public announcement for the HYCHAIN community that as of February 28th, 2025, we will sunset the HYCHAIN game publishing arm to focus all our efforts on growing HYTOPIA. This decision is not driven by a lack of market potential for game publishing but rather our conviction in our flagship product – HYTOPIA and a commitment to our long-term vision of building HYTOPIA into a global gaming juggernaut.

    Over the past few months, we have been evaluating 2 potential paths for HYCHAIN-  

    • Expanding the HYCHAIN publishing arm – Acquiring new titles, growing our team, and pushing for a broader market share.
    • Consolidating all efforts to grow HYTOPIA – Doubling down on our flagship product with proprietary technology and deeper moats. 

    After a lot of internal review and brainstorming, the consensus was clear: by focusing solely on HYTOPIA, we can create outsized value for employees, investors, token holders, and our community rather than dividing our attention across HYTOPIA and HYCHAIN and producing average outcomes across both businesses. Our renewed vision is to make HYTOPIA the centerpiece of our growth strategy.

    Key Hypotheses & Learnings

    In the spirit of transparency, we are sharing some of the thinking and key learnings that guided our decision to make it helpful for other builders who want to go down a similar path.

    We started HYCHAIN with the hypothesis that we could become a leading web3  publisher for Web2 games by building a suite of web3 infrastructure that eliminates onboarding and technical challenges for web2 developers. This was a fair hypothesis but it was contingent on 3 sub-hypothesis :

    • Building proprietary Web3 infrastructure
    • Helping Web2 Developers and Solving Core challenges for them
    • Acquire titles instead of publishing them and own the end-to-end publishing experience 


    Building Proprietary Web3 Infrastructure

    Hypothesis – We set out to build Hyplay as a suite of web3 tools to enable frictionless onboarding, smart contract accounts, and developer-friendly APIs to attract web2 developers into the web3 space.

    Learnings

    • Dilution of resources – Since we were juggling between HYTOPIA and updating, maintaining, and debugging Hyplay, balancing development between Hytopia and Hyplay meant that neither received the dedicated focus required to become a best-in-class product. 
    • Better offerings in the market – There were better products in the market that were building this with a singular focus and hence had better, more proven tech than Hyplay.
    • Commoditisation of web3 infra – All Web3 gaming ecosystems must integrate frictionless tech to attract web2 players, thus making this heavily commoditized in the future.

    We therefore concluded we would be better off outsourcing all commoditized pieces which would not create competitive advantages for us, to external players. We recently made an announcement to use Privy instead of continuing to develop Hyplay, which would allow us to offload infrastructure needs that aren’t critical to proven partners, allow Privy to do what they do best, and free up resources for HYTOPIA. 

    Helping Web2 Developers and Solving Core challenges for them 

    Hypothesis – Game developers struggling with the aftermath of privacy policy changes, rising UA costs, and higher CPIs lead to difficulty in scaling games to profitability, and looking for alternate high capital, high liquidity environments would benefit from transitioning to web3 markets. 

    Learnings

    • Overall Market Sentiment: Market research, including the latest report from Pocket Gamer, confirms that escalating UA costs are a major concern for game developers, creating significant barriers for scaling games to profitability in Web2 environments.
    • Feedback from Developers: We connected with hundreds of web2 game developers over the last 12 months, understood their pain points, and realized a large section of this market echoed this sentiment and was open to Web3. But they had no idea how to operate in this new market. They would either require complete white-glove support or expect us to acquire/license the game. 


    Acquire titles instead of publishing them and own the end-to-end publishing experience 

    Hypothesis – Acquiring struggling web2 games and launching them in web3 could be a viable strategy to demonstrate the value of our publishing model

    Learnings

    We therefore acquired Loot Legends, Dragon Legends, and Supercat Idle IP (our 3rd game which we haven’t publicly announced yet). We shipped Loot Legends, and ran a successful P2A with almost 25k+ active players, built a community of over 150 players, launched Dragon Legends on Telegram but learned many important lessons along the way – 

    • Operational complexities – Acquiring games and working on another team’s code turned out to be significantly harder than we thought. We thought Loot Legends would take us less than a month to launch but it ended up taking us 4 to 5 months to be in a production-ready state. We thought Dragon Legends was a simpler game and that we would launch in less than a month, instead, it took us over 3 months just to make the code workable and address the major issues.
    • Cost Implications – Prolonged development cycles and higher turnaround time led to significantly higher operating expenses which was not justified by the revenue we generated from Loot Legends.
    • Scalability Issues – This model was not scalable until we built an internal capacity of resources that grew linearly with each title we acquired and that acquisition would be a key bottleneck to grow the publishing arm. 

    This meant we had to course-correct our publishing strategy from acquisition to other structures of publishing that would be a lower lift for us in terms of development and would allow us to work on multiple titles parallelly. This would be a big strategic shift and meant that we would likely double down on the new approach or consolidate all efforts to HYTOPIA.

    Focus, focus, focus 

    Historically we have seen that the most successful companies always started by capturing a large market share in a small market before expanding to adjacent categories. Amazon started small with books, then expanded to other categories until it became the “everything store” we know today. Microsoft began with programming languages before dominating operating systems. Riot Games began with a single game – League of Legends – perfecting it and building a massive community before expanding into other titles like Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Wild Rift. Valve mastered game development with Half-Life before revolutionizing game distribution with Steam. NVIDIA focused solely on gaming GPUs for gaming in the late 1990s, perfecting their GPU technology for games before moving into general-purpose computing and launching CUDA programming, which paved the path for the AI revolution we see today, etc. 

    If we learn from the greatest entrepreneurs, it’s clear that a singular focus on one core market and product acts as a force multiplier. It’s similar to the power law rule in venture capital where one investment tends to dominate the returns of everything else. That’s true inside companies as well. For most projects, each unit of input creates each unit of output. But there are some projects where each unit of input can create orders of magnitude higher units of output. 

    By focusing on HYTOPIA and investing in our core proprietary technology, we believe –

    • we can build competitive moats and differentiate ourselves from others thereby creating a convex output curve.
    • efficiently use our funds to allocate capital which creates the highest value for all our stakeholders. 

    Next Steps

    We have therefore decided to sunset the HYCHAIN publishing arm effectively as of 28th Feb, 2025, and reallocate all our resources to bolster HYTOPIA, our flagship product. 

    • Resource Reallocation – We are redirecting all resources from HYCHAIN publishing to HYTOPIA. The HYCHAIN team will transition into new roles exclusively focused on HYTOPIA.
    • Partner Commitments: All existing obligations will be honored during the transition, and our team will engage with each partner individually to ensure a smooth handover.
    • State of HYCHAIN Games: We will continue to keep Loot Legends live as there is a small subset of users who truly enjoy playing the game but we will stop actively supporting and upgrading the game. We will be sunsetting Dragon Legends as it still requires considerable resource allocation to make it production-ready. 
    • Future Focus: Concentrate all attention on HYTOPIA and build it into a global gaming powerhouse. 

    We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming positive responses we received from the community for Loot Legends.

    https://twitter.com/eeelistar/status/1823449225734316399
    https://twitter.com/SavageStudios6/status/1833188743739474264
    https://twitter.com/ashokawashere/status/1821315416544698638
    https://twitter.com/BeamGamers/status/1828074015241769369

    This has been a remarkable journey with a lot of lessons learned. By sunsetting HYCHAIN Publishing, we are not closing the door but opening a new chapter dedicated to the long-term vision of HYTOPIA. The love and support shown by our community for Loot Legends only reinforces our commitment to deliver better experiences through HYTOPIA and lead the future of Web3 gaming.

    On to the next one,
    – HYCHAIN Team 

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    1. Why are we sunsetting the HYCHAIN publishing arm?
    Our decision to sunset HYCHAIN Publishing is a strategic move. Rather than diluting our efforts across multiple initiatives, we’re consolidating resources to focus exclusively on HYTOPIA – our flagship product – with a greater potential to deliver transformative value for all stakeholders.

    2. Does this mean the market for web2-to-web3 game publishing is no longer viable?
    Not at all. We continue to believe that a substantial market exists for web2 game developers to transition into web3. Our decision is driven solely by the need to focus on our flagship product, build competitive moats and enhance our proprietary technology through HYTOPIA, rather than by a lack of market opportunity.

    3. What happened to HYPLAY and our web3 infrastructure efforts?
    While we developed HYPLAY as a key component of our ecosystem, we learned that splitting our resources resulted in average performance. With better alternatives available, we’ve chosen to outsource this piece to focus on HYTOPIA’s growth.

    4. How does this change impact our existing game titles like Loot Legends?
    We will continue to keep Loot Legends running for its dedicated community. However, future resources and efforts will be reallocated to enhance HYTOPIA. transition. 

    5. Will the HYCHAIN blockchain continue to exist and what will it be used for?
    We are not moving our underlying blockchain. We are only shutting down the HYCHAIN publishing arm. We strongly believe we need HYCHAIN as our app chain to manage a high-speed, high throughput, low-cost chain that can scale to millions of players for HYTOPIA.  

    6. What does it mean for node holders?
    Node holders will continue generating token-based rewards as usual. However, the  HYTOPIA gaming ecosystem will largely drive the chain fees as opposed to acquired titles within the HYCHAIN ecosystem.

  • HYTOPIA Update: Migrating Our Auth System from HYPLAY to Privy

    HYTOPIA Update: Migrating Our Auth System from HYPLAY to Privy

    Hey HYTOPIA community!

    At HYTOPIA, we’re always looking for ways to improve our platform, enhance user experiences, and streamline our operations. As part of this commitment, we’re excited to share an important update: we’ve migrated our authentication system from HYPLAY to Privy. This change marks a significant step forward in simplifying user registration, login, and account recovery while allowing us to focus on what we do best—building an exceptional gaming platform.

    In this blog post, we’ll dive into the reasons behind this decision, how it benefits our users, and what it means for the future of HYTOPIA.

    Why Did We Migrate to Privy?

    Our decision to partner with Privy for authentication was driven by several key factors:

    1. Seamless Infrastructure: Privy’s authentication SDK offers a robust, scalable, and user-friendly solution. After encountering bottlenecks and maintenance challenges with HYPLAY’s auth system in games like Loot Legends and Dragon Legends, we knew we needed a more reliable and efficient solution. Privy’s infrastructure has proven to be seamless, reducing friction for both our team and our users.
    2. Improved User Experience: Registration, login, and account recovery are critical touchpoints for any platform. With Privy, we’ve simplified these processes, making it easier for users to access HYTOPIA and enjoy our games without unnecessary hurdles. This enhances the overall user experience and ensures that players can focus on what matters most—having fun.
    3. Resource Optimization: By offloading authentication to Privy, we’ve been able to redirect valuable engineering resources toward enhancing the core features of HYTOPIA. Instead of spending time maintaining and debugging auth systems, our team can now focus on delivering innovative gameplay experiences, improving performance, and adding new features that our community will love.
    4. Proven Expertise: Privy specializes in authentication and user engagement, and their track record speaks for itself. By partnering with them, we’re leveraging their expertise to ensure that our auth system is secure, scalable, and future-proof.

    What Does This Mean for HYTOPIA Users?

    For our users, this migration translates to a smoother, more reliable experience. Here’s what you can expect:

    • Simplified Registration and Login: Creating an account and logging into HYTOPIA (you can use your pre-registered username) is now faster and more intuitive. Whether you’re a new user or a returning player, you’ll spend less time on authentication and more time enjoying our games.
    • Easier Account Recovery: Forgot your password? No problem. Privy’s system makes account recovery quick and hassle-free, so you can get back to gaming without delay.
    • Enhanced Security: Privy’s infrastructure ensures that your account information is secure, giving you peace of mind as you explore HYTOPIA.
    • A Better Overall Experience: By streamlining authentication, we’re removing barriers to entry and making HYTOPIA more accessible to everyone. This is just one of the many ways we’re working to create a platform that’s both fun and user-friendly.

    You can now claim your pre-registered usernames!

    https://preregister.hytopia.com/ is now closed! If you preregistered a username, using the same email when creating a new Privy-HYTOPIA account will give you the option of claiming your pre-registered username. If you decline to accept your pre-registered name, it will become free to register by another user.

    What does this mean for HYPLAY?

    Since one of the major goals of moving to Privy was to free resources, we will pause further development of HYPLAY. HYPLAY in it’s current form will still exist for the apps (such as Loot Legends and Dragon Legends) that currently use it, but we won’t improve it further beyond fixing critical or breaking bugs. We don’t have any sort of wallet “Migration” planned, so you will have to make a new Privy account.

    The original goal of HYPLAY was to function as a SSO solution for all of HYCHAIN, but for now our Privy account system is going to be HYTOPIA-only. This means we won’t be providing extra functionality or developer APIs for third-party HYCHAIN apps. This will likely change in the future, but it is a low priority until we have a larger userbase.

    Looking Ahead

    This migration is just one of the many steps we’re taking to improve HYTOPIA and deliver a world-class gaming platform. By partnering with Privy, we’re able to focus on our core mission—creating unforgettable gaming experiences—while leaving the complexities of authentication to the experts.

    We’re incredibly excited about the future of HYTOPIA and the opportunities this change will unlock. As always, we’re committed to listening to our community and making decisions that benefit our users.

    Have Questions or Feedback?

    We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions about the migration or feedback on your experience with HYTOPIA, feel free to reach out to our team or join the conversation in our Discord (https://discord.com/invite/hytopia)

    Your input helps us continue to grow and improve. Thank you for being part of the HYTOPIA community.

  • Unlocking Creativity: The HYTOPIA Marketplace Explained

    Unlocking Creativity: The HYTOPIA Marketplace Explained

    As the developers behind HYTOPIA, we’ve been driven by one mission: to create a platform that empowers our community to bring their creative ideas to life.

    From the very beginning we knew that the Marketplace would be the heart and soul of the HYTOPIA experience – a dynamic hub where creativity and innovation would meet.

    When creating the Marketplace, we took a user-first approach, carefully considering every aspect of the user experience.

    We knew that creators needed a seamless, intuitive interface that would allow them to showcase their work, connect with their players and monetize their creations with ease.

    Navigating Collections

    One of the key UX decisions we made was to develop search and filtering systems that would let users effortlessly navigate all the content in the Marketplace.

    Creators will be able to categorize their work by collections, making it easier for players to discover the perfect assets to bring their visions to life.

    We created a filtering system that allows players to narrow down items by criteria such as name, status, price, rarity, and the character slots the items are placed in. This gives players full control to discover the perfect item for their needs, whether they’re searching for a rare and legendary hat or a common but versatile sword.

    It’s important to know that the Marketplace’s collection system was developed to give creators more flexibility in how they categorize their work. Unlike traditional NFT marketplaces, where collections are often restricted by smart contracts, HYTOPIA’s creators have the freedom to place the same items in multiple collections.

    For example, a space-themed jetpack can be part of both a “Space Collection” and a “High Tech Collection,” allowing creators to organize their creations in ways that make the most sense for their own workflows and their players’ needs.

    Item Bundles and Lootboxes

    To give creators even more power and flexibility, we’ve included support for organizing items into bundles and lootboxes. Both of these features work in a similar way under the hood, but with a key difference in their outcome.

    Lootboxes work much like in other games – creators can curate a collection of items with varying rarity levels and predetermined odds of being obtained. When players buy and open a lootbox, they’ll get one of the items randomly.

    The Marketplace interface will clearly show the full contents of each lootbox and the exact probabilities, ensuring full transparency for players, all of this powered but our marketplace’s smart contracts in the background.

    In contrast, bundles allow creators to package multiple items together for a single buy price. When a player buys a bundle, they’ll get all of the included items without any random element. This allows creators to offer themed collections, like a “Holiday Pack” with festive hats, weapons, and mounts, or a “Halloween Bundle” featuring spooky-themed gear.

    Both lootboxes and bundles can be purchased and sold just like any other item in the Marketplace, giving creators extra avenues to monetize their work and giving players new ways to discover and buy the items they want.

    Item Listings

    Item listing pages have been created to show enough information for players to help them pick the perfect items for their characters while keeping them easy to read and navigate. Each item listing includes a detailed description, a 3D preview, and a list of attributes that players can use to compare items and make informed decisions.

    The process for listing items in the Marketplace is designed to be straightforward and intuitive. With a single click, players will be ready to list purchased items up for sale. We’ve included price suggestions based on current marketplace trends, but players are free to set custom prices as they see fit. To prevent accidental underpricing, we’ve also implemented warnings to alert them if they’re listing an item significantly below the current lowest price.

    The buying and selling process has been designed to be as seamless as possible. Players won’t need to approve or sign any blockchain-related transactions, ensuring a frictionless experience that feels more like a traditional e-commerce platform than a crypto-based marketplace. We’ve also consciously avoided the use of crypto-specific terminology, like “floor price” or “market cap,” to make the Marketplace more approachable for a wider web2 player base.

    But the Marketplace is more than just a search engine – it’s a dynamic place where creators can showcase their work in the most compelling way possible. We’ve invested heavily in developing robust 3D previewing capabilities, allowing users to rotate, zoom, and even preview items on their characters before making a buy.

    Fun fact: the 3D preview uses the same rendering engine that powers the game client!

    Payment Integrations

    To further increase appeal to a broader audience, we’ve integrated support for purchases using regular debit or credit cards, plus allowing players to use the in-game $TOPIA currency. This dual payment integration provides players with greater flexibility and reduces the friction typically linked with web3 transactions, empowering more users to explore and engage with the HYTOPIA Marketplace.

    Closing thoughts

    As we look to the future of the HYTOPIA Marketplace, we’re filled with a sense of boundless optimism. We are laying the groundwork for a platform that will empower creators to push the boundaries of what’s possible in this space and help bring them closer to their players

    By focusing on user experience, seamless monetization and fostering a vibrant community, we’re confident that the HYTOPIA Marketplace will become a beacon of creativity and innovation in the gaming space. We can’t wait to see the amazing creations that our community will bring to life, and we’re excited to be a part of this journey with you.