Tag: technology

  • HYTOPIA: Major SDK & Game Hosting Upgrades This Week

    HYTOPIA: Major SDK & Game Hosting Upgrades This Week

    This week has been absolutely incredible for HYTOPIA! Our team has been firing on all cylinders, delivering major improvements across every aspect of the platform. From new SDK features to a massive asset library expansion, we’re building the most comprehensive game development ecosystem in the space.

    SDK Updates

    Our SDK continues to evolve with features that unlock new creative possibilities:

    New Capabilities

    • Override default model textures and swap them in real time, perfect for customization systems, damage states, or seasonal variants
    • Test if shapes would collide before placing them, essential for smart building tools and physics-based gameplay
    • New utility functions for converting direction vectors to quaternions, simplifying 3D rotations

    Quality of Life Improvements

    • Default entity controller’s stopping distance is now customizable for precise movement behaviors
    • Improved camera zooming for better player experience
    • Player entities now properly respect “can move” flags during animations

    Critical Bug Fixes

    • Resolved a significant memory leak in networking code
    • Fixed timing issues for world events
    • Improved overall stability and performance

    ‘Frontiers’ is Shaping Up

    Frontiers continues to showcase what’s possible with HYTOPIA SDK, with massive feature additions this week:

    Commerce & Trading

    • Buy/Sell System: Complete item trading with merchants
    • Real-time Updates: Item quantities update instantly across the game
    • Bartering XP: Gain experience through trading activities
    • Smart Notifications: Keep players informed of important events

    World Expansion

    • Portal System: Seamless travel between regions using our world switching technology
    • Chitters Forest: Brand new region to explore
    • Enemy Spawners: Dynamic creature population system
    • Foraging Mechanics: Gather resources from the environment

    Combat & Progression

    • Consumables: Health potions and other usable items
    • Sword Spin Attack: Area-of-effect combat abilities
    • Projectile Enemies: Ranged combat challenges
    • Death/Respawn System: Complete player lifecycle management
    • Auto-Respawn: Players who fall out of bounds are automatically rescued
    • Balanced Progression: Refined leveling and damage formulas for optimal gameplay

    The improvements to pathfinding and enemy AI make the world feel truly alive!

    Infrastructure: Performance at Scale

    Game Hosting Revolution

    We’ve completely upgraded our game hosting infrastructure:

    • More Powerful Instances: Significantly increased game performance across the board
    • Amazon Linux 2023: Leveraging AWS hardware optimizations for maximum efficiency
    • Zero Downtime Upgrades: Early prototype for seamless game runner updates (no more maintenance windows!)

    Authentication & Wallet Integration

    • Pre-calculated Wallets: Reduced complexity, costs, and response times for player onboarding
    • External Wallet Support: Connect existing wallets in read-only mode for seamless Web3 integration

    Promotional Items: Rewarding Our Community

    We will be launching an exciting new reward system that recognizes both on-chain activity and community participation:

    Cross-Chain Rewards

    Similar to Collab.land, connect your external wallet to receive rewards based on your assets. For example, special Ape masks for Bored Ape community members or exclusive rewards for Worlds, Avatars, and Gray Boys owners

    Testing Economy

    • 1000 ‘Fake’ USDC: Risk-free marketplace testing currency
    • Locker Integration: Test our new inventory system with real items

    Marketplace: The Web3 Gaming Economy

    Major marketplace improvements are setting the foundation for a thriving creator economy:

    Technical Upgrades

    • Gasless Transactions: Create and execute listings through our foundation gasless system
    • Performance Boost: Migrated from legacy APIs to new, optimized systems
    • USDC Integration: Simplified from ‘credits’ to USDC for easier Web3 onboarding

    Items & Inventory: Smart Asset Management

    Our items system received significant backend improvements:

    Bulk Operations

    • Multi-NFT Queries: Retrieve item balances for multiple NFTs and owners efficiently
    • Inventory Aggregation: Get complete user inventories and equippable items per Locker slot
    • Statistics Dashboard: Track unique owners, total supply, and other key metrics

    Performance & Reliability

    • Enhanced Caching: Improved caching for tracked contract addresses
    • Error Handling: Fixed server errors related to on-chain/database mismatches
    • Code Cleanup: Streamlined metadata handling for better maintainability

    87 New Creative Building Blocks

    We believe the biggest blocker for game development isn’t programming, it’s art. That’s why we’re constantly expanding our free asset library for creators.

    This Week’s Massive Addition

    Starting with 25 assets, we’re adding 87 more to

    New Asset Categories

    • Enhanced Player Animations: Consuming animations for potions and food
    • Environmental Variety: Multiple pot types with plants, flowers, and cactuses
    • Natural Elements: Pebbles, cobblestone patches, snow-covered rocks
    • Urban Assets: City-themed objects for modern environments
    • Living Worlds: Wind animations for plant models
    • Character Customization: 10 hair styles × 10 colors = 100 combinations!

    And much more! Our asset team is working around the clock to give developers everything they need.

    Platform Polish: Better Player Experience

    Play Platform Improvements

    • HTTPS Integration: Fixed game launching from friends list to use secure connections
    • Real-time Updates: Global player counts now update instantly (solved a Redis version mismatch)

    Creator Dashboard

    • Status Accuracy: Fixed packages incorrectly showing as ‘Live’
    • UI/UX Research: Ongoing design iterations for item creation pages

    What This Means for You

    Whether you’re a developer, player, or creator, this week’s updates directly impact your HYTOPIA experience:

    For Developers:

    • More powerful SDK tools for complex game mechanics
    • Expanded asset library reduces development time
    • Improved hosting performance for better player experience

    For Players:

    • Smoother gameplay experiences
    • New reward systems for community participation
    • Enhanced marketplace for trading and collecting

    For Creators:

    • Streamlined Web3 integration
    • Professional-grade tools for content creation
    • Growing ecosystem of opportunities

    The Momentum Continues

    This development update showcases more than just feature additions, it demonstrates our commitment to building a comprehensive platform where creativity meets cutting-edge technology. From SDK improvements that enable new gameplay mechanics to infrastructure upgrades that ensure smooth experiences at scale, every update brings us closer to our vision of democratizing game development.

    Ready to start building? Explore our expanded asset library at build.hytopia.com , or dive into SDK development with our latest tools.

    The future of gaming is being built right here, right now. Join us in creating it!

    Want to stay updated on all HYTOPIA developments? Follow us for weekly updates showcasing the latest features, community creations, and platform improvements.

  • HYTOPIA May Update: A Month of Major Breakthroughs

    HYTOPIA May Update: A Month of Major Breakthroughs

    Hey HYTOPIA Community!

    May was a month of massive technical leaps, quality-of-life upgrades, and foundational improvements that make HYTOPIA more powerful than ever. From a complete World Editor overhaul to game-changing SDK features like world switching and wedge colliders, here’s everything you need to know:

    World Editor: From Spaghetti to Stability

    “The Great Refactor”: We kicked off the month with a crucial foundation update to our world editor at build.hytopia.com.

    Major New Features:

    • Redesigned UI with compact sidebar toggle for smaller screens
    • Placement Size Tools: Choose from 1×1, 3×3, 5×5, and diamond placement patterns
    • Smart Search: Find blocks, models, and schematics instantly
    • Schematics Tab: Save and reuse AI-generated structures
    • Remove Hidden Blocks Tool: Automatically hollow out terrain for optimization

    Performance Gains:

    • Chunks now load 2-4x faster on initial load
    • Instanced meshing for previews dramatically improves frame rates
    • Eliminated redundant rebuilds that were happening every 10 seconds

    Creator Dashboard: Complete Control for Developers

    The launch of our Creator Dashboard at hytopia.com/create, give developers a comprehensive self-service platform:

    • Direct Upload: Upload game packages without intermediaries
    • Customization Suite: Control settings, tags, and media galleries
    • Live Testing Environment: Test your games in real-time
    • Real-time Crash Reports: Debug issues as they happen
    • One-Click Review Submission: Streamlined publishing process

    SDK Evolution: Power and Performance

    SDK 0.4.5: Introducing Wedge Colliders

    We introduced wedge colliders – essentially “ramps” that players can walk up smoothly. This opened up entirely new possibilities for level design:

    • Create stairs, ramps, and sloped terrain
    • Fully configurable in x, y, z directions
    • modelPreferredShape: Tell the engine what physics shape to use for automatic collider generation
    • Support for trimesh colliders that tightly match model visuals

    SDK 0.5.2: World Switching Revolution

    This major release introduced World Switching capabilities through the new WorldManager:

    • Multiple Worlds: Create complex multi-area experiences
    • Swimming Mechanics: Full swimming support with automatic liquid detection
    • Performance Optimizations: Significant engine improvements across the board
    • Breaking Changes: Refactored PlayerEntity to DefaultPlayerEntity for better extensibility

    SDK 0.6.1: The Performance Update

    We delivered massive performance optimizations that affect every aspect of the engine:

    • New Player Controller: 48 animations available with dramatically improved movement
    • Skybox Control: Adjust brightness via world.setSkyboxIntensity() for day/night cycles
    • Flexible World Creation: Optional automatic world creation for more control
    • Enhanced Entity Controllers: Automatic animation triggers for move, idle, jump states

    SDK 0.6.5: Polish and Fixes

    We wrapped up the month with important quality-of-life improvements:

    • Fixed applyImpulse: Now works correctly with players for knockback and external forces
    • Debug Rendering: Visualize colliders and sensors without performance impact
    • Selective Debug Views: Control what collider types render in debug mode

    What’s Next?

    While we’ve made incredible progress, we’re not stopping here. Our roadmap includes:

    • Enhanced Collider Support: Trimesh for precise model matching, wedge for stairs/ramps, and sensor for non-colliding areas
    • Missing Texture System Fix: Complete overhaul of the texture pipeline
    • Visual Collider Representation: See collider types directly in the editor
    • One of the most exciting upgrade coming to the default character animations and movements in the next HYTOPIA SDK release

    Founder’s Corner: Leading by Example

    Our co-founders aren’t just building the platform, they’re actively creating games that showcase HYTOPIA’s incredible versatility and push our tools to their limits.

    Arkdev: “Frontiers” – Farming Meets MMORPG

    Arkdev has been hard at work on “Frontiers,” an ambitious farming-sim/MMORPG crossover that’s already demonstrating some of our latest SDK features in action:

    Arkdev implemented a complete day/night cycle system. Each full cycle runs 24 minutes in real-time, creating dynamic gameplay opportunities as the world transitions from day to night.

    The game features intelligent NPC pathfinding around cities and recently gained a dodge roll mechanic inspired by souls-like games.

    Temptranquil: Tower Defense Excellence

    Temptranquil is pushing HYTOPIA in a completely different direction with a top-down tower defense game that showcases our engine’s incredible flexibility:

    Managing tons of projectiles, enemies, towers, upgrades, and waves simultaneously—all while maintaining smooth performance thanks to our May performance optimizations.

    From 3D adventures to top-down strategy games, this project proves that HYTOPIA isn’t limited to any single game type. The same engine that powers farming sims and MMORPGs can seamlessly handle real-time strategy mechanics.

    Both projects are perfect examples of how our May updates—from performance optimizations to advanced physics—translate into real gameplay innovations. Our founders aren’t just talking about what’s possible with HYTOPIA; they’re building it.

    Community Appreciation

    Special recognition goes to our community contributor who tackled the complex codebase refactoring that made much of May’s progress possible. The HYTOPIA platform thrives because of developers like you who push the boundaries of what’s possible.

    May 2025 proved that HYTOPIA is more than just a game development platform, we’re building the foundation for the next generation of multiplayer experiences. With improved stability, powerful new features, and a relentless focus on performance, we can’t wait to see what you’ll create.

    Ready to start building? Visit build.hytopia.com to try the latest editor, or check out our Creator Dashboard to publish your next game.

    Game Jam #3 is starting soon! Register at gamejam.hytopia.com and put these new tools to the test.

  • HYTOPIA Update: The Great Refactor & Platform-Wide Improvements

    HYTOPIA Update: The Great Refactor & Platform-Wide Improvements

    Hey Hytopians!

    We’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make HYTOPIA smoother, faster, and more powerful than ever—and today, we’re thrilled to unveil a massive wave of improvements.

    From a completely revamped World Editor to SDK optimizations and gameplay refinements, this update is all about stability, performance, and quality-of-life upgrades. Let’s dive in.

    World Editor 1.6 – ‘The Great Refactor’

    We’re thrilled to announce the release of World Editor 1.6, our most stable version yet. Many of you have been avoiding the editor due to instability, but we’re confident you can now rely on it without losing your work.

    Key New Features:

    • Redesigned UI with a ‘Compact Sidebar’ toggle for better use on smaller screens
    • Placement Size Returns. Choose from 1×1, 3×3, 5×5, and diamond/+ placement patterns
    • Search Bar added to Blocks, Models, and Schematics sidebar
    • New ‘Options’ Panel on the right-hand side for selected tools
    • Export Options for individual models and blocks as .zip files
    • ‘Schematics’ Tab to store AI-generated structures
    • ‘Remove Hidden Blocks’ Tool to automatically hollow out terrain
    • Environment Model Preview and Stackable Environment Models

    Performance & Stability Improvements:

    • Massive code refactor improving both performance and stability
    • 2-4x faster chunk loading on initial load
    • Instanced meshing for selection area preview, schematics, and placement previews
    • Fixed numerous bugs including ghost model placement and import/export inconsistencies

    Check out the full World Editor update at: https://build.hytopia.com/

    SDK Improvements

    Our SDK has received several important updates to enhance both development and player experience. We’ve added basic telemetry to the server, making it easier for creators to diagnose performance issues. Visual enhancements include a new tint effect when players enter liquids, and liquids now render properly from the inside as well.

    Performance has been a key focus – we’ve moved chunk mesh creation to WebWorkers, significantly reducing stutters by offloading work from the main thread. Developers can now support multiple worlds within the same game, and players will experience fewer disconnections thanks to our new connection recovery system that gives them 3 seconds before getting kicked by the server.

    We’ve also fixed numerous bugs, including issues with collision boxes from JTF models, cutting related to “liquid” blocks, and texture atlas resizing problems. Players should no longer get kicked out of servers after a minute of play, resolving a frustrating experience many had reported.

    Game Experience Updates

    The Play Page experience has been completely overhauled with numerous optimizations to speed up loading times. We’ve added a stylish new loading indicator that shows the game as a background with useful tips, making the wait time more engaging. Individual game pages have also received performance improvements.

    For creators, we’ve upgraded our package validation system to use the same VM as actual game hosting, ensuring consistency between development and production environments. This means fewer surprises when your creations go live.

    Our matchmaking system now supports HYTOPIA SDK v0.54 and benefits from improved parallelism, making the matchmaking process faster and more efficient. The marketplace has been enhanced with real-time updates and better rate limiting for GET requests, along with improved matching algorithms that reduce load and response times.

    On the authentication front, users now get a smart account created upon login, powered by the Privy team. We’ve expanded our asset library with new tropical and environmental models including trees, tree stumps, mushrooms, flowers, and cacti. Player animations have been significantly improved, with smoother movement for the default player entity and enhanced swimming animations.

    Game hosting has undergone a complete overhaul, with all games now bundled at package validation time, reducing crashes due to new SDK releases. Game assets are now served through NGINX and a static web server, and we’ve ported all existing game packages to the new bundled format for consistent performance.

    What’s Next?

    While we’ve made significant improvements, we’re not stopping here. We’re actively working on fixing the broken texture system and adding support for various collider types including Trimesh (which uses the model mesh as the collider), Wedge (for stairs/ramps), and Sensor (non-colliding). We also plan to visually represent the collider type for each model to make development more intuitive.

    Special thanks to our dedicated team members who made these improvements possiblen and to YOU for being part of HYTOPIA’s journey. Stay tuned for more, and as always…

    Happy creating! 

    The HYTOPIA Team

    Follow us on X/Twitter | Join the Discord

  • HYTOPIA April Update: Mobile Readiness, AI Tools, Game Jam 2 Winners & More!

    HYTOPIA April Update: Mobile Readiness, AI Tools, Game Jam 2 Winners & More!

    The HYTOPIA universe is evolving faster than ever. From mobile milestones to AI-powered creativity and important technical upgrades, April has been a whirlwind of progress. Let’s dive into the highlights:

    UI Overhaul: Preparing for a Mobile-First Future

    New UI, New Playground

    We’ve revamped the HYTOPIA interface to prepare for mobile compatibility. The chat system now acts as an overlay, letting you stay connected while immersed in gameplay.

    📱 Android + iOS public testing is LIVE!

    The future of voxel gaming is mobile—and it’s closer than ever.

    For iOS: https://testflight.apple.com/join/AfKTgWkr

    For Android: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.hytopia.app

    Call for Feedback:

    Found a bug? Have suggestions? Share them in our Discord channel. Your input will directly shape HYTOPIA’s mobile future.

    🛠️ Developer Spotlight: SDK Upgrades & AI-Powered Creativity

    SDK 0.4.2: WebRTC & Networking Revolution

    The latest SDK (0.4.2) introduces WebRTC-powered networking, delivering smoother gameplay, lower latency, and support for more concurrent players.

    Key upgrades:

    • Hybrid Protocol: Seamlessly switches between WebRTC and WebSockets for uninterrupted play.
    • Thread Offloading: Networking now runs on a separate thread, slashing CPU usage.
    • Stability Boost: Reduced crashes from malformed packets.

    How to upgrade?  Run:

    bun remove hytopia && bun add hytopia@latest && bun pm trust mediasoup

    Physics & Performance (SDK 0.3.32)

    • 20–30% faster physics: Handle bigger worlds and more entities.
    • Rapier SIMD 0.15.1: Fixed phantom collisions (RIP glitchy balls!).
    • Nagle’s Algorithm Disabled: Reduced latency spikes.

    AI-Powered Creativity

    Unleash your imagination with new AI tools on build.hytopia.com:

    • AI Building Assistant: Generate entire structures from text prompts.
    • AI Texture Creator: Craft custom textures in seconds.

    Custom Models & Assets

    Modify HYTOPIA’s core models (including the player!) with our new Blockbench repository:

    👉 GitHub Assets Repo

    Fresh Blocks & Models

    HYTOPIA’s asset library just got a major expansion. Explore new voxel assets on build.hytopia.com—with even more on the way.

    🏆 HYTOPIA Game Jam 2 Winners

    The second HYTOPIA Game Jam concluded with a burst of creativity, showcasing what’s possible with the SDK and AI tools. After fierce competition, we crowned our champions:

    🥇 Pulse Floor: A pulse-pounding survival trial where the floor literally collapses.

    🥈 Sky Siege: Team-based airship warfare with squad strategy.

    🥉 Havoc: Physics-driven chaos in a blocky battle royale.

    Congrats to all participants—your creativity is reshaping the future of HYTOPIA.

    What’s Next?

    This is just the beginning. With mobile apps nearing launch, AI tools expanding creativity, and HYTOPIA’s SDK pushing technical boundaries, the voxel revolution is accelerating.

    Jump In:

    Stay tuned for more updates—HYTOPIA is building the future, one block at a time.

    Build. Play. Thrive.

    The HYTOPIA Team

    Follow us on X/Twitter | Join the Discord

  • HYTOPIA March Update: Game Jams, AI Innovation, and Empowering Creators

    HYTOPIA March Update: Game Jams, AI Innovation, and Empowering Creators

    Hey HYTOPIA Creators and Players!

    March has been a month of explosive creativity and technical leaps forward. From AI-powered game development to groundbreaking tools that blur the lines between imagination and reality, we’re thrilled to share how HYTOPIA is reshaping the landscape of user-generated content (UGC) gaming. Let’s dive into the latest developments!

    HYTOPIA Game Jam 2: Chaos, Code, and Community

    The wait is over—HYTOPIA Game Jam 2 is officially live. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a first-time coder, HYTOPIA Game Jam 2 invites you to build web-based mini-games using our SDK and AI-powered “vibe coding.” Here’s what you need to know:

    • Theme: Freestyle (no restrictions—unleash your wildest ideas)
    • Duration: 14 days to build + 7 days of judging
    • Tools: HYTOPIA SDK + AI-powered MCP Server
    • Prize Pool: $5,000

    Newcomers can lean on HYTOPIA’s AI tools to jumpstart their projects, while seasoned developers are already flexing their skills with advanced mechanics.

    “Over 50% of the first games on our platform were made by people who’d never coded before. We’re expanding the pool of game devs—not fighting over the same ones.” said ArkDev

    Sign up now: https://gamejam.hytopia.com/

    MCP Server & AI: Coding at the Speed of Thought

    We’ve launched the MCP Server (Model Context Protocol (MCP), a first-of-its-kind system designed to simplify game development for everyone. Think of it as a digital puzzle master: when faced with a complex task (like coding a weapon system or designing a destructible environment), MCP helps AI break it down into smaller, manageable pieces.

    Here’s how it empower creators to:

    • Generate code snippets, game logic, and even entire structures via natural language prompts.
    • Debug and optimize projects in real-time with AI assistance.
    • Seamlessly collaborate with AI agents like Claude 3.5/3.7 (used to build HYGROUNDS—more on that below!).

    The impact is already visible in projects like HYGROUNDS, a frenetic mashup of Fortnite’s chaos and CallOfDuty’s precision, built using Claude 3.5/3.7.

    Want to see vibe coding in action? Play HYGROUNDS now

    Mobile Docs Live: Build Games for on-the-go play.

    Mobile gaming is no longer an afterthought. Our new Mobile Development Guides equip creators to optimize controls, performance, and cross-device playtesting. Key features include automatic guest accounts (no sign-up needed), cross-platform synchronization (players can jump between devices mid-game) and tools to ensure smooth gameplay on everything from budget phones to high-end tablets.

    Start building mobile first : https://dev.hytopia.com/sdk-guides/mobile

    Minecraft Map Conversion: Bridging Two Worlds

    One of March’s most exciting updates lets creators import Minecraft maps directly into HYTOPIA. Using the World Editor, builders can convert legacy Minecraft worlds into HYTOPIA-ready environments with a single click—opening the door for endless cross-platform creativity.

    While large maps (>500×500) may temporarily lag during conversion, the team is already optimizing performance.

    “This is about respecting the Minecraft community’s legacy,” said ArkDev. “We’re not replacing their work—we’re giving it new life.”

    Community Spotlight: Creators Leading the Charge

    The HYTOPIA community continues to astonish us. Highlights from March include:

    • @debuwikkedo’s Tower Defense Prototype
    • @dresnite’s AMONG CUBES (A blocky twist on Among Us, built by a first-time HYTOPIA dev)
    • @gabebusto’s Battle Cube, a Rubik’s-inspired space brawler submitted for #vibejam

    “The speed at which these games come together proves our engine’s power,” ArkDev remarked. “We’re seeing Roblox-level creativity without the complexity.”

    Founder’s Vision: Why HYTOPIA?

    “We’re building a home for the next generation of creators,” ArkDev wrote. “And with AI lowering the barrier to entry, the best is yet to come.”

    In a recent community post, ArkDev outlined HYTOPIA’s core philosophy:

    • Fairer revenue splits: Developers keep 40% of earnings vs. Roblox’s ~20%.
    • Simplicity-first design: Code in JavaScript/TypeScript, design UIs with HTML/CSS, and let HYTOPIA handle physics, netcode, and scaling.
    • Early-mover advantage: Front-page visibility for pioneering games.

    Read the full post here https://x.com/iamArkDev/status/1906408072475812327

    Co-founder Temptranquil also weighed in on community curiosity about HYTOPIA’s web3 future.

    “We’re not just slapping NFTs onto a broken model. Every element, tokenomics, avatar interoperability, node systems—is being stress-tested for long-term balance. Whether you’re a passive holder or an active creator, our ecosystem will reward meaningful participation.”

    Both founders echoed a shared conviction: “When this flies, it’ll fly fast. But we owe it to our community to make sure the foundation is unshakable first. We’re iterating faster than ever. The pieces are falling into place.”

    What’s Next?

    April will bring Game Jam 2 submissions, performance upgrades, and experiments with AI-driven NPCs.

    Join the movement:

    Together, we’re not just making games—we’re building a movement. Let’s keep pushing boundaries.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • AI Agents & Text-To-Game Transform Voxel Development

    AI Agents & Text-To-Game Transform Voxel Development

    Hey HYTOPIA community!

    We’ve got something INCREDIBLE to share with you today. We’re excited to share our latest demo that showcases how developers can build rich multi-agent systems using HYTOPIA’s framework. Let’s dive in!

    Making Virtual Worlds Smarter

    Remember when game NPCs just walked back and forth on predefined paths? Those days are OVER! We are creating a framework that lets your AI agents think, interact, and live in your voxel worlds in ways that feel genuinely intelligent. Here’s what makes it tick:

    • Smart environment awareness (they know what’s around them!)
    • Natural interactions with players and other agents
    • Profession-specific behaviors (like fishing, mining, and more!)
    • Real-time decision making based on world state

    Let’s dive into how these components work together to create dynamic, responsive AI agents.

    World State Representation: Keeping Agents Informed

    For AI agents to make meaningful decisions, they need to understand their environment. In our demo, each agent maintains awareness of:

    • Their current location in the world
    • Nearby entities and objects
    • Status of their ongoing actions (“Behaviors”)
    • Personal inventory contents

    This environmental awareness allows agents to make contextually appropriate decisions and interact naturally with their surroundings.

    Actions: Defining Agent Capabilities

    We’ve implemented a straightforward but flexible action system that allows agents to:

    • Navigate to specific coordinates or named locations
    • Interact with other agents through speech
    • Perform profession-specific tasks (like fishing or mining)

    What makes our system unique is our approach to action implementation. While many frameworks rely on function calling, we’ve opted for XML-based action definitions. This choice offers several advantages:

    • Reduced token consumption
    • Natural integration with LLM outputs
    • Flexible parsing from free-form text
    • Preserved creative expression in language models

    LLMs: The Brain of the Operation

    Large Language Models serve as the decision-making core of each agent, processing state information and determining appropriate actions. We’ve implemented two primary triggering mechanisms:

    1. Response Triggers: Agents react immediately to player interactions, perfect for testing and small-scale implementations.
    2. Game Steps: A turn-based approach that scales better for larger player counts, where agents make decisions at regular intervals (e.g., every 5-10 seconds).

    https://twitter.com/HYTOPIAgg/status/1877402843411308706

    Practical Implementation

    Our demo showcases these concepts in action, featuring:

    • Multiple AI agents with unique pathfinding and behaviors
    • Visual chat bubbles for agent communication
    • A sidebar UI for monitoring agent actions

    The system demonstrates how agents can navigate to specific locations or seek out other agents by name, without requiring explicit coordinate knowledge.

    Ready to Build Your Own AI Agents?

    We’ve made it easy to get started with your own AI agent implementation. Check out our comprehensive example repository on GitHub:

    👉 HYTOPIA AI Agents Example Repository

    This repository contains everything you need to begin building your own intelligent agents, including the complete source code from this demo. Use it as a template to jumpstart your game’s AI development.

    https://twitter.com/HYTOPIAgg/status/1878955053241004439

    But Wait, There’s More: Introducing Text-To-Game (T2G)!

    This is HUGE! We’re taking game development to the next level with Text-To-Game (T2G) technology. T2G transforms the game creation process into a natural language conversation between you and AI, powered by our comprehensive developer SDK.

    How T2G Works

    • Natural Language Input: Simply type what you want to create in plain English
    • AI-Powered Generation: Our AI, trained on the HYTOPIA SDK, automatically generates the necessary code
    • Instant Visualization: See your changes come to life immediately in a live game window
    • Learn While Building: Watch and understand how the AI translates your ideas into functional game code

    https://twitter.com/iamarkdev/status/1878565808517116203

    Seamless Integration with Popular Editors

    T2G will be available as a HYTOPIA editor plugin for popular development environments like VSCode and Cursor. The plugin provides:

    • Automatic HYTOPIA dev server setup
    • Live game preview window within your editor
    • Instant updates as you make changes
    • AI assistance powered by comprehensive knowledge of our SDK documentation, guides, and examples

    This integration means you can stay in your preferred development environment while leveraging the full power of T2G technology.

    Looking Forward

    The combination of our multi-agent system and T2G technology marks a new chapter in game development, where the barrier between imagination and implementation is lower than ever before. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, HYTOPIA provides the tools you need to bring your game ideas to life.

    Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to expand our framework capabilities and make game development accessible to everyone who can imagine it.