Hytale’s first update is here, introducing a range of fixes and quality-of-life (QoL) improvements as the team promises it is “committed to maintaining a rapidly patching cadence to address issues and improve the game”.
The fixes include tweaks to the world and environment, NPCs, creatures, crafting, farming, audio and visual effects, UI, customisation, combat, balance, commands, and more.
“Welcome to the first Hytale update! Today, we are releasing new content alongside a range of fixes and quality-of-life improvements. We are committed to maintaining a rapid patching cadence to address issues and improve the game as quickly as possible,” the team said.
Notably, dinosaurs and other NPCs have been added to populate the underground jungles, albeit with “placeholder behaviours” while the team works on them. These new NPCs require a change to the environment in the biome, so you’re advised to generate new unexplored areas if you’d like to drop by and say hello.
You can also expect “proper atmospheric effects and creature spawns” in the Devastated Lands sewers, volcanic environmental effects beneath volcanoes, and the invisible filler block between the bench in the Forgotten Temple has been removed.
All NPCs should have knockback resistance, and fire-themed NPCs should, quite rightly, be immune to fire damage (even if, for now, they’ll still look like they’re catching fire). Skeletons no longer drown, Kweebecs are now immune to cactus or brambles damage, and livestock should no longer climb atop the chicken coop. You’ll also find that cautious wildlife predators like the Fox will no longer attack unless you attack them first.
You should now find it easier to locate the Backpack, as well as its upgrades, as the base backpack no longer requires a Tier 2 Workbench. Mercifully, it now takes fewer than 10 seconds to transform your hides into Leather now.
There’s more – much more! – so head on over to the official website for the full rundown.
“This week’s early access release feels like a splendid start; a flexible, well-featured – and already enjoyable – foundation with plenty of polish and attention to detail,” Matt wrote in Eurogamer’s Hytale preview.
“And beyond what Hypixel is currently cooking up itself, the studio’s offering substantial support for modding and other creative avenues as it looks to foster the sort of community that’s served Minecraft so well. So yes, only a day in and Hytale shows lots of promise – and with the next two years of funding already secured, the once seemingly doomed game could be looking at a very bright future.”
