Hypixel Studios, developer of Hytale, announced that the game will not be available on Steam at its early access launch scheduled for January. The studio aims to prioritize game development without the distractions of user reviews.

“We want to spend our time in Early Access working with the community and improving the game, rather than over-indexing on negative reviews from players that aren’t as well-informed yet about what we are doing,” said Patrick Derbic, Executive Director of Hytale.

This decision comes despite the conventional wisdom that suggests skipping Steam could mean missing out on a significant revenue stream. However, Hytale is not a small indie project; it’s supported by a large built-in audience. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the studio’s founder, has emphasized that the game will not be at its best upon release, which influences the decision to bypass Steam in its initial phase.

The developers are keen to avoid the impact of negative reviews on their early access reception. They believe this approach will allow them to engage more effectively with their player base as they work to polish the game.