Modding in Hytale isn’t just a hobby anymore but a competitive space to feature talent and win big.
Hypixel Studios, in partnership with the modding platform CurseForge, has announced the upcoming New Worlds Modding Contest, a major event where Hytale modders can showcase their work and compete for a total prize pool of $100,000 across three categories.
Widely considered the spiritual successor to Minecraft, Hytale is a modern-looking sandbox RPG with strong support for modding tools. Originally developed in 2018, the game nearly got canceled after Riot acquired the rights until Hypixel co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme regained control and released it via early access in January 2026.
Since the game’s early access launch, thousands of Hytale mods are currently available on CurseForge, with the platform receiving over 20 million downloads from its users. In an official statement from Hypixel Studios, Simon expressed his excitement about the contest.
“Games thrive long-term because of their communities, and Hytale’s creators have already shown us that since launching into Early Access. Hypixel Studios is putting $100,000 behind this contest as a first step toward something much bigger to recognize and reward the people shaping Hytale’s future. I can’t wait to see what comes out of it and to meet some of the creators along the way!”
Hytale New Worlds Modding Contest 2026: Mechanics and prize distribution
The Hytale New Worlds Modding Contest contains the following categories:
| Category | Mechanics | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|
| World Gen V2 | Participants must create contest-worthy biomes, regions, or zones using World Gen V2’s visual node editor. | $27,000 |
| NPCs | Participants must submit updated or uniquely created Hytale NPCs, which include harmless critters, enemies, or bosses. Hostile NPCs’ combat behavior will also be a factor in determining the finalists for this category. | $27,000 |
| Experiences | Participants must submit their best adventure maps, minigames, hard modes, or any unique gameplay systems that can make Hytale much more enjoyable. | $27,000 |
Each category will award the following winners with their respective cash prizes:
- 1st Place: $10,000
- 2nd Place: $7,500
- 3rd Place: $2,500
- 4th–10th Places: $1,000 each
Community favorites and mid-contest drops
In addition to the main categories, the Hytale New Worlds Contest will feature a Community Favorite poll, allowing players to vote for their favorite entries. The top five mod creators in community votes will each receive $2,000.
And on top of that, 10 modders with qualifying entries can also win $300 each by joining mid-contest drops, which will take place during the contest’s submission periods.
For more details about the competition, interested modders can visit the official webpage of the Hytale New World Contest.