Hey everyone! The folks behind Hytale just dropped their first update, and it's packed with a bunch of cool fixes and improvements. The team has promised that they are working hard to quickly release patches to fix issues and improve the game!

This update touches pretty much everything, from the world itself to the creatures that inhabit it. There's also been some tweaking done to crafting, farming, combat, and even the user interface. Seems like they're really trying to polish every aspect of the game.

One of the coolest additions is the inclusion of dinosaurs and other NPCs in the underground jungles. The team mentioned that these NPCs have "placeholder behaviours", which means they're still working on making them act realistically. If you want to see these new guys, you'll need to generate some new unexplored areas.

NPC and Environment Improvements

Besides the dinosaurs, you can look forward to "proper atmospheric effects and creature spawns" in the Devastated Lands sewers. Volcanic areas are also getting some love with new environmental effects. The developers even fixed that annoying invisible block near the bench in the Forgotten Temple. I always hated that block!

They've also made some changes to how NPCs behave. All NPCs now have knockback resistance, and fire-based NPCs are now immune to fire damage, even if they still look like they're on fire, which is kind of funny. Skeletons won't drown anymore, Kweebecs are safe from cacti, and livestock will no longer climb on top of chicken coops. You'll also notice that predators like foxes will only attack if you attack them first.

Crafting and Backpack Tweaks

Finding a backpack should be easier now. It seems like the base backpack no longer requires a Tier 2 Workbench. Plus, turning hides into leather now takes less than 10 seconds. Finally!

This early access release of Hytale feels like it's heading in the right direction. It's got a flexible, well-featured foundation with plenty of attention to detail. As the team is offering substantial support for modding and other creative avenues, the game could be looking at a very bright future.