Community content creation is at the heart of Hypixel Studios ‘ vision . To allow modders and artists to fully express themselves, Hytale’s artistic ecosystem now relies on a standardized and powerful solution: Blockbench .
Thanks to a dedicated plugin, this software replaces the old internal modeling tools (previously mentioned on the official blog) to offer a professional, modern workflow that is perfectly integrated with the game engine.
What is the Blockbench Plugin for Hytale?
The Blockbench Plugin is the official tool for designing Hytale art assets . It is an extension integrated into the Blockbench environment, software already very popular with creators of “voxel” and “low-poly” style content.
The main objective of this plugin is to replace the proprietary tools initially developed by the studio, in order to align with the habits of the modding community.
Main features
The tool is designed to manage three fundamental aspects of graphic design:
- 3D Models: Design of entity shapes, objects and environment blocks that meet Hytale’s technical requirements.
- Texturing: Creation and application of textures to define the visual appearance of surfaces (pixel art, mapping).
- Animation: Creating fluid animations to make the world dynamic.
Important note: This plugin is expected to be released soon. It aims to ensure that all community-created content is technically compatible with the game from the moment it is integrated.
Understanding Art Assets in Hytale
In Hytale’s lexicon, art assets refer to all the visual and auditory elements that make up the player’s immersive experience.
They are classified into four distinct categories:
- 3D Models: These are the skeletons and volumes that define the shape of a creature (like a Kweebec or a Trork), a weapon or a building.
- Textures: The “dressing” applied to 3D models to give them color and detail.
- Animations: The movement sequences (walking, attacking, saluting) that bring the models to life.
- Sounds: Although not managed by Blockbench, they are an integral part of the assets (ambient sound effects, sound effects, music).
The Modding and Cross-Modding Workflow
The integration of Blockbench marks a turning point in Hytale’s cross-modding strategy . By adopting a recognized third-party tool rather than proprietary software, Hypixel Studios facilitates collaboration between creators.
The advantages for creators:
- Familiar environment: Many modders are already proficient with Blockbench, thus reducing the learning curve.
- Guaranteed compatibility: The plugin ensures that exported files will work without error in the Hytale engine.
- Increased productivity: The creation process, from modeling to integration, is streamlined to accelerate mod production.
Summary table of tools
Here are the recommended tools for each type of asset in the Hytale ecosystem:
| Asset type | Description | Main Tool |
| 3D Models | Structures and forms of entities | Blockbench + Plugin |
| Textures | Superficial appearances | Blockbench + Plugin |
| Animations | Movements of entities and objects | Blockbench + Plugin |
| Sounds | Sound effects and atmospheres | Dedicated audio software |
Is the Hytale Model Maker still relevant?
According to the latest technical information, the Blockbench plugin replaces the internal modeling and animation tools previously presented (often called Hytale Model Maker at the beginning of development).
Is the plugin a paid service?
Blockbench is free software. The Hytale plugin’s distribution model will likely follow the game’s accessibility guidelines to encourage modding.