Hytale EULA: Guide & Rules for your Server

Launching a Hytale server project is an exciting adventure, a unique opportunity to create your own universe within Orbis. But before diving into the code of your first mod or creating your own server, it is crucial to master the legal framework and expectations set by Hypixel Studios Canada.

This detailed guide will accompany you through the intricacies of Hytale’s End User License Agreement (EULA) and the Server Operator Policies. Together, we will decipher key regulations regarding hosting, intellectual property, branding, and above all, monetization. Note that this guide is an informative summary and does not replace the official legal text.

1. The server operator status and your responsibilities

The Hytale EULA (Section 7) establishes a clear distinction between the game client and the “Server Software” dedicated to multiplayer servers. As soon as you use this software, you become a “Server Operator”. This status, while granting access to community creation, comes with strict responsibilities, detailed in Section 7.2 of the EULA and supplemented by the Server Operator Policies.

• Legal compliance: You must comply with all laws in force in your jurisdiction, including taxation if you generate revenue, and regulations on player data protection.
• Player safety and moderation: You are responsible for moderating your server, protecting your users, and enforcing rules against cheating and abuse, in accordance with the Community Guidelines. Listed servers even have a 24h response SLA for urgent security reports.
• Costs and infrastructure: Operators are solely responsible for acquiring and paying for hosting, bandwidth, storage, security, and other infrastructure costs for their servers.
• Server licenses and limits: A standard Hytale game license allows operating up to 100 server instances. For game service providers (GSPs) or large networks, accounts with the sessions.unlimited_servers right are required, although the application process is suspended and an automated solution is under development.

2. Server monetization: what is allowed and forbidden

This is the most delicate section and the most subject to interpretation. Monetization rules apply to your server because the EULA (Section 3.1) defines “Mods” as including “modifications, plugins, scripts, maps, skins, models, and similar content”. Your server, being composed of these elements, falls under the monetization rules for Mods.

2.1. General principles and clear prohibitions

You have the right to monetize your work via paid downloads, donations, or advertising, as long as you strictly respect these principles:

• Total independence: You must never sell or include the game’s original files, nor its source code.
• No confusion: It must be clear to the player that your content is not an official product of Hypixel Studios Canada.
• Technical safety: Formal prohibition on including malware, spyware, or viruses.
• Legality: You must respect the rights of third parties (no theft of intellectual property from other creators).
• Gameplay integrity (Anti-Pay-to-Win): This is the crucial point. The EULA requires “respecting gameplay balance” (Section 3.2.e). Hypixel Studios has a firm commitment against Pay-to-Win (P2W).
• Clarity and truthfulness of offers: You must describe your offers truthfully and clearly, displaying the total price, renewal conditions, important limitations, and any region-specific restrictions before purchase.
• Prohibited behaviors:
  • NFTs, speculative cryptocurrencies, and “Play-to-Earn”: It is strictly forbidden to integrate, issue, or promote NFTs, speculative crypto tokens, “play-to-earn” token schemes, or similar blockchain-based schemes. However, accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method for otherwise authorized transactions is permitted.
  • Gambling: You must not operate a server or feature that constitutes or facilitates gambling. This includes games of chance or mixed skill games where players wager money, virtual currency, or valuable items.
  • Cash-out: No feature should allow the cashing out or exchange of game items or virtual currency for real money or monetary equivalents.
  • Deceptive practices: Prohibition on misleading, using “dark patterns,” or making unfair or deceptive statements.

2.2. Paid random items (loot boxes) and transparency

If you offer paid features with random outcomes (“Paid Random Items”, e.g., loot boxes, capsules, crates), specific rules apply:

• Digital disclosure of probabilities: Before purchase, you must clearly and visibly disclose the mechanisms, the categories or tiers of items available, and the numerical probabilities or odds of receiving each category or item (including “pity” or guarantee mechanisms). This information must be kept up to date.
• Expected cost: You must disclose the “expected cost” to obtain each top-tier result, each featured result, and a complete set of items, as well as the maximum spend if a guarantee exists. Calculations must use published probabilities and rules.
• Review location: You must provide a location on the server where players can review the most recent probabilities and mechanisms at any time.
• Ban for minors: You must not allow purchases of paid random items by users identified as minors under applicable law, based on available account, platform, or parental control information.
• Prohibition of “double random”: “Double random” mechanics (e.g., buying a crate to get random “key fragments”, then combining fragments to spin a wheel for a reward) are prohibited when payment is involved at any stage.

2.3. Revenue share

Hypixel Studios Canada has a revenue-sharing policy with server operators:

• Initial period (0%): The revenue share rate is 0% for the first two years (until January 13, 2028). No reporting or payment is required during this period.
• Future rate (Max 20%): When the rate increases above 0%, the new rate will apply only to revenue earned from the effective date of the change. The percentage will never exceed 20%.
• Influencing factors: Revenue share levels may vary depending on the level of services, oversight, or infrastructure provided.

Summary table: the risk zone

3. Intellectual property: who owns your work?

This is a frequent question among developers: “If I code a unique mini-game or specific assets, do they belong to me?”

The answer is in Section 3.4 of the EULA:

• Yes, you are the owner: You retain ownership of your Mods (scripts, original assets) to the extent that they are your original creation.
• But there is a condition: By using the game to create these Mods, you mandatorily grant Hypixel Studios Canada a broad license. They have the non-exclusive, worldwide, fully paid-up, transferable, sub-licensable, perpetual, and irrevocable right to use, copy, adapt, modify, create derivative works, display, distribute, and use your Mods for the operation or promotion of the Game and Service.
• In summary: The code is yours, but Hytale has the right to feature it or use it if they deem it necessary for the service. This license is distinct from and in addition to the license you grant for “User Generated Content” (UGC) in the Terms of Service.

3.1. Third-party intellectual property

• Modder responsibility: If you include third-party content in your Mods, you are solely responsible for obtaining necessary permissions or complying with applicable open-source or proprietary licenses.
• Mod licenses: Platforms like CurseForge and Modtale allow you to specify licenses for your mods (standard or custom).

4. Naming and branding: avoid common mistakes

Protection of the Hytale brand is strict (Section 3.6 and 7.3 of the EULA). If you do not follow these rules, your access to the server software may be cut off.

• What you cannot do:
  • Use the official logo, specific font, or visual identity (“trade dress”) in a way that suggests you are affiliated with Hypixel Studios Canada.
  • Bad example: “Hytale Official France Server” (Forbidden, suggests official status).
  • Sell “official-looking cosmetics” that could mislead players about their origin or endorsement.
• What you can do:
  • Use the word “Hytale” descriptively.
  • Good example: “PvP Server for Hytale by Team X” (Allowed, descriptive).
  • Listed servers can apply limited “theme overrides” to official cosmetics in specific zones/mini-games, provided this is disclosed and original cosmetics are restored after leaving the modified experience.

5. Technical red lines and server security

The security and stability of the game and community are paramount. Ensure your technical team respects the prohibitions in Section 4 of the EULA to avoid your project being banned.

• Illicit distribution: Never offer the Hytale client for download on your website. The Hytale client must be installed via the Hytale Launcher.
• Reverse engineering / Disassembly: Do not attempt to decompile the game or disassemble the source code, except within the very strict limits provided by law for interoperability. However, it should be noted that the server source code will initially be non-obfuscated, allowing easier decompilation for code exploration.
• Bypassing security measures: Any attempt to bypass DRM, anti-cheat, or security protocols is grounds for immediate license termination.
• Forbidden client-side mods: Hytale is designed with a “server-first” approach. There will be no client-side modding. All gameplay, UI, or asset modifications must go through the server, which will temporarily “mod” the client securely.
• Network protocol: Hytale uses the QUIC protocol over UDP for client-server communication, renowned for its speed and reliability. Ensure your firewall and port forwarding are configured accordingly.
• Anti-cheat and data collection: Anti-cheat is primarily server-side, with limited client-side telemetry. No kernel-level anti-cheat is deployed. Data collection is performed to detect cheating and enforce rules, in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
• Stability of “Early Plugins”: Plugins that run before the server fully starts (earlyplugins) can significantly impact game stability. They are to be used with the utmost caution and may void any stability warranty.
• Future protocol tolerance: Currently, the client and server must be on the exact same protocol version. In the future, a tolerance of ±2 versions is planned to facilitate updates.

FAQ: frequent questions from Hytale server operators

Q1: Can I sell ranks on my Hytale server?

A: Yes, as long as these ranks offer cosmetic or convenience advantages and do not harm game balance (Section 3.2 of the EULA). Any direct gameplay advantage (powerful weapons, stat boosts, etc.) is considered Pay-to-Win and is forbidden. Listed servers must clearly disclose if their purchases affect gameplay.

Q2: Can I sell random items (loot boxes) on my server?

A: Yes, but with very strict restrictions. You must numerically disclose the probabilities of obtaining each item, the “expected cost”, and forbid purchase by minors. “Double random” mechanics are also proscribed. “Cash-out” for real money is forbidden.

Q3: If Hytale closes my server, do I have recourse?

A: The EULA states that Hypixel Studios Canada may suspend or revoke access at its sole discretion in case of rule violation, often without notice (Section 11.2 of the EULA). The Server Operator Policies specify an “enforcement ladder”, ranging from a warning to delisting or revocation of server tokens.

Q4: Can I use NFTs or “Play-to-Earn” on my server?

A: No, the integration, issuance, or promotion of NFTs, speculative crypto tokens, or “play-to-earn” schemes is strictly forbidden. Only accepting cryptocurrencies as a payment method for authorized transactions is permitted.

Q5: How much does Hypixel Studios take from my server revenue?

A: For the first two years (until January 13, 2028), the revenue share rate is 0%. After this period, the rate could increase, but it will never exceed 20%. You remain responsible for monetization platform fees and payment provider fees.

Q6: Can I use official Hytale assets on my website or to promote my server?

A: The EULA prohibits the use of official logos, trade dress, or trademarks in a way that suggests official affiliation or endorsement. You may use the word “Hytale” descriptively. It is recommended to create your own visual identity to avoid any confusion.

Q7: Can the Hytale client be modified?

A: No, the Hytale client is not designed to be modified client-side. Hytale follows a “server-first” approach where the server manages game logic, user interface, and resources (including visuals like Minecraft’s “resource packs”). All modifications must be done server-side.

Q8: What is the recommended configuration for a Hytale server?

A: Hytale servers require Java 25 and a minimum of 4 GB of RAM (8 GB or more recommended) on a 64-bit CPU (x64 or ARM64). The QUIC protocol over UDP uses port 5520 by default. View distance is the main factor in RAM usage.