For more information on upcoming patches, follow @Simon_Hypixel on X.
Following the release of Update 3 and several recent hotfixes, the development team has officially rolled out the Update 4 (Part 1) Pre-Release as of February 19, 2026. This update focuses on core system improvements, modding flexibility, and essential quality-of-life adjustments.
To access these features, simply go to your Launcher → Settings → Pre-Release.
🚀 Key Features & System Updates
This update introduces several technical milestones for the Hytale engine:
- Multiple Instances: Players can now run several instances of Hytale at the same time. Note: Opening the same world across multiple instances is discouraged to prevent save corruption.
- Revamped Mod Management: The Mod UI is now located in its own section within the World Settings. You can now view icons, versions, and see a warning icon if a mod is incompatible with the current game version.
- World Recovery & Safety: A new Backup Management interface has been added to help recover broken worlds. Additionally, hosts can now set a fallback server for players who experience unexpected disconnections.
🌍 World, Blocks & Audio
- Building Physics: Windows and Cloth Roof blocks no longer require supporting blocks. Furthermore, decorative chains, brick beams, and chandeliers now support more block types for hanging decorations.
- Environment & Flora: * Blue Winter Seaweed now produces bubbles and has had its oxygen stats modified.
- Lumberjack Lamps can now be placed in different directions.
- Dirt and Grass variations are now organized into “Families.”
- Atmospheric Audio: The track Genesis has returned to Zone 4, and the Traveling Band can now be encountered in Zone 1 during the night.
⚔️ Gameplay & Equipment
- Tool Durability: Be careful when clearing land—hatchets, pickaxes, and shovels now lose durability when used on wood.
- Combat & Hunting: The bow can no longer be drawn if you have no ammunition.
- Fishing: Fishing traps are now more versatile; they can be placed in shallow water and closer to other blocks.
🎨 Avatar & NPCs
The team has refined several cosmetic names and NPC behaviors:
- Cosmetics: Basic Sandals are now Leather Sandals, the Long Sleeved Tunic is the Cotton Tunic, and the Puffy Ponytail is now the Puffy Bun.
- NPC Tuning: Moose have been slowed down by 20%, and Elemental Golems have received updated animations and interactions.
🛠️ Modding & Creative Tools
- VisPath Debugging: A new flag allows creators to visualize NPC pathfinding.
- Asset Editor: Now supports High DPI for better clarity on high-resolution monitors.
- Builder Tools: Material support has been expanded to include holders, fillers, and fluids. Players can also set default rotation angles and axes for creative brushes.
- Protocol Updates: If you are disconnected due to a ‘MOD_ERROR (code 9)’, the game now offers a direct link to the new Mod Management UI.
⚙️ Quality of Life (QoL) & Fixes
- Mass Drop/Destroy: You can now hold the Drop Item button and mouseover items in your inventory to quickly drop stacks (Adventure Mode) or destroy them (Creative Mode).
- Crafting: Benches now display the rarity of items and the number of items currently in the crafting queue.
- Optimizations: Worldmap bandwidth usage has been halved, and the input system has been cleaned up.
- Bug Fixes: Resolved issues with stacked slabs dropping the wrong amount, T1 Furnace transparency, and various UI crashes.
For more information on upcoming patches, follow @Simon_Hypixel on X.