One person has turned Hytale into a complete Pokémon MMO, and the developer is already getting ready for Nintendo’s lawyers. The project, called PokeWorlds Online, turns Hytale’ to step in. The mod transforms the game’s blocky, first-person setting into a region packed with Pokémon battles, storage boxes, and stat screens that closely resemble those found in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
A demo has been posted on X where a player walks through tall grass, sets off random encounters, and fights Pokémon in battles that will feel familiar to anyone who grew up on those older games. The modder describes the goal plainly in their own words: “the goal of this server is to create a multiplayer Pokémon game on Hytale.”.
The Modder’s Plans
@PokemonWorldOnlin has posted a roadmap for the future, and it outlines what is coming up. “It will feature well-known regions, more Pokémon, and, most importantly, eventually allow for custom regions, Fakemon, and much more…”
The creator admits the scale is enormous. “This project is going to require a huge amount of time. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to finish it, considering how much work it will take, but I wanted to show the community that Hytale could be used as a ‘game engine,’ rather than simply building on what already exists.”
What the post’s closing remark points to is inspiration for further work. “I can’t wait to see other games and servers emerge 2D, 2D isometric, 3D… with their own assets, gameplay, and universes!”
What Hytale Is
Hypixel Studios developed Hytale, a sandbox game styled after Minecraft, which went into early access on Jan. 13, 2026. The studio started life as a collective running custom Minecraft servers, and it came under Riot Games’ ownership in 2020. Riot then canceled the game in June 2025, but its original creator later repurchased the rights and continued development.
One of the game’s main features is that it lets players build and share mods using a set of in-game tools. Even in that context, PokeWorlds Online stands out. Hypixel founder Simon Collins-Laflamme replied to the post with a GIF expressing his surprise. “I’m extremely happy that I was able to shock the creator himself,” the PokeWorlds Online account responded.
Previous modifications to Hytale have allowed it to run Minecraft, Doom, Windows 95, and other software.
The Nintendo Problem
Nintendo has a reputation for fiercely defending its intellectual property through legal means, targeting emulators and fan works that feature its characters. The company has not acted against the Trump administration’s use of its franchises like Pokémon to spread hate, despite having previously crushed defendants under towering piles of unpayable debt. The elephant in the room remains Nintendo.
If Nintendo’s legal team becomes aware of PokeWorlds Online, it appears probable that they will issue a cease-and-desist notice.
The mod’s creator has accounted for that outcome. “If Nintendo steps in (which would be completely normal and understandable), I’ll remove any assets related to the Pokémon franchise. I’ll then try to replace them with custom assets and Fakemon.”
Our View
This project gives Hytale a sense of being a platform worth caring about. A modder took a game that is basically a blank canvas and built something recognisable out of it, complete with battles, storage, and stats. The creator’s open acknowledgment of the risk of Nintendo shutting it down adds to the story rather than taking away from it.
Hytale was built with mods in mind, and a modder has now pushed it to its limits, turning it into a Pokémon MMO that looks and feels like the real thing, created entirely atop someone else’s software.
| Game | Platform | Core Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Hytale | PC, servers | In-game modding tools |
| PokeWorlds Online | Hytale server | Pokémon battles, storage, stats |
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Hytale early access launch | Jan. 13, 2026 |
| PokeWorlds Online demo posted | Yesterday |
| Riot Games purchase of Hypixel Studios | 2020 |
| Riot’s cancellation of Hytale | June 2025 |
It takes real courage for a maker to admit that success is unlikely and still choose to step back instead of pushing through. That kind of discipline is unusual in fan work, particularly when the scope is so large. The maker’s candour stands out.
This project holds real promise, and it would be worth preserving through a meeting with Nintendo. No matter how things turn out, the labor has already been completed, and the video itself serves as evidence of what Hytale can become when handled by someone determined to stretch its limits.
See the video the story is built around at Polygon.
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