Hytale Pre-Release Update 3 Overview

Update 3 is a big quality-of-life pass for Hytale, with better maps, smoother gameplay, deeper customization, and a ton of under-the-hood fixes. This update is being released on the pre-release branch in 3 parts.

• Part 1: Released 1/29/2026

• Part 2: Released 2/5/2026

• Part 3: Releases 2/12/2026

Let’s break down some of the largest changes.

Map & Navigation Improvements

One of the best updates in Update 3 is how much easier it is to get around.

You can now place custom map markers anywhere in the world. These markers can have their own names, icons, and colors, and you can even share them with other players in multiplayer. There are also new settings to toggle marker visibility on the map and compass, so things do not get cluttered.

Player names are now always visible on the map and much easier to read when zoomed out. The compass also shows different icons depending on whether something is above or below you vertically, which helps a lot in caves and tall structures.

Teleporting has also been tightened up. Teleport options are hidden for map markers in Adventure mode, and teleporters now require a short cooldown distance before you can reuse them.

Character Customization Gets Bigger

Update 3 continues to expand avatar customization in a big way.

Part 1 adds new hats, shirts, shoes, haircuts, and even a construction hard hat. Part 2 goes even further with Avatar Presets, letting you save and swap between up to ten different looks instantly.

There are also new eye shapes, makeup options, hairstyles, facial hair styles, skirts, accessories, and new metal color variants. If you like making your character feel unique, this update is doing the heavy lifting.

Combat and Item Changes

Combat is smoother and more consistent after this update.

Weapon damage inconsistencies across tiers have been fixed, spear behavior is now standardized, and guarding stamina costs have been corrected for certain rare weapons.

Necromancy builds get a major glow-up. Summons no longer damage their summoner, react properly when you are attacked, move faster, and behave more aggressively. There is also more variety in skeletal minions, including a ranged option.

Smaller item improvements include better in-hand positioning for basic items like sticks and ingots.

Gameplay Quality-of-Life Fixes

The update quietly fixes dozens of small annoyances that add up.

Doors no longer close when blocked, inventory sorting now works properly, and you can shift-drag items to move them quickly between inventories. Processing benches now have a Take All button, minecarts no longer wiggle when stuck, and farming requirements for the Chicken Coop have been lowered.

NPC behavior has been cleaned up, utility wheel swapping is smarter, and large chests can now support blocks placed on top of them.

These changes make everyday gameplay feel smoother and less frustrating.

World, Blocks, and Visual Updates

Several block textures and variants have been added or updated, including cracking patterns for stone, magma, mud, and ores. Incandescent Volcanic Rock has returned, and weather configurations have been added for flat and void worlds.

Zone visuals have also improved, especially weather effects in Zone 1. New encounter environments and villages have been integrated across multiple zones, making exploration feel fresher.

Audio, UI, and Accessibility Improvements

Audio bugs have been fixed so sounds play correctly in stereo instead of blasting one ear. Sword swing and impact sounds have also been updated.

On the UI side, tooltips are clearer, keybind indicators are better placed, warps are sorted alphabetically, and map text is easier to read.

Font fallback support has been added, which means better support for non-Latin languages. Window sizing options and cleaner feedback tools also make the game feel more polished overall.

Modding, Tools, and Server Stability

Update 3 brings important improvements for modders and server owners.

Mods can now be enabled or disabled directly from save folders, plugins and asset packs are checked for version compatibility, and validation issues now block server startup unless explicitly bypassed.

World configuration saving is more reliable, corrupted worlds now show warnings instead of silently breaking, and overall world generation performance has improved. There are also extensive security fixes and crash protections baked in.

Conclusion

Update 3 shows that Hytale’s development is focused on polish, stability, and long-term playability rather than flashy one-off features. The staggered Pre-Release rollout may mean waiting a bit longer to see everything at once, but it also allows the team to test changes more safely and fix issues before they reach full release.

The improvements to maps, movement, combat behavior, and everyday interactions make the game feel smoother and more intentional across the board. Character customization continues to grow in meaningful ways, and the behind-the-scenes updates to world generation, modding tools, and server stability lay important groundwork for the future.

Taken together, Update 3 feels less like a single patch and more like a foundation update. It tightens systems players interact with constantly and strengthens the tools creators rely on. With Part 3 still on the way, this update makes it clear that Hytale is steadily moving toward a more refined and reliable experience.

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