Even before the release, opinions were voiced that with a stable technical state, the game would generate high interest. The community formed around trailers, mods, and early showcases was large. Players were waiting for a new "sandbox" with an emphasis on RPG elements, plot, and combat system.
According to the latest leaks, expectations were met. On launch day, up to 2.8 million players were simultaneously on Hytale servers. If the data is confirmed, this is one of the largest starts in the sandbox genre in recent years.
It is important to consider that Hytale did not become free-to-play. The standard edition was priced at 24.59 dollars, and the most expensive version costs 86.09 dollars. With such a price tag, such an online presence on release day looks like a serious financial and image success.
The main question remains: do Microsoft and Minecraft have cause for concern. Minecraft is a mass-market brand, and Hytale is unlikely to displace it, but everything points to the emergence of the first serious competitor in many years with its own large audience.