On 26 March, the new Hytale update lands with a huge number of changes that make the game even deeper. These include around 500 new building blocks, major tweaks to workbenches, and new features that improve the multiplayer experience, including proximity chat. Update 4 is absolutely packed, and you’ll likely only notice many of the changes as you play. We’re highlighting the biggest parts of the update so you can look for them specifically and weave them into your gameplay. There are plenty of smaller adjustments and bug fixes as well.
500 new building blocks in Hytale Update 4: Metals, Dirt and Cloth
The headline feature is surely that there are now more than 500 new blocks to build with. And yes, that’s no exaggeration. A huge number of variants have been added that didn’t exist before, filling many of the previous gaps.
A quick note: Not all of these are available in the standard Exploration mode; many are currently only in Creative. They’ll likely be added over time, some only with Worldgen 2.0. Use the Builder’s Workbench in your world to find some of these variants right now.
These new blocks include:
- Complete block families for: Cooled Magma, Chalk, Slate and Limestone
- Slabs, stairs, gravel and braces for all stones
- Slabs and stairs for virtually all dirt types
- Slabs and stairs for Cloth (wool), plus more variants for roofs and tents
- Metals (Iron, Copper, Zinc, Gold, Bronze) with various options: roofs, fences, decorative blocks and pipes
New gameplay features for items, blocks and mobs in Hytale
Several existing features have also been overhauled. Some are small and easy to miss, but they can make a big difference. You’ll almost certainly notice these tweaks in your gameplay.
- Fish traps can now be placed near the shore in shallow water.
- Windows can now be placed independently of blocks, so finally between walls and upright slabs.
- The watering can now has 50 instead of 30 capacity. You can also charge it to water a 3x3 area. You can place it while sneaking, too.
- Workbenches now operate independently of the chunk. Furnaces and tanning racks keep working even while you’re away. They also work through the night and remember progress when you skip time.
- Wolves attack in packs and coordinate their strikes. This behaviour will come to other animals later.
- Memories now have sound effects when picked up and when turned in.
- The backpack now shows a number indicating how many slots are occupied.
- You can now craft better sickles with greater reach and more durability.
- Fences and walls can now connect in a plus (+) junction.
Alchemist’s Workbench in Hytale: Potion rework and rare plants
One of the biggest changes is in the Alchemist’s Workbench. Potions have been reworked, and rare plants have been moved from the Farmer’s to the Alchemist’s Workbench. There are also three new tiers, so you can now upgrade the bench to Tier 5.
A host of new potions has been added, and all recipes and effects have been rebalanced. Central to this are the Storm, Azure and Blood plant families, which you’ll now find here and no longer in the Farmer’s Workbench.
The plants themselves have new mechanics. They only grow on Crystalized Dirt, which requires the appropriate fertiliser from this tab. It’s produced from crystal shards and void essence. Each plant has its own conditions for growth. Storm Saplings, for example, must be planted near a gold block, while Azure Kelp only grows near water.
As these plant families are now here, they’ve been removed from the Farmer’s Workbench. This also includes tiers 9 and 10, which no longer exist.
Farmer’s Workbench update: new trees and wood types in Hytale
In return, the Farmer’s Workbench has had a big upgrade for trees. You can now cultivate almost every tree species as saplings, making all wood types renewable. Previously there were only 10; now there are 31 trees. Apple trees also have their own wood type, which can be converted into hardwood. And as mentioned, you can now only upgrade the Farmer’s Workbench up to Tier 8.
Hytale world settings: mods and automatic backups
Before diving into a world, there are also some adjustments to the settings for your world. It’s worth taking a look.
- Mods have been moved to a separate section, where you can also see more information than before. You now see the version, the last updated date and the mod developer.
- The second new tab is for your world backups, which Hytale creates automatically. The system has been simplified and made clearer, which will hopefully prevent world corruption.
Hytale proximity chat and emotes: better multiplayer communication
Multiplayer fans should be especially pleased with Update 4, as it’s now built right into the game to communicate with your friends. Proximity chat has been implemented, and the closer you are to another player, the more clearly you’ll hear them. You can adjust settings under “Audio” when you’re on a server.
Emotes have also been added, which you can open with X and select. Your character automatically switches to third-person view while the animation plays, as long as you don’t move. This is a great way to communicate wordlessly and give your character more expression.
Conclusion on Hytale Update 4: more content and multiplayer improvements
Once again, Hytale’s Update 4 is packed with additions that expand, refine and improve the game. You now have far more building blocks to choose from, even if many are initially Creative-only. The improvements to existing features are exciting too, along with the overhaul of the Alchemist’s Workbench and the new saplings that make every wood type renewable. For multiplayer, proximity chat is a genuine game-changer.
Try the new features right away by renting one of our Hytale servers. The voice chat is perfect for a play session and can be configured to your liking.
