Vintage Story: Adventure Mode

[FlareUKCS]

Now I could be thought as one of the VS first camp of players, as I enjoy VS and its current trajectory and road map, so one could infer I am against this 'adventure mode' however I am not. I decided to see the 'adventure mode' as a mod, a total overhaul mod that Anego will hire on a small (3-4 developers) team to work on separately from VS itself, with a potential benefit to VS in the form of enhanced mechanics where said mechanics fit in the the VS vision.

The cost to this mod is not in VS developer time, nor will it impact VS releases, the cost is the staff cost of adding the small team, and I am in no position to question Anegos' finances so I will simply trust them to know their own business.

In brief, VS will continue as normal and we may get a 'adventure mode' out of the deal, we may get some enhancements to VS that fit with the vision, but we will still get VS.

Don't forget Tyron left Hypixel due to the conviction he had to his vison, which he started VS, he will most certainly not change his vision to accommodate another now.

[falco_lombardi]

2 hours ago, Rhyagelle said:

Do you think he made this decision just blindly or what?

Yes.

[falco_lombardi]

3 minutes ago, FlareUKCS said:

I decided to see the 'adventure mode' as a mod, a total overhaul mod that Anego will hire on a small (3-4 developers) team to work on separately from VS itself, with a potential benefit to VS in the form of enhanced mechanics where said mechanics fit in the the VS vision.

Don't forget that it will become a paid mod if it gets popular.

[FlareUKCS]

I highly doubt it will be a paid for mod, I think it will be split off onto a different game if it becomes popular enough. VS is a niche game, even amongst block games in that it does not try courting the masses, so it would still be viable to have a new title to sell to the masses that did not find VS appealing.

[dakko]

28 minutes ago, Oto Nokyo said:

Perhaps you're right and the Adventure Mode hytale clone will be on the same engine, that still does not detract from how a lot of us basically want this @Mathathian's summary:

I understand the position you and Mathathian are taking, and I'm sure there are others that agree with you.

To me, the new team has already been functioning as a cohesive unit and are probably excited about Tyron's vision of Adventure mode. I believe that wondrous things come into existence when creative people are working on a passion project, and I see this new team (functioning in that capacity) as a rare opportunity. If not for this unique situation, I might agree with your position [to have the new team work on VS].

eta: and I do not see the team as being divided, rather I see the new team as a separate addition that does not detract from the current team, so we do disagree in that regard.

Edited July 6, 2025 by dakko

[NoLandsLie]

Hytale's collapse led me to finding out about this gem and buying a copy in support of what the game offers and the potential to still see some of what Hytale could have been spun off from this amazing project. Regardless of the outcome I've been enjoying the survival aspects despite never really being into them before in other games. Your customer support people are also great, they helped me out quickly with my issue.

All the best,

[The Phoenixian]

This seems fairly reasonable for what it is. Absent accidentally hiring the AI box of thought experiment fame, moving from 18 people to 21-22 does seem like something that isn't likely to drown the team in new hires while also being a decent core of people for the side project.

My main point of curiosity is wondering just what roles skillsets end up hired on, but I imagine that information won't exist until everything has already gone through. So, my hopes it all goes well.

[Toksyuryel]

I don't think people are acknowledging the exciting new mod potential this is going to open up in the future. Anything the Adventure Mode team wants to do will require support in the engine, which means mods for Vintage Story will be able to make use of it.

[Rhyagelle]

4 hours ago, Gabe Heasley said:

Yes.

So you think you know better about the situation than Tyron does, somehow. Will you explain why you think this way, or is this the extent of your answer? It seems based off this answer, you haven't really thought about it deeply at all. 

[kcroxtonjr]

I get that it will be built on the same engine so it would be possible for the main game to benefit from anything created for adventure mode, but it won't be like they can just instantly port things back over to VS main with no issue. It will be a process that takes time and testing, which means that it will affect the main game's development time to incorporate anything from the adventure mode. And that isn't even taking into consideration the fact that the new separate team will have to be properly managed, which also takes up time.

As of right now, personally I would rather these burst of excitement be focused directly into current VS, as it could greatly benefit from things such as better combat and A.I. as soon as possible, in my opinion.

At the same time though, VS has been in development for a very long time, so I feel maybe a new team with a fresh view and freah ideas could be exactly what is needed to benefit the project as a whole.

I'm open to this idea, but definitely need more information before giving any definitive answer on the matter. Too many unknowns currently.

[Voldemort]

8 hours ago, Thorfinn said:

I think it's high time people start accepting that there is a VS game and an Anego Engine. The Adventure Mode will have a different "aesthetic" -- it's not going to be the gritty survival palette of VS but something different.

People bought Vintage Story to support this project, but now their money is going to be used for another project instead of improving, updating, and polishing the game.

It’s like backing a local bakery to help them perfect their recipes but instead of improving the bread you came for, they use your support to open a coffee shop across town, while the original bakery sits half-baked.
 

[Arcane Gunslinger]

I can't see how anyone could think this is a bad thing. One of the core pillars of any kind of "Adventure mode" is Exploration. This can only expand the core engine's capabilities.

Exploration means 

Breathtaking Vistas- Which can only benefit the world generation overall
Likely far more Animals- Herds, migrations, expanded ecosystems - which in turn could mean herd management, over-hunting mechanics (survival, anyone?), seasonal migrations
Greater depth to NPC interactions
Likely actual economic/trade systems
Quest system - while it may not be entirely applicable to the VS side, there is a tertiary side effect of an expanded events system that can play into VS.

All these things can only expand the base engine

 

[Brigadier Elm]

Optimistically, this new mode becomes a valuable addition. One that shares tech and benefits both projects.
Pessimistically, and with Hytale’s collapse as a recent example, it risks dividing focus, delaying both efforts, and weakening the long-term stability of the studio.

That is not speculation. It is risk management. This is not about doubting Tyron’s intelligence. It is about wanting the studio and Vintage Story’s original vision to succeed. That success depends on careful decisions about timing, capacity, and communication.

Communication is part of the problem here. This announcement came suddenly, right after Hytale’s unexpected dissolution, without a clear explanation of what “spinning it off” would actually mean. Will players lose access? Will it become a paid product down the line? These gaps in detail do not inspire confidence. They create uncertainty.

I understand why some people are excited. There is creative potential, modding opportunities, and a fresh team with energy. But part of supporting a studio also means holding it accountable when the scope shifts mid-project. That is not pessimism. That is looking out for the game we backed in the first place.

Tyron has made efforts to reassure us that Vintage Story will stay true to its vision. He has said that this new mode is a side project, and that it will initially be bundled in at no extra cost. That is appreciated, but it does not fully resolve the ambiguity. If the new project succeeds and spins off, what does that mean for current players? Will access change? Will development on the main game slow, whether the new mode succeeds or not?

These are fundamental questions about priorities and long-term direction that still need clearer answers. This does not have to be divisive. But if the goal is to maintain trust and momentum, the studio would benefit from a more structured roadmap and a clearer explanation of how both projects will coexist without compromise.

And to echo what others have said. If you have brought in strong new talent, why not direct that strength toward finishing the product that is already proven, already has a player base, and still has a long list of work ahead?

 

[Voldemort]

15 minutes ago, Brigadier Elm said:

Optimistically, this new mode becomes a valuable addition. One that shares tech and benefits both projects.
Pessimistically, and with Hytale’s collapse as a recent example, it risks dividing focus, delaying both efforts, and weakening the long-term stability of the studio.

That is not speculation. It is risk management. This is not about doubting Tyron’s intelligence. It is about wanting the studio and Vintage Story’s original vision to succeed. That success depends on careful decisions about timing, capacity, and communication.

Communication is part of the problem here. This announcement came suddenly, right after Hytale’s unexpected dissolution, without a clear explanation of what “spinning it off” would actually mean. Will players lose access? Will it become a paid product down the line? These gaps in detail do not inspire confidence. They create uncertainty.

I understand why some people are excited. There is creative potential, modding opportunities, and a fresh team with energy. But part of supporting a studio also means holding it accountable when the scope shifts mid-project. That is not pessimism. That is looking out for the game we backed in the first place.

Tyron has made efforts to reassure us that Vintage Story will stay true to its vision. He has said that this new mode is a side project, and that it will initially be bundled in at no extra cost. That is appreciated, but it does not fully resolve the ambiguity. If the new project succeeds and spins off, what does that mean for current players? Will access change? Will development on the main game slow, whether the new mode succeeds or not?

These are fundamental questions about priorities and long-term direction that still need clearer answers. This does not have to be divisive. But if the goal is to maintain trust and momentum, the studio would benefit from a more structured roadmap and a clearer explanation of how both projects will coexist without compromise.

And to echo what others have said. If you have brought in strong new talent, why not direct that strength toward finishing the product that is already proven, already has a player base, and still has a long list of work ahead?

 

This is something that @Tyron should answer. Best message here so far.

[dakko]

3 hours ago, Adnyeus said:

...but now their money is going to be used for another project instead of improving, updating, and polishing the game.

(emphasis mine)

This is what baffles me, the "either or" thinking that causes some people to believe it must be one or the other. Why do you think they do not have the money to do both? Why would development on VS come to a grinding halt with the hiring of a few new people that will be working on a different project?

[Guimoute]

17 hours ago, Oto Nokyo said:

We only have roughly three chapters with some additions coming in the 1.21 update.

Two chapters. 1.21 doesn't add, it fixes. 

[Guimoute]

16 hours ago, Thorfinn said:

The upside is, of course, is the influx of the fantasy player base. And, let's be honest, a player base which has been extraordinarily patient in waiting for Hytale. If they can even get the textures ready and a few models, they can have a playable proof of concept very quickly. The core engine functions are complete enough that the gaps can be worked around, so all they need to work on is content.

You actually convinced me with that. I had to leave my comfortable short-term point of view of having the studio make and update a single game, a game that I love, but it makes sense once I put myself in their shoes: Hytale's announcement trailer has 61M views. That's a good long term bet if the new game "mode" can scoop even 10% of those viewers as clients. THEN the studios gets a bunch of funding that can go back to benefiting Vintage Story. 

The people who found Vintage Story naturally after they left Minecraft / stopped waiting for Hytale (before the announcement that it was canceled) are already here. The new game is a second, broader, more active attempt at catching the latter audience in the studio's nets. You get x% of 60M interested in the new game, then y% of the new game's players interested in Vintage Story. 

--

Now I hope we get to see Hytale's simple parkour moves in VS.

Edited July 6, 2025 by Guimoute
typo

[Tyron]

I've updated the blogpost/forum post to respond to many of your concerns, thank you for your feedback!

[Voldemort]

2 minutes ago, Tyron said:

I've updated the blogpost/forum post to respond to many of your concerns, thank you for your feedback!

Yeah, it feels like you want to ride the hype to create something like Hytale
it's clear now, at least to me.

Update 1.21 is so far one of the weakest of the last two updates in terms of new content, etc. Let's see what 1.22 or 1.23 will bring.

Edited July 6, 2025 by Adnyeus

[Tyron]

14 minutes ago, Adnyeus said:

Yeah, it feels like you want to ride the hype to create something like Hytale
it's clear now, at least to me.

Update 1.21 is so far one of the weakest of the last two updates in terms of new content, etc. Let's see what 1.22 or 1.23 will bring.

Sigh. It is unfortunate that you think that way.

The 1.21 update is small for a reason, so that we can finish it quicker. The purpose of 1.21 was to finish some of the planned stuff for 1.20. The previous poll showed that a large amount of players want that we don't leave stuff in an unfinished state - well then we have to do updates like 1.21. 

[Brigadier Elm]

19 minutes ago, Tyron said:

I've updated the blogpost/forum post to respond to many of your concerns, thank you for your feedback!

Thanks for taking the time out to expand on the original post, it addresses a lot of my concern - I look forward to the next VS updates!

18 minutes ago, Adnyeus said:

Yeah, it feels like you want to ride the hype to create something like Hytale
it's clear now, at least to me.

Update 1.21 is so far one of the weakest of the last two updates in terms of new content, etc. Let's see what 1.22 or 1.23 will bring.

I do think there's appeal to create something like Hytale, after all Tyron was originally working on it. There is an element of "Strike whilst the iron is hot" to also capture some of the audience from a studio standpoint.

The main concern I had was simply with VS updates being affected - they're moving towards streamlined updates to get content out faster so 1.21 is smaller, but I'm glad the content is there.

I suppose there is a potential decision to be made if a "Beta Branch" should exist so server owners can keep a stable platform, whilst others can opt in for a potentially buggier but more content rich experience.

[Voldemort]

15 minutes ago, Tyron said:

Sigh. It is unfortunate that you think that way.

The 1.21 update is small for a reason, so that we can finish it quicker. The purpose of 1.21 was to finish some of the planned stuff for 1.20. The previous poll showed that a large amount of players want that we don't leave stuff in an unfinished state - well then we have to do updates like 1.21. 

I think it would be really interesting if you made a video showing how the bug-fixing process works and how long it usually takes. It’d give the community a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. I’d definitely enjoy watching something like that

[Tyron]

7 minutes ago, Adnyeus said:

I think it would be really interesting if you made a video showing how the bug-fixing process works and how long it usually takes. It’d give the community a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes. I’d definitely enjoy watching something like that

I did a lot of live streaming where I fixed many bugs, about 2 weeks ago, I can try to do that again soon but they happen rather spontaneously when I have no other tasks at hand. Please keep an eye out for them in the #events channel on discord.

[ManicKitty64]

When Tyron said "We're all gamers" i felt that 

[The Phoenixian]

I would like to add on a bit more and say that, while I'm a voice with a very brief exposure to the community, over the last decade and change I've been following live development projects, the two most visible (to this user's eyes) and most damaging causes of failure I've seen devs make are lacking a clear sense of direction and unnecessary refactors.

Trying not to get too caught up in just jabbering aimlessly, I do feel like what I've seen of Vintage Story has a very clear sense of exactly what it wants to be and where it wants its development to go compared to many other projects. Especially as some of the reading here reports starting the game over a difference of opinion over exactly what kind of game the founders wanted to make to begin with. There's always risks, but nothing here strikes me as making this studio and project particularly susceptible to them even with the announcement. Certainly it's no post-minecraft block game vehicle shooter, turned world of tanks, turned battle royale, turned... I could go on, but that alone should make the point. It hasn't been chasing new trends every five minutes and the creators' history indicates there's a very particular idea of where they want to go.

Refactors and their ability to cost years a pop are their own issue of course, for many and more technical reasons, but during my brief exposure to it, Vintage Story appears very well set up, and nothing I've seen so far seems particularly likely to run into the kinds of issues I've seen pop up elsewhere. It's very clear that the game has had a lot of thought and care put into what it's trying to be, where it's trying to go, and how it would like to get there.