Monetization
How does monetization work on HYTOPIA? We'll cover what you can sell, how purchases flow in-game, creator revenue splits (including our limited-time promo), and practical monetization tips.
HYTOPIA's marketplace is currently in alpha testing. Monetization is currently expected to go live November 2025.
🔥 HYTOPIA's $250,000 Creator Fund is open!
Have a great idea for a HYTOPIA game? Apply for a developmental grant at: https://creatorfund.hytopia.com/
How do Creators Earn on HYTOPIA?
Creators earn on HYTOPIA by either selling Cosmetics, Non-Cosmetic Items, Lootboxes, and Bundles through HYTOPIA's marketplace (https://hytopia.com/marketplace), or through in-game Microtransactions.
Purchases sync instantly to a player’s Locker, so items are usable right away across experiences you allow. You control how monetization fits your game's model, by configuring products for sale through the creator dashboard: https://hytopia.com/create.
Global cosmetics must meet the HYTOPIA visual style: cohesive “blocky/voxel” look, performant poly budgets, and readable silhouettes. The marketplace enforces this style on listings for consistency and UX quality.
For information on styling cosmetics start here: Styling & Assets
HYTOPIA uses blockchain for good
We understand Crypto can often be a pain to use, poorly implemented, or outright scammy, but HYTOPIA does things differently. We use the good parts of crypto for its technological and ownership advantages, and leave the scammy cash-grabs behind.
Aside from mircotransactions, HYTOPIA marketplace items exist as NFTs on the Base blockchain (Coinbase's blockchain). Each player has a unique "hidden" wallet tied to their user account, that contains all of their purchased or earned items, as well as their funds.
Blockchain enables real player ownership of digital assets, allowing them to sell them at any time, converting those NFTs into account balance, either as USDC (USD Coin) or $HYBUX (HYTOPIA's token). From there, the player can freely send their funds outside of HYTOPIA, effectively off-ramping/taking their funds.
Unlike other gaming ecosystems like the Steam marketplace, HYTOPIA doesn't lock the player's funds.
Creator Revenue Splits
HYTOPIA is extremely committed to the proper treatment of creators, and is aligning it's incentives for growth. For the time being, creators will retain the vast majority of their sales. HYTOPIA wants our creators to succeed more than anything, because thats what will grow our platform.
Limited-time promotional splits
These promotional splits apply as HYTOPIA grows and may change with notice.
Primary (first-party)
85%
0%
15%
Secondary (royalty)
15%
0%
5%
Notes
Splits are enforced immediately at checkout on-chain and reflected in the creator dashboard’s sales analytics.
The Staking Pool allocations align with the broader HY Foundation tokenomics program. Our investors earn a portion of all platform revenue. Read more about the Web3 mechanics of the HYTOPIA ecosystem here: https://x.com/HYCHAIN_GAMES/status/1960071791411626000
Product Types
1. Cosmetics (Global Cosmetics)
Cosmetics are appearance items (helmets, capes, backpacks, gloves, etc.). They are purely visual with no default gameplay effects, unless developers specifically implement them into gameplay mechanics. Cosmetics are considered "Global" since by default they are visually compatible across all HYTOPIA games unless a developer explicitly hides them or uses a non-default player model.
❗Note: Global cosmetics must pass marketplace review and adhere to the HYTOPIA style guide (see below).
2. Non-cosmetic items
Items that do not visually alter the player's character, but do have a purpose and affect gameplay (power-ups, boosts, keys, consumables, etc.) are called non-cosmetic items. Balance carefully to avoid pay-to-win dynamics.
❗Note: If the creator doesn't desire to award the player something in their Locker, then a microtransaction can often be used in place of a non-cosmetic item! Using a non-cosmetic vs a microtransaction has the advantage of tradability/secondhand sale (royalty) revenue potential.
4. Lootboxes (chance-based rewards)
Marketplace Example: Adopter's Weapon Lootbox
Lootboxes yield a single reward from a creator-defined pool of items. Creators select sets of items to add to the Lootbox, and then order them by their preferred rarity. HYTOPIA's system calculates the drop rate of each item relative to its chosen rarity to net out to 100%. Lootboxes require a single "Normal" rarity item, to buffer the difference in drop-rates (fill the gaps).
Drop rates for pools of items must add up to 100% using at least one "Normal" item, and then any combination of the following rarities:
Normal
100%–25% (Buffer)
Uncommon
25%–12%
Rare
12%–6%
Epic
6%–3%
Legendary
3%–0.5%
Utopian
0.5%–0%
5. Bundles (curated sets)
Marketplace Example: Golden Armor Bundle
Bundles package multiple predetermined items (e.g., “Desert Ranger Set”). Players purchase once and “unpack” into individual cosmetics/items in their Locker. There is no chance involved, and thy player knows exactly what the Lootbox will yield.
6. In-Game Microtransactions
HYTOPIA supports seamless in-game microtransactions so players don’t need to leave the experience to complete a purchase. Microtransactions show up as a popup that players can interact with, selecting their payment method, and confirming purchase.
Microtransactions are optimal for quick in-game transactions, such as adding lives, getting in-game currency, reviving after death, etc.
Microtransactions have pre-set prices and must be pre-configured through the creator dashboard (https://hytopia.com/create) before they can be initiated in-game.
Monetization Best Practices
The following recommendations are platform-agnostic tactics that consistently work on UGC platforms; adapt them to HYTOPIA’s systems.
1. Lead with cosmetics
Build around vanity value (themes, sets, seasonal drops).
Provide mix-and-match slots so small purchases stack into complete looks.
2. Starter value kicks off a habit loop
Offer a low-price starter bundle and a clear upgrade path (Set → Deluxe → Master).
Keep a $1–$3 impulse price point live at all times.
3. Event-driven drops
Time-limited collections tied to updates, modes, or boss rotations.
Use FTUE (first time user experience) quests that award a lootbox or redeemable in-game item.
4. Progression-friendly non-cosmetics
Prefer time savers (XP/Gold boosts, convenience keys) over raw power.
Cap stacking, time-limit boosts, and document balancing rules in the store.
5. Shop UX that converts
Clean, mobile-first layout; avoid overwhelming carousels.
6. Ethics & retention
Monetization should never block the core fun loop.
Avoid pay-to-win when possible.
Avoid gambling-style mechanics that just drain user funds.
References
HYTOPIA Creator Fund: https://creatorfund.hytopia.com/
HYTOPIA Dev Docs (Style Guide & SDK): https://dev.hytopia.com/
HYTOPIA Blog (Marketplace/Locker features & updates): https://blog.hytopia.com/
Tokenomics announcement (HYBUX / HY Foundation): https://x.com/HYCHAIN_GAMES/status/1960071791411626000
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