SkyBlock Time 🛈
Image for the Alpha Hypixel Network used in the introduction announcement.
The server as seen in the Minecraft Multiplayer tab.
The Alpha Hypixel Network (acronymized as AHN), or Alpha Network, is a testing server that allows players to test upcoming updates for games on the Hypixel Network. This server is on alpha.hypixel.net.
The Alpha Hypixel Network hosts testing sessions in which the server is open players to test specified subjects, usually upcoming updates or features for specific games. Currently, SkyBlock is the only supported game on the server, and upcoming updates for the game are planned to be tested in the server. A rank requirement may be present for joining the Alpha Network.
Mechanic[]
The Server Noticeboard on the Alpha Network Game Lobby
A Server Noticeboard was added to the Alpha Network on 22 November 2022, with information about the session objective.
The Alpha Network Game Lobby was added on 6 December 2022, replacing the Hypixel Game Lobby, a map from the main server.
Alpha Network Reset[]
When an Alpha Network Reset (or Network Reset) happens:
- Any previous progress on the Alpha Network is wiped.
- Upon joining SkyBlock, a player will enter the profile they last played on the main server.
Upon joining the first profile after a reset, a Transfer of Progress may happen:
- All progress made by the player on all profiles on the main server will be transferred the Alpha Network, including all built structures on the private island of each profile.
- Player begins receiving game messages about achievements/collections unlocks, and skills/pet leveling up, until they are the same as on its corresponding profile on the main server.
- Note: The above is the intended behaviour. It can happen that a player joins the Alpha Network without a proper transfer of progress. That is, they start as if they play SkyBlock for the first time.
Upon joining the first profile after a reset, this message appears:
Welcome to Hypixel SkyBlock on the Alpha Network!
ALPHA! Please report bugs at https://hypixel.net/bugs
Time on Alpha Network[]
Before 21 August 2022, the SkyBlock Time on Alpha Network was the same as that of the main server.
On 21 August 2022, the SkyBlock Time on Alpha Network was shifted by exactly 211,680 seconds / 58 hours and 48 minutes in Earth's duration or 176.4 days / 5 months, 21 days, 9 hours and 36 minutes in SkyBlock's duration ahead of the main server. This change was persistent to future sessions.
On 9 April 2024, the Alpha server had a different time offset from what it previously had, presumably because the content being tested was only available during the first quarter of each SkyBlock year (spring). It was modified to be exactly 210 SkyBlock days (70 hours) ahead of the regular server, and the server was opened to the public around the start of Early Spring 2, Year 343.
The time offset was later changed on an unknown date (June 10, 2024 at the latest) to match the main server exactly.
General Points to Note[]
- Progress made after the Transfer of Progress is branched out from the main server, and later progress on either alpha or main server will not affect the other.
- New features or new testing sessions on the Alpha Network do not necessarily come with a Network Reset; It is on admin's decision to trigger a Network Reset.
- The player limit of during each session, shown on server listings, can change on admin's decision. This limits the number of players that can play the Alpha Network at the same time.
- The Auction House generally does not work on the alpha server
Observed Behavior[]
The observed similarities and differences of the Alpha Network with the main server is listed below.
Events[]
All events seem to also happen on the Alpha Hypixel Network. For example:
- Every Jacob's Farming Contests are scheduled at the same time with the same crops as the main server.
- During Traveling Zoo,
Oringo has the same pet stocks as the main server. - Bingo events run at the same time and with the same tasks as the main server.
- Mayor Elections run separately from those on the main server, but special mayors appear in the same years as on the main server. See Mayor Election#On the Alpha Hypixel Network.
Others[]
- Salesman does not appear in the Hub.
- Simon appeared in the Hub in Year 200 handing out Century Cakes.
- Hub Selector lists only 12 servers, instead of 28 as in the main server.
- Dungeon Hub Selector lists only 3 servers, instead of 28 as in the main server.
- In a given year where Candidate Jerry is mayor, the Perkpocalypse Mayor Rotation Cycle is the same as in the main server.
- Players cannot bid on Shen's Auction or ⏣ Regalia Room auctions.
Changes on the main server may not be reflected on the Alpha Network immediately:
- When Simon was removed on the main server on 11 April 2022, he was not removed at the same time on the Alpha Network. When the Security Sloth was added to the main server on 24 May 2022, it was not added immediately on the Alpha Network. Instead, both changes were done when a session opened on 9 June 2022.
- When the main server Hub was Easter-decorated in 2022, the Alpha Network Hub was not changed.
Sessions[]
| Start Date | End Date | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 28 | N/A |
What's On Now - February SkyBlock 0.19.12 Update Featuring New Dragon Content, Updated Tablist And more! |
Opening Sessions of Alpha Hypixel Network (Dates in UTC)
| Start Date | End Date | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19 | May 22 |
The Rift Testing |
What's On Now May - The Rift Talk to the Wizard in the Hub |
| May 5 | May 8 | ||
| April 11 | April 24 |
Today's Alpha Testing April 11th - Item Attribute Balancing and Testing - SkyBlock Profile Backend Rewrite |
|
| March 29 | April 11 |
Today's Alpha Testing March 29th - SkyBlock Profile Backend Rewrite - Garden Crop Growth Speed Changes |
|
| March 17 | March 29 |
SkyBlock Backend Bonanza |
Today's Alpha Testing March 17th SkyBlock Backend Bonanza - SkyBlock-wide zone and NPC backend changes - Garden Commission NPC backend changes - Bugfixes |
| January 26 | February 14 |
Today's Alpha Testing January 26th - SkyBlock Garden Performance Testing - Alpha NPC in the SkyBlock Hub |
|
| January 13 | January 15 |
Today's Alpha Testing January 13th - SkyBlock Menu Layout Improvements - Profile Performance Improvements - Backend NPC and Zone Changes |
|
| January 3 | January 9 |
Today's Alpha Testing January 3rd - Levels Part 2 Performance and Balancing Testing - Issues When Joining Servers |
| Start Date | End Date | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 14 | December 14 |
Garden Performance Testing |
Today's Alpha Testing December 14th - Garden Performance Stress Testing |
| December 6 | December 7 |
Various Testing |
Added the Alpha Network Lobby. Today's Alpha Testing December 6th - Reworked SkyBlock Levels Menu - New To-Do List feature - More Ways to Gain SkyBlock XP - Museum Value Updates - and more...! |
| November 2 | November 2 |
Added Server Noticeboard to show session objectives. Today's Alpha Testing November 2nd - Kuudra Infernal Tier - Kuudra Boss Balancing - Kuudra Party Finder - Crimson Essence Shop |
|
| November 20 | November 21 |
|
|
| November 7 | November 8 |
|
|
| November 2 | November 5 | ||
| October 27 | October 28 | ||
| October 14 | October 19 |
|
|
| September 2 | September 29 |
|
|
| August 26 | August 31 |
Dungeons Fix Testing |
|
| August 21 | August 23/24 | ||
| August 13 | August 18 |
[Alpha] SkyBlock 0.13.1 - The Hex, Stats Menu, & Shen's Auction and SkyBlock Patch 0.14 - Shen's Auctions, The Hex, RNG Meter and more! Testing |
|
| July 25 | August 7 | ||
| June 9 | June 10 |
Unknown |
|
| June 7 | June 8 |
Backend Change Testing[1] |
|
| April 22 | April 25 |
Reforging Update Testing |
|
| April 15 | April 20 | ||
| March 21 | April 7 |
Nether Update Alpha Testing Phase 2 |
|
| March 16 | March 16 | ||
| March 12 | March 13 | ||
| March 8 | March 9 | ||
| March 2 | March 2 |
Nether Update Alpha Testing Phase 1 |
Crimson Isle performance issues testing |
| February 23 | February 24 |
Nether Update Alpha Testing Phase 1 |
Crimson Isle testing for selected people only |
| February 22 | February 22 |
Nether Update Alpha Testing Phase 1 |
|
| January 21 | Unknown |
Unknown |
|
| January 6 | January 18 |
Stranded Testing |
|
| Start Date | End Date | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 13 | January 1 |
Stranded Testing |
|
| October 25 | Unknown |
Museum Testing |
|
| September 28 | September 28 |
Unknown |
|
| September 8 | Unknown |
Unknown |
|
| August 27 | September 1 |
Unknown |
|
| Unknown | Unknown |
Internal Testing |
|
| June 30 | July 23 |
2021/June 30 Testing |
|
| Start Date | End Date | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5 | Unknown |
The Catacombs Testing |
|
Trivia[]
- The server was announced on May 5th, 2020, along with the return of linking to the Hypixel Discord through the /discord Command, and access to the
#admin-loungechannel for testers.[4] - When attempting to use /skyblock after a Network Reset, if the player was on a ☀ Stranded profile when joining, this message can appear:
You were kicked while joining that server!
Cannot join that island on a Stranded profile!
Clicking on the SkyBlock Lobby NPC does not trigger this warning and player is able to enter SkyBlock normally. - When the player is awarded Bingo Points from previous Bingo events, this message can appear:
You have been given [#] Bingo Points that were missing from the [n-th] Bingo. - Currently and before 26 July 2022, when attempting to join the server when it is closed or when rank is insufficient, the connection screen will show:
Failed to connect to the server
The Hypixel Alpha server is currently closed! - In the time between 26 July 2022 and Early 2023, When rank is insufficient (current), the player will still be able to join the Lobby in Alpha Network, but this message shows when attempting to enter SkyBlock:
You were kicked while joining that server!
Can't find your SkyBlock info! Try /play skyblock! - When a player is idle for too long, the server will attempt to send them to the Prototype Lobby, which has a capacity of 0 player on the Alpha Network. The following messages will appear:
You are being transferred to the Prototype Lobby for being
AFK!
That lobby is currently full! Try again later.
History[]
| Alpha Hypixel Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2020 | The Alpha Hypixel Network increased the player limit from 200 to 400 players. | |
| May 5, 2020 | 0.7.8 | The Alpha Hypixel Network was announced with the beginning of the first testing session. |
| August 2020 | alpha.hypixel.net is redirected to the main Hypixel server. | |
| June 2021 | alpha.hypixel.net is connected to the Alpha Hypixel Network, no longer being redirected. | |
| Aug 21, 2022 | SkyBlock Time on the Alpha Network was shifted by 176.4 SkyBlock Days ahead. | |
| Nov 22, 2022 | Server Noticeboard was added. | |
| Dec 6, 2022 | Alpha Network Game Lobby was added, replacing the Hypixel Game Lobby. | |