Ethan Crossfield 
Long-running online worlds are increasingly being asked to serve both established communities and new players, and few franchises have as much history to manage as RuneScape. Jagex used RuneFest 2026 to confirm that the series is moving toward another major chapter: a new, currently unnamed MMO known publicly as RuneScape 4.
A New RuneScape Is Being Built on Unreal Engine
RuneScape 4 is still in the early stages of development, so Jagex has shared only a limited look at its direction. The project is being developed with Unreal Engine and is intended to present a more modern version of Gielinor for a new generation of players.
The concept trailer offers a brief but striking glimpse of that ambition. Warriors riding dragons pass above a city and its inhabitants, suggesting a broader visual scale than the franchise's traditional presentation. However, the footage does not establish a release window, final title, gameplay systems, or a complete platform plan.
That lack of detail is expected for a project this early. The announcement confirms that work is underway, but players should expect a lengthy wait before Jagex is ready to discuss the MMO in depth.
RuneScape 4 Joins a Franchise With Several Active Eras
The new game arrives after more than 25 years of RuneScape history. The original version, now referred to as RuneScape Classic, laid the groundwork for the franchise. RuneScape 2 followed in 2004 with a new engine and a substantial visual upgrade.
A 2007 version of RuneScape 2 later became the foundation for Old School RuneScape, which launched in 2013. The modern version descended from RuneScape 2 is now officially RuneScape 3, although many players simply call it RuneScape. That naming history may become even more complicated if the fourth main iteration eventually adopts the unqualified RuneScape name in everyday use.
Jagex Is Expanding the Wider RuneScape Roadmap
RuneScape 4 was only one part of Jagex's RuneFest announcements. RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the franchise's open-world survival-crafting game, recently reached version 1.0 and became available on PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, bringing the IP to consoles for the first time. Jagex plans to add the Prayer skill in December and begin a new storyline in 2027 after the Kuldra Saga concludes.
The studio also announced the Blood Crystal saga for Dragonwilds, a RuneScape animation series made with Charlie "MoistCr1TiKaL" White, and RuneScape Reignited, scheduled to launch on December 2. Old School RuneScape is set to receive a new roadmap and additional content, including the opening of Menaphos' Golden Gates after 20 years.
Key points
- RuneScape 4 is a new, currently unnamed MMO in early development.
- The project is being built with Unreal Engine and will modernize Gielinor.
- Jagex has not confirmed a release date or final console plans.
- The announcement sits alongside updates for RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and Dragonwilds.
Confirmed RuneScape projects and updates
| Project | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| RuneScape 4 | New Unreal Engine MMO; early development |
| RuneScape: Dragonwilds | Version 1.0; console availability through PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass |
| Old School RuneScape | New roadmap and content, including Menaphos' Golden Gates |
| RuneScape | Additional content and the Blood Crystal saga |
Expert View
The announcement signals that Jagex is treating RuneScape as a multi-project ecosystem rather than replacing one MMO with another. That approach gives the studio room to pursue a modern, Unreal Engine-based audience while continuing to support the existing RuneScape and Old School RuneScape communities. The biggest unanswered questions are platform availability, the final identity of the new game, and how players will distinguish the franchise's different eras once RuneScape 4 becomes more visible.
