RuneScape Studio Jagex to ‘Investigate Urgently’ After Dragon Slayer 2 Trailer Sparks GenAI Backlash

Runescape studio Jagex has pulled a new RuneScape 3 trailer and pledged to “investigate urgently” after players raised concerns that promotional artwork appeared to have been created with generative AI. The controversy erupted over the weekend at RuneFest, Jagex’s annual fan festival, where the trailer debuted alongside news of an upcoming Dragon Slayer 2 questline for the long-running fantasy MMO.

The video was removed from all official sources by the time reporting began, though clips and streamer reactions remained circulating online. The sketchbook-style teaser introduced a new high-level questline that would normally have been greeted with enthusiasm among RuneScape’s veteran player base, as Dragon Slayer and its sequel are among the most celebrated challenges in Old School RuneScape. Instead, attention quickly shifted to visual glitches: one frame depicted a knight with six fingers on a single hand, while another appeared to show footwear resembling Nikes.

A Public Apology From Jagex

In a Reddit post addressing the backlash, Jagex social media manager Alex Sween confirmed that the studio had removed the trailer and opened an investigation. He attributed production to a trusted external partner who, according to Jagex, had explicitly promised no generative AI would be involved.

We’re aware of the concerns raised about the Dragon Slayer 2 trailer and have taken it down, while we investigate urgently. This trailer was produced by a trusted external partner who had explicitly confirmed that GenAI would not be used. But, among other things, there’s a sixth finger and, well, that’s pretty hard to explain away. For that we apologise.

Alex Sween, Jagex social media manager

Sween went on to reaffirm the studio’s stance against generative AI in its creative output and acknowledged that this was not the first recent incident involving external partners. “This is the second time in quick succession that concerns about generative AI have arisen through partners we trusted, and for us that highlights an issue with our own processes which we must address,” he wrote.

A Pattern of Partner Failures

The reference to a prior incident pointed to events just days earlier, when Jagex and 100 Thieves issued apologies after generative AI use was detected in a collaborative Old School RuneScape T-shirt design. In that episode, Sween told Reddit the studio had been equally frustrated by the situation.

We’re as angry as you are about this. We wouldn’t have approved the use of AI in any designs. We don’t use generative AI to replace the artists and developers who make our games, we don’t use it in our marketing materials, and we won’t use it in our merchandising or allow its use in partnerships.

Alex Sween on Reddit

The back-to-back incidents drew sharp criticism from fans initially, particularly given Jagex’s repeated public assertions that the technology would not be deployed. However, several players expressed sympathy once the studio responded transparently and took responsibility for its own review shortcomings rather than deflecting entirely onto vendors.

Mixed Community Reactions

Reactions online were divided. Some supporters praised Jagex’s handling of the situation, with one Reddit user noting they could relate to dealing with AI being used against workplace policy in their own field. Others remained unconvinced by the studio’s explanation.

You literally didn’t even watch the trailer before it was posted. Even if an external partner made it, how do you explain that?

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Sween announced that Jagex would immediately overhaul its review processes following RuneFest and intended to work with community creators to ensure the Dragon Slayer II story was told “to the standard befitting of such an update.” The studio has not yet provided a revised timeline for when a corrected trailer or new footage might appear.

Looking Ahead

The controversy came amid several other announcements at RuneFest that received warmer receptions. Among them was the reveal of a fourth RuneScape MMO currently in active development, accompanied by a concept teaser marking the first entry in the mainline series to leverage Unreal Engine.

As Jagex works to rebuild trust with its community over generative AI concerns, players are watching closely to see whether the studio’s process reforms hold. The Dragon Slayer 2 questline remains a highly anticipated addition to RuneScape 3, and fans will be eager to learn when official creative assets return under improved oversight.