•Jagex has cancelled RuneScape: Reignited less than two weeks after it was announced, following what associate creative director Mod Ryan described as “a ton” of player feedback.
According to a report for Eurogamer, the game mode—first revealed during this month’s RuneFest—would have let players create fresh characters with a separate economy from regular RuneScape accounts. Reignited players would only be able to buy and sell items between themselves and would be barred from tackling bosses alongside their standard accounts. The feature was pitched as an on-ramp for newcomers to the long-running British MMORPG.
In both a blog post and YouTube video announcing the reversal, Ryan explained the decision. “We received a ton of different perspectives from all of you, and we truly appreciate everyone sharing their views,” he said.
“It is super important to us because the last time we didn’t listen to player feedback, combat changed forever. And it has taken us over a decade to recover from that. Now I said on stage that we would not repeat the same mistakes of the past, and I truly stand by that. Considering this, we have made the decision to cancel Reignited.”
Mod Ryan, associate creative director at Jagex
The backlash centred on fears that the feature would split the community. Because fresh characters with a separate economy would be the natural starting point for new players, existing accounts could lose the influx of newcomers needed to stay healthy over time. There was also no way to convert an old RuneScape account into a Reignited one, meaning veterans interested in trying the mode would have had to abandon years of progress and spending.
Jagex announced the cancellation of RuneScape: Reignited
Jagex’s reasoning behind the feature relates to what it sees as an over-inflated in-game economy. As one example cited, a Bond—exchangeable for a month of premium membership—sells for 11.2m coins on Old School RuneScape and 141.3m coins on regular RuneScape. Reignited would have sidestepped this by offering an easier progression path, though its cancellation leaves that problem intact.
Other announcements from RuneFest remain in place. Ryan noted that RuneScape is receiving an Adventure Guide update along with other additions in December, plus a free trial. Separately, the show also revealed RuneScape 4, an entirely new MMO.
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