Jagex has unveiled a fourth massively multiplayer online role-playing game in the long-running RuneScape franchise, confirming that development is underway at RuneFest in Birmingham, England. The studio introduced the project under the working title RS4, describing it as an MMO built “for a new generation of players” and powered by Unreal Engine, alongside a separate animated adaptation developed in partnership with YouTuber Charlie White, known professionally as MoistCr1TiKaL.
The announcement marks one of the most significant expansions of the franchise since RuneScape first launched 25 years ago. According to Jagex, RS4 remains in early development and is not expected to release for at least a few years, with no official title confirmed beyond the working designation. The studio intends to bring the world of Gielinor to life using modern technology while preserving what it describes as the depth, freedom, and community-led spirit that have defined RuneScape across its quarter-century run.
A New Entry in a Mature Franchise
Jagex currently operates three live games: RuneScape itself, Old School RuneScape, and the spinoff RuneScape: Dragonwilds. The franchise has previously seen major updates tied to sequel branding, including renames to RuneScape 2 in 2004 and RuneScape 3 in 2013, though both were eventually dropped in favor of simply RuneScape as an ongoing live service. Given that history, the new project is naturally referred to as RuneScape 4, though Jagex has not formally committed to any title.
The mention of Unreal Engine has fueled expectations that RS4 will feature modern visuals and design compared with its predecessors. The studio clarified, however, that the game should not be understood as a successor or replacement for existing titles. Each current RuneScape game retains its own dedicated team and ongoing investment, with Jagex positioning RS4 as an additional entry point into the shared universe rather than a successor.
“We think having different RuneScape experiences can make the whole family stronger. Players may spend most of their time in one game, move between several, or discover Gielinor for the very first time through RS4. The ambition isn’t to replace the RuneScape games you love. It’s to make the RuneScape universe bigger.”
Jagex
A Setting Rooted in Recent Lore
In a blog post, Jagex explained that it chose to announce RS4 so early because it wants to build on the technical development achieved for Dragonwilds and lean on the community co-development model established through RuneScape and Old School. The studio confirmed that RS4 will be set in Gielinor during the Sixth Age, beginning in an area called Ashenfall—an landmass located to the north-east of Gielinor first explored in RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
The narrative is positioned years after the events of Dragonwilds and the destruction of the Dragon Queen Kuldra. According to Jagex, time has passed within the world, Ashenfall has changed accordingly, and that region represents only the starting point for a story intended to grow far beyond it over time as players move into familiar locations alongside new stories across Gielinor.
An Animated Adaptation Arrives
RuneScape is among the longest-running video games in the world, with Jagex citing more than 300 million player accounts created since its original launch. The company’s plans to expand beyond traditional gaming have now extended into animation as well. At RuneFest, Jagex confirmed that work had begun on a new RuneScape animated adaptation developed in partnership with MoistCr1TiKaL and the Los Angeles-based production company Lyrical Media.
The collaboration brings one of the most prominent figures in gaming content creation into an official adaptation of the franchise, signaling Jagex’s intent to reach audiences beyond its existing player base. Details regarding plot, format, and release timing for the animated project were not disclosed at the time of announcement.
Looking Ahead
Jagex has signaled that RS4 will require several years before reaching players, consistent with the scope implied by a new Unreal Engine title set across an expanding world. The studio emphasized that its current games will continue to receive dedicated support and investment throughout development.
For further coverage of Jagex’s RuneFest announcements, readers can explore Here’s everything we saw. Concept imagery for RS4 remains available through the studio’s official channels as development continues in its early stages.
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