Developer Jagex has officially announced a brand-new massive multiplayer online game carrying the working title "RuneScape 4," revealing the project during the opening ceremonies of its annual RuneFest convention over the weekend. The major announcement, which quickly generated widespread discussion across the online gaming community, was accompanied by a brief teaser trailer offering the first look at the upcoming project’s art direction, visual fidelity, and overarching aesthetic philosophy.
According to initial reports from industry outlets like MMORPG.com, RuneScape 4 represents a significant evolution for the long-running fantasy franchise. The new MMO builds directly upon the visual style and technical framework established by Jagex’s recently released survival game, Dragonwilds. Based on the footage shown in the announcement trailer, the upcoming title aims to strike a balance between modern visual standards and nostalgic design, serving as a creative hybrid that draws inspiration from the current era of RuneScape 3 while also nodding to the beloved aesthetic of Old School RuneScape and its roots in the 2000s heyday of the genre.
The announcement trailer itself offered a vibrant glimpse into the game’s world, showcasing a distinctly stylized, Dragon Quest-esque medieval town nestled within a lush, verdant valley situated beneath dramatic floating islands. Action-oriented sequences in the trailer depicted an adventurer riding a dragon while coming under sudden attack by a formidable three-headed dragon, all while a wizard watched the chaos unfold from the ground below. The teaser ultimately concluded on a welcoming note, with the same wizard greeting a fresh adventurer arriving in the city, setting a stage ripe for new exploration.
Behind-the-scenes details shared during the convention shed light on how the project came to be. MMORPG.com reported that RuneScape 4 unexpectedly emerged from a planned expansion for Dragonwilds. According to comments from a Jagex developer at the event, playtesters consistently expressed a strong desire for a more traditional, MMORPG-focused take on the survival game’s specific setting and artistic aesthetic. Rather than confining these ideas to an expansion pack, the studio ultimately decided to scale up the concept into a standalone, full-fledged game.
Technically, RuneScape 4 is being developed using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, though Jagex has not yet clarified whether the team is utilizing Unreal Engine 5 or preparing to adopt the upcoming Unreal Engine 6. Because the project originated as a smaller-scale survival game expansion—which initially targeted a 2007 release window in its earlier conceptual phase—the decision to expand the scope into a massive new MMO has almost certainly pushed the timeline back, though an updated release window has yet to be officially finalized.
The introduction of a numbered sequel naturally raises questions regarding how Jagex intends to classify its family of online titles moving forward. While Old School RuneScape—the retro version of the iconic MMO—will undoubtedly continue its separate operations as one of Jagex’s most successful and enduring products, the transition to a new numbered entry leaves open several questions regarding the future of the existing franchise ecosystem. Specifically, it remains to be seen whether the studio plans to preserve RuneScape 3 in some capacity alongside the new version shift, or if RuneScape 4 will implement a seamless continuation of character progression in a manner similar to how RuneScape 3 succeeded its predecessor.
As RuneFest continues over the weekend, industry observers and fans alike are keeping a close watch for further announcements, developer panels, and technical breakdowns. PC Gamer features producer Mollie Taylor is on the ground at the event, providing ongoing updates and first-hand coverage of Jagex’s grand plans for the future of its flagship fantasy universe.
