Jagex Unveils Fourth Major RuneScape Project as Unreal Engine-Powered MMO
Jagex revealed RuneScape 4, a new massively multiplayer online game developed in Unreal Engine 5, at RuneFest 2026. The project evolved from ambitious expansion plans for the survival game RuneScape: Dragonwilds and will be the studio's fourth live game offering alongside existing RuneScape titles. Additionally, Jagex announced that a RuneScape animated series is in production with content creator MoistCr1tikal serving as a consultant.
RuneScape 4 emerged from Jagex's work on an ambitious Dragonwilds expansion called Shadows of Ashenfall. Originally envisioned as a larger-scale extension of the survival game with enhanced player counts, expanded worlds, and social sandbox features, the project's scope and creative direction evolved significantly during development. The prototypes and designs that emerged suggested the concept had outgrown its role as an expansion and warranted standalone status as a full MMO title.
The new game represents a major studio commitment, with development teams from across Jagex's entire portfolio—including RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and Dragonwilds—collaborating on the project. Built in Unreal Engine 5 rather than Jagex's proprietary RuneTek engine, RuneScape 4 becomes the studio's fourth live game offering, though no release timeline has been announced.
RuneScape 4 may signal shifts in how established gaming studios develop live service titles, potentially demonstrating that expansion projects can evolve into standalone products when creative ambition warrants it. The involvement of content creator MoistCr1tikal in the announced animated series could influence how gaming franchises engage entertainment audiences beyond traditional gaming communities. For RuneScape's player base, the fourth game offering raises questions about resource allocation, server populations, and whether multiple titles strengthen or fragment the franchise's community engagement long-term.