Jagex Reveals RuneScape 4 in Unreal Engine Alongside Reignited Mode

Jagex has announced that a fourth mainline RuneScape MMO is in development. Revealed at RuneFest 2026 in Birmingham, the project carries the working title RuneScape 4, or RS4, marking a technical shift away from Jagex's proprietary RuneTek engine to Epic Games' Unreal Engine.

The studio confirmed the new MMO will not replace existing titles. Instead, it will run concurrently alongside RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds as a fourth pillar for the franchise.

From Survival Expansion to Standalone MMO

According to Jesse America, executive producer of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, RS4 originated as a planned 2027 survival expansion titled Shadows of Ashenfall. Internal prototypes quickly outgrew that premise.

"When we saw the very first prototypes and read the designs that they'd brought together, we realized that the game direction of all of this pointed at a completely different scope," America said during a RuneFest briefing. "We came to the realization that it essentially would be an MMO, and that it deserved its own game."

America added that the project will involve the entire Jagex studio rather than an isolated sub-team. A 91-second teaser trailer showed adventurers and dragons across the world of Gielinor, setting the game in the continent of Ashenfall during the Sixth Age. Outlets reported that dragon riding and aerial combat will serve as central gameplay pillars.

Jagex stated that the launch remains a few years away, with supported platforms and a finalized title yet to be announced. The studio revealed the project early to conduct community testing and collaborative co-development throughout production.

RuneScape Reignited Arrives in December

Alongside the new MMO announcement, Jagex detailed immediate plans for the live game, led by RuneScape Reignited, which launches on December 2, 2026.

Reignited introduces a permanent new character type featuring a reset economy, separate hiscores, and no paid progression. The launch includes an Adventure Guide and a Remastered Journey update to overhaul early progression. To encourage testing, Jagex will grant Reignited characters free access to members' content for the first 10 days, running December 2–12, 2026.

Additionally, Jagex confirmed that RuneScape's official Plugin API will roll out in October 2026.