RuneScape 4 Is Official: Jagex Building New Unreal Engine MMO

Jagex is developing a fourth mainline game in its fantasy universe under the working title RuneScape 4. Revealed during RuneFest 2026 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK, the upcoming title departs from the studio's proprietary RuneTek engine to build Gielinor inside Epic Games' Unreal Engine.

The announcement included a 91-second teaser trailer featuring adventurers facing dragons across Ashenfall, a continent set during Gielinor's Sixth Age. Outlets reported that dragon riding and aerial combat will serve as core gameplay pillars. Jagex noted that the release is still a few years away, and target platforms remain unconfirmed.

From Survival Expansion to Standalone MMO

Speaking at RuneFest, Jesse America, executive producer of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, explained that the project originated as Shadows of Ashenfall, a survival expansion planned for 2027. Early prototypes outgrew that initial scope.

"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. "We came to the realization that it essentially would be an MMO, and that it deserved its own game."

America noted that the project is now a collaborative effort across the entire studio rather than the work of an isolated sub-team. Jagex stated it announced the title years ahead of release to invite early community playtesting and collaborative development, echoing player-driven processes across the franchise's 25-year history.

A Fourth Pillar Alongside Existing Titles

Jagex confirmed that RuneScape 4 will not replace existing games. Instead, it will function as a fourth pillar operating concurrently alongside RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds.

Specific technical details remain unannounced. Jagex did not specify whether the game runs on Unreal Engine 5 or Unreal Engine 6, and the studio emphasized that "RS4" is strictly a working title.

RuneScape Reignited Arrives in December

Jagex also announced RuneScape Reignited, a live-service update launching December 2, 2026. Reignited introduces a permanent, separate character type featuring a clean-slate economy, fresh hiscore boards, and no paid progression.

The update includes an overhauled Adventure Guide and a Remastered Journey track. All Reignited characters will receive 10 days of free members' content access between December 2 and December 12, 2026. RuneScape's official Plugin API is also scheduled to launch in October 2026.

Beyond the game client, Jagex confirmed a partnership with content creator Charlie White (MoistCr1TiKaL) and Lyrical Media's animation arm to adapt Gielinor into an animated series. Release timing, format, and distribution details have not yet been announced.