RuneScape 4 announced at RuneFest, after starting life as a Dragonwilds expansion

[Elliot95]

Jagex has announced RuneScape 4 at RuneFest 2026, PC Gamer reports. The full MMO sequel began life as a planned expansion for the survival game Dragonwilds. According to the developers, playtesters kept asking for a traditional MMO in that setting, so the project grew into a full sequel. It is a rare example of player feedback turning an add-on into an entirely new game

The teaser trailer shows medieval fantasy scenery with dragons, floating islands and adventurers in a green valley, under the tagline "An unstoppable juggernaut." The art style appears to blend RuneScape 3 with Old School RuneScape, which is a clever way to appeal to both groups of players. The game is being built in Unreal Engine, though the article does not say which version

The original Dragonwilds expansion had been aimed at 2027, and turning it into a full game has pushed the timeline back. No release date has been given. PC Gamer also recaps the numbering, which confuses plenty of people. The original RuneScape arrived in 2001, RuneScape 2 brought 3D graphics in 2004 and Old School RuneScape is based on a 2007 version of it. RuneScape 3 arrived in 2013 and is the current main game

RuneScape has an unusually loyal and long lived player base, and Old School RuneScape in particular has thrived by staying close to what players remember. A brand new sequel is a big risk. MMOs are expensive to build and keep running, and players are notoriously attached to their existing characters and progress. Still, Jagex has a better track record than most at listening to its community

Did you play RuneScape growing up, and would you try RuneScape 4? And can a new MMO succeed in 2026, or are players too attached to the games they already play?

RuneScape 4 announced at RuneFest, full MMO sequel started as expansion to survival game Dragonwildswww.pcgamer.com