Jagex has announced RuneScape 4, a new MMO follow-up to its long-running fantasy series. The studio revealed the project, which carries “RuneScape 4” as a working title, during its annual RuneFest convention this weekend. MMORPG.com reported the news first, and PC Gamer followed with its own coverage.
The reveal stands out because the project did not begin life as an MMO. According to MMORPG.com, it started as a planned expansion for RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the survival game Jagex released in early access in 2025. A Jagex developer said playtesters kept asking for a more traditional MMO built around that game’s setting and look. As a result, the expansion grew into a full sequel.
What the RuneScape 4 teaser shows
Jagex paired the announcement with a short teaser trailer. Its art style builds on Dragonwilds, and PC Gamer describes it as a hybrid of RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape, the version based on the series’ 2000s era.
The trailer opens on a medieval town in a green valley, with floating islands overhead. An adventurer riding a dragon comes under attack from a three-headed dragon while a wizard watches from the ground. The video closes with the wizard welcoming a new adventurer to the city. PC Gamer compared the town’s look to the Dragon Quest series.
Engine and release timing
Hard details are still thin. Beyond the trailer, Jagex has not shared gameplay systems or a business model for the project. The studio is building the new MMO on Unreal Engine, though it has not said whether that means Unreal Engine 5 or the upcoming Unreal Engine 6.
The original Dragonwilds expansion was targeting a 2027 release. However, that date applied to a much smaller project. PC Gamer expects the jump to a full standalone game to push RuneScape 4 back, and Jagex has not given a new release window. Platforms are also unconfirmed.
Where the number 4 comes from
The working title follows Jagex’s own numbering for major versions of the game. Each step brought a large technical or visual overhaul:
- RuneScape launched in 2001 as the original browser MMO.
- RuneScape 2 arrived in 2004 and introduced full 3D rendering. Old School RuneScape is based on a 2007 snapshot of this version.
- RuneScape 3 followed in 2013 with reworked art and systems, and it remains the main live version of the game today.
Meanwhile, Old School RuneScape has run alongside RuneScape 3 since 2013, so the series already supports two separate live games. RuneScape 4 would add a third MMO under the same name, and the first one built on Unreal Engine.
RuneFest is the yearly fan convention for the RuneScape series. PC Gamer features producer Mollie Taylor is attending RuneFest in person, and the outlet plans further coverage from the event.