Jagex Unveils RuneScape 4, First MMO Built in Unreal Engine at RuneFest 2026

Jagex used its annual RuneFest fan convention to pull back the curtain on the next chapter of its long-running fantasy franchise. On October 3, 2026, at RuneFest 2026 in Birmingham, the studio announced a fourth standalone RuneScape MMO, currently known by the working title RS4. The game is the first RuneScape project to be built in Unreal Engine rather than Jagex's own RuneTek engine, and it represents the first numbered follow-up since RuneScape 3 arrived in 2013.

The announcement was accompanied by a CGI teaser that offered only a brief glimpse of the game's direction. TechPowerUp reported on October 3, 2026 that the trailer showed a town in a green valley, floating islands, and a dragon rider being attacked by a three-headed dragon. Those images suggest a focus on dragons, large-scale exploration, and adventure, though Jagex has cautioned that the project is still in early development and remains a few years away.

Perhaps the most surprising detail is where the project originated. According to This Week in Videogames, which reported on October 3, 2026, the new MMO morphed out of Jagex's work on 'Shadows of Ashenfall', an ambitious expansion for the survival game RuneScape: Dragonwilds. That expansion was first talked about in Dragonwilds' post-launch roadmap and was centred around higher player counts, larger worlds, new ways to engage with dragons, and a focus on social interaction, trade, and sandbox fun.

Jesse America, executive producer of Dragonwilds, explained during a media briefing ahead of RuneFest that the team made designs for an expansion that would lift up Dragonwilds, moving it more into the realm of a typical Jagex game. But after seeing the first prototypes, the team realised the direction pointed at a completely different scope. As America put it, it would essentially be an MMO and that it deserved its own game to stand alone as Jagex's fourth new pillar. The story is said to pick up years after Dragonwilds and starts in the same region, Ashenfall.

Key Facts

RS4 is Jagex's fourth live game, joining RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds. The studio has confirmed that all three existing games will keep running alongside it, and it stressed that continued support for them remains a core commitment as the franchise marks its 25th year. Particle News reported on October 3, 2026 that Jagex laid out a yearlong roadmap across the franchise, with immediate dates for players to look forward to.

Among those dates, RuneScape Reignited, a relaunch of the main game, will go live on December 2, 2026, with free access for all players through December 12. Old School RuneScape will receive content drops through November 2026, including an October 20 raid and November 4 Hardcore Worlds. Dragonwilds will get a December update called Luminance, which introduces Elves and the Prayer skill, followed by a 2027 roadmap that adds Hunter, Slayer, and official mod support via a CurseForge partnership with in-game tools and a browser.

As for RS4 itself, Jagex has not yet announced which version of Unreal Engine the game will use, though This Week in Videogames reported on October 3, 2026 that it is being built in Unreal Engine 5, the same engine used for Dragonwilds. The studio also has not discussed platforms, monetization, or whether any progress will carry over from RuneScape 3. Gamereactor reported on October 4, 2026 that development is at a very early stage and that no release date, platforms, or engine version have been confirmed.

The announcement event also included the reveal of a RuneScape animated project. Particle News and This Week in Videogames both reported that Jagex is working with Charlie 'MoistCr1TiKaL' White and Lyrical Media on the adaptation. The project is separate from the MMO but underscores Jagex's broader push to expand the franchise beyond games during its 25th anniversary year.

Analysis

What this really means is that Jagex is preparing for a future in which its proprietary RuneTek engine is no longer the centre of its biggest projects. Moving to Unreal Engine is a significant strategic shift. For more than two decades, RuneScape's technology has been deeply tied to the game's identity, enabling its browser-based origins and later its mobile and desktop clients. Dragonwilds already demonstrated that Jagex can build in Unreal Engine 5, but RS4 would be the first flagship MMO to make that leap. The decision suggests that Jagex believes Unreal offers the tools and scalability needed for a modern, large-scale online world, particularly one that may target higher player counts and larger environments than RuneScape 3 currently supports.

The origins of RS4 as a Dragonwilds expansion also reveal a lot about Jagex's internal creative process. The team set out to build something that would lift Dragonwilds closer to the feel of a traditional Jagex game. When prototypes showed that the concept had outgrown its expansion label, the studio chose to spin it out into a standalone MMO rather than force it into an existing box. That flexibility is notable, but it also raises questions about scope and focus. Jagex now has four live games to support, plus an animated series and ongoing updates for each title. Managing that portfolio without spreading resources too thin will be a challenge.

The lack of a release window, platforms, or monetization details is typical for a project that is still years away, but it also means players should temper their expectations. RS4 is not a near-term product. Jagex has described it as being in early development with its own dedicated team, and America said it is a project the entire studio will work on together. The involvement of the whole studio suggests that RS4 is viewed as a major pillar for the company's future, not a side experiment. However, with no target date, the game could easily slip further as the team iterates on design and technology.

Another open question is how RS4 will coexist with the existing RuneScape games. Jagex has not confirmed plans for character progression or a transition from RuneScape 3. That ambiguity may be intentional, allowing the studio to keep its options open while it evaluates player feedback and technical feasibility. It also avoids alienating current players who have invested years into their accounts. In the meantime, the roadmaps for RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and Dragonwilds show that Jagex is committed to keeping its existing communities engaged, which is crucial for maintaining revenue and goodwill during the long development of RS4.

Why It Matters

The move to Unreal Engine matters because it signals a potential technological reset for the RuneScape franchise. If RS4 succeeds, it could set a new standard for how Jagex builds and operates its MMOs, influencing future updates to other titles. It also positions the company to compete more directly with other modern online games that use Unreal Engine, which is widely adopted across the industry. For players, a new engine could mean better graphics, larger worlds, and more sophisticated systems, though it also raises the risk of losing the distinct feel that RuneScape veterans have come to expect.

At the same time, the announcement is a strong statement of confidence in the RuneScape brand during its 25th year. Rather than resting on nostalgia, Jagex is investing in a long-term future with a fourth MMO, a relaunch of the main game, continued support for Old School RuneScape, and even an animated adaptation. The animated project with Charlie 'MoistCr1TiKaL' White and Lyrical Media shows that Jagex wants to extend the franchise beyond interactive entertainment, potentially attracting new audiences who may then try the games.

For the wider industry, RS4 is another example of a long-standing studio embracing a third-party engine to accelerate development and achieve modern visual fidelity. It also highlights the growing importance of survival and sandbox experiences like Dragonwilds as testing grounds for ideas that can later evolve into full MMOs. If RS4 delivers on the promise hinted at in the teaser, it could breathe new life into a genre that has seen its share of ups and downs, and it may encourage other developers to revisit their own legacy franchises with fresh technology.

Next Up

In the near term, Jagex's focus will be on delivering the roadmaps it outlined at RuneFest. RuneScape Reignited launches on December 2, 2026, with free access through December 12. Old School RuneScape players can look forward to an October 20 raid and November 4 Hardcore Worlds. Dragonwilds will receive the Luminance update in December, adding Elves and the Prayer skill, and a 2027 roadmap that includes Hunter, Slayer, and official mod support through a CurseForge partnership.

As for RS4, Jagex has said it is still a few years away, with no platforms, tests, or release window announced. Fans should expect a long wait before they can play it, but the studio has promised to share more information as development progresses. The animated RuneScape project with Lyrical Media and Charlie 'MoistCr1TiKaL' White is also in the works, though no release date has been given for that either. For now, the RuneScape franchise is entering its next quarter-century with more projects in motion than at any point in its history.