Quick TakeArticle at a glance
- Jagex announces RuneScape 4 , the first new numbered RuneScape MMO since 2013.
- Jagex confirmed RuneScape 4 at RuneFest 2026, held October 3 and 4 at the NEC in Birmingham in front of more than 6,000 people, according to TheGamer .
- RuneScape 4 — Jagex is calling it RS4 for now — is in early development and confirmed to run on Unreal Engine, though the studio hasn't said which version.
Jagex announces RuneScape 4, the first new numbered RuneScape MMO since 2013. The studio revealed it October 3-4, 2026 at RuneFest in Birmingham, confirming the game is built in Unreal Engine, is set in a region called Ashenfall, and grew out of an expansion for RuneScape: Dragonwilds before becoming its own standalone project.
What Happened
Jagex confirmed RuneScape 4 at RuneFest 2026, held October 3 and 4 at the NEC in Birmingham in front of more than 6,000 people, according to TheGamer. It’s the first numbered follow-up to the main RuneScape line since RuneScape 3 launched in 2013 — thirteen years ago. The studio showed a CGI teaser of a town ringed by a green valley and floating islands, with a dragon rider under attack from a three-headed dragon.
What RuneScape 4 Actually Is
RuneScape 4 — Jagex is calling it RS4 for now — is in early development and confirmed to run on Unreal Engine, though the studio hasn’t said which version. It’s set years after the events of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, Jagex’s open-world survival game, and returns players to the same region: Ashenfall. The project actually started life as a planned 2027 expansion for Dragonwilds before it outgrew that scope and became a standalone MMO.
Confirmed vs. Still Unknown
| Confirmed | Unconfirmed | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Unreal Engine | Which version |
| Setting | Ashenfall, post-Dragonwilds Gielinor | — |
| Timeline | “A few years away,” per Jagex | Release window or year |
| Platforms | — | PC, console, or both |
| Progress carryover | — | Whether RS3/OSRS accounts transfer |
| Monetization | — | Subscription, free-to-play, or hybrid |
Jagex Isn’t Killing Anything
The studio was explicit on this point: RuneScape 3, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds all keep getting dedicated updates. RS4 is additive, not a replacement, which matters for a 24-year-old live game with millions of invested players. It’s also a reasonable way to hedge — ambitious new MMOs don’t always find an audience, as Bungie admitted just last month about Marathon’s rocky launch. Jagex keeping its existing games running means RS4 can take its time without betting the whole franchise on it landing.
An Animated Series Too
RuneScape 4 wasn’t the only reveal. Jagex also announced a RuneScape animated series made with Charles White Jr. — better known as streamer MoistCr1TiKaL — and production company Lyrical Media, confirmed by Kotaku. Development is early and Jagex says more details are coming in 2027, but the pairing follows the same playbook other long-running game franchises have used to introduce their worlds to people who’ve never touched a controller.
Why This Matters
RuneScape has run continuously since 2001, and every previous overhaul — including RS3’s 2013 relaunch — was still an engine and client rebuild of the same persistent game. RS4 is different: Jagex is building it as a separate, standalone MMO that runs alongside the originals rather than replacing them. Announcing it this far out — with no release window, no platform list, and admittedly early footage — is a bet that fans will stay patient for “a few years” rather than a push for near-term hype. It’s also notable timing: this is the same week Gears of War: E-Day launches, so RS4 is competing for attention in one of the busier release stretches of the year without even having a release date of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RuneScape 4?
RuneScape 4 (RS4) is a new massively multiplayer online game from Jagex, announced at RuneFest on October 3-4, 2026. It’s the first numbered successor to RuneScape 3, which launched in 2013, and is built in Unreal Engine.
When does RuneScape 4 come out?
Jagex has not given a release date. The studio describes the game as “a few years away” and still in early development.
Will RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape shut down?
No. Jagex confirmed RuneScape 3, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds will all continue to receive dedicated support and updates alongside RuneScape 4.
What is Ashenfall?
Ashenfall is the region RuneScape 4 is set in, the same area featured in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. RS4 takes place years after Dragonwilds’ events.
Is Jagex making a RuneScape TV show?
Yes. Jagex also announced an animated RuneScape series being developed with streamer Charles White Jr. (MoistCr1TiKaL) and production company Lyrical Media, with more details promised in 2027.
