Jagex Plots Unreal Engine Overhaul for RuneScape Universe as Animated Series Kicks Off
Key takeaways
- RS4 built on Unreal Engine, set in Sixth Age on Ashenfall, years from release.
- Jagex confirms new MMO complements existing RuneScape titles; no replacements planned.
- RuneScape animated series in development with MoistCr1TiKaL and Lyrical Media.
Jagex announced a new MMO for the RuneScape franchise at RuneFest in Birmingham, currently titled RS4, built with Unreal Engine and targeting modern players. The game remains years away from release but promises to combine RuneScape's signature depth and community focus with contemporary graphics and design. Set in the Sixth Age on Ashenfall—a region introduced in RuneScape: Dragonwilds—the new entry will take place after Dragonwilds' story events, with room to expand across familiar and unexplored areas of Gielinor.
Jagex emphasized RS4 won't replace RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, or Dragonwilds, each of which will continue receiving support and development. The publisher is approaching the four-game ecosystem as complementary experiences, letting players commit to one title or move between them. The franchise reached over 300 million player accounts across its 25-year history.
Alongside the MMO announcement, Jagex confirmed work on a RuneScape animated adaptation with content creator Charlie White (MoistCr1TiKaL) and production company Lyrical Media, marking the studio's push into entertainment beyond gaming.
The bigger picture
Expanding RuneScape into a fourth MMO signals Jagex's confidence in the franchise's durability while hedging against industry shifts toward next-gen engines. Unreal Engine adoption positions RS4 to compete with modernized rivals like Final Fantasy XIV or Elder Scrolls Online without cannibalizing legacy titles. The partnership with MoistCr1TiKaL reflects streaming culture's influence on IP adaptation—a strategy worth watching as other long-running franchises explore similar crossover moves. Key risk: maintaining player investment across four distinct games without fragmenting the community.
We're tracking this because RuneScape's quarter-century run is rare in gaming, and Jagex's decision to expand rather than replace tells us something important about how established franchises stay relevant. An Unreal Engine rebuild signals serious technical ambition. We want to see how this ecosystem plays out—whether newcomers actually use RS4 as an entry point, and if the animated series moves the needle on mainstream recognition.
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