Jagex revealed during its annual RuneFest convention that a fourth major installment in the RuneScape franchise is currently in production. The project, operating under the working title RS4, utilizes Unreal Engine and was introduced via a short promotional video. While the footage hints at dragon-riding and combat mechanics, specific gameplay features remain under wraps.
According to Jagex, RS4 is designed to complement the existing lineup, which includes the base RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and the open-world survival title RuneScape: Dragonwilds. The developer emphasized that the new entry will not replace any previous iterations but will instead serve as an additional avenue for players to explore the world of Gielinor.
The upcoming MMO is scheduled for the Sixth Age, taking place years after the events of Dragonwilds. Players are expected to begin their journey in the Ashenfall region, first introduced in that prior title. Interestingly, Polygon reports that RS4 originally began as an expansion for Dragonwilds titled Shadows of Ashenfall. However, the scope of development evolved to resemble Jagex’s classic MMOs more closely, prompting the decision to pivot to a standalone release.
No launch window has been announced, with Jagex describing the title as a “hugely ambitious project” that remains several years away from completion. In the interim, fans have another announcement to look forward to: a RuneScape animated series currently being developed by Lyrical Animation in collaboration with content creator MoistCr1TiKaL. Details regarding the television adaptation are expected to be shared next year.
Huge ambition sounds like code for ‘development hell.’ I’ll believe a release date when I see one, not just another teaser video.
Finally, proper Unreal Engine graphics for RuneScape! This is the visual upgrade I’ve been waiting for since Old School launched.