Developer Jagex has announced a fourth MMO in the long-running RuneScape franchise, as well as an animated adaptation.
At RuneFest in Birmingham, England, Jagex offered a preview of this new MMO, which it said was designed “for a new generation of gamers.” It’s still in the early stages of development (a release isn’t expected for at least a few years) and it doesn’t have an official title (Jagex is using RS4 as its working title for now), but it will “bring the world of Gielinor to life in Unreal Engine, combining the depth, freedom, and community spirit that has defined RuneScape for 25 years with today’s technology and game design possibilities.”
Jagex currently operates RuneScape itself, Old School RuneScape, and the spin-off RuneScape: Dragonwilds. RuneScape has seen a number of major updates related to sequel names, including a name change to RuneScape 2 in 2004 and RuneScape 3 in 2013. But both were abandoned in favor of simply RuneScape, and it is now treated as an ongoing live service. So it’s tempting to call this new game RuneScape 4, and that might end up justifying the name, but Jagex hasn’t approved any titles yet.
Indeed, we know almost nothing about this new RuneScape MMO, but with the mention of Unreal Engine, we expect it to have modern visuals and design. An image of the concept teaser and the concept teaser itself can be found below.
Here is the official blurb for the fourth MMO RuneScape:
Headlining RuneFest was the first glimpse of an ambitious new chapter for RuneScape: a fourth RuneScape MMO, designed for a new generation of players. Still early in development, the as-yet-unnamed title will bring the world of Gielinor to life in Unreal Engine, combining the depth, freedom, and community spirit that has defined RuneScape for 25 years with today’s technology and game design possibilities.
In a blog post, Jagex explained that it announced RuneScape 4 so early because it wanted to build on the technology development it had done for Dragonwilds and build on the community co-development established through RuneScape and Old School. The developer insisted that RS4 does not replace RuneScape, Old School or Dragonwilds, each of which has its own dedicated team and will continue to benefit from investment. “We will be designing RS4 to stand alongside them, as an additional way to experience RuneScape and the world of Gielinor,” Jagex said.
“In fact, we believe that having different RuneScape experiences can make the whole family stronger,” the developer continued. “Players can spend most of their time in one game, moving between multiple games, or experiencing Gielinor for the very first time via RS4. The ambition is not to replace the RuneScape games you love. It’s about expanding the RuneScape universe.”
Jagex also confirmed that RS4 will take place in Gielinor, as you would expect, and the Sixth Age. “But we’re starting somewhere that RuneScape players have only recently begun to discover – and that’s Ashenfall. An area first explored in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and a landmass northeast of Gielinor.
“RS4 will take place years after the events of Dragonwilds and the destruction of the Dragon Queen Kuldra. Time has passed, the world has evolved, and Ashenfall has changed with it. But Ashenfall is only the beginning.
“Our ambition is for this adventure to expand well beyond Ashenfall over time, moving to places you know and love, as well as opening up new locations and stories across Gielinor.”
RuneScape is of course one of the oldest video games in the world. Jagex claims to have seen over 300 million player accounts created in the 25 years since RuneScape launched. But the company’s plan is to expand the franchise into new genres and even adaptations. For example, at RuneFest, Jagex also announced the start of work on a new animated adaptation of RuneScape, in partnership with YouTuber Charlie White, aka MoistCr1TiKaL, and Los Angeles-based production company Lyrical Media. Here is the official presentation text:
Additionally, Jagex revealed plans to expand RuneScape beyond games, teaming up with creator and internet phenomenon Charlie White aka MoistCr1TiKaL, along with popular Los Angeles-based production company Lyrical Media, to bring the world, characters and stories of Gielinor to life in an exciting new animated adaptation.
Jagex announced a lot more at RuneFest today. Here’s everything we saw.
Wesley is the editor-in-chief of IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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