Well, we said there was one more thing..and we meant it.
At RuneFest, we gave you the first glimpse of something we’ve been quietly working on: an entirely new RuneScape MMORPG, built in Unreal Engine and set in the world of Gielinor.
Right now, it’s rocking a working title: RS4. That isn't necessarily the name we’ll eventually settle on, but this is our fourth generation RuneScape project, so RS4 works pretty well for now.
We thought long and hard about revealing this project so early. We could have kept it behind closed doors for much longer, especially given that we are still right at the beginning of a hugely ambitious project and the game is still a few years away.
But ultimately, that didn't feel very RuneScape, or very us.
For 25 years, RuneScape has been shaped by its players. We've learned that our games are at their best when we build with you, not just for you. So we want to do that from the beginning, and that means bringing you into the development journey earlier than you might expect - sharing ideas, testing things, listening and learning as we go.
We want to build on the best of the tech development we've learned on Dragonwilds, and the best of the community co-development we've learned through RuneScape and Old School, and apply those principles to something new. And of course, as a RuneScape game, integrity and permanent progression will be central to our design principles.
A New RuneScape to sit alongside our games
Let's make one thing really clear. RS4 is not a replacement for any of our games, be it Old School, RuneScape or Dragonwilds. Those games have their own dedicated teams, exciting roadmaps and continued investment. We’ll be designing RS4 to sit alongside them as an additional way to experience RuneScape and the world of Gielinor.
In fact, we think having different RuneScape experiences can make the whole family stronger. Players may spend most of their time in one game, move between several, or discover Gielinor for the very first time through RS4. The ambition isn't to replace the RuneScape games you love. It's to make the RuneScape universe bigger.
Where does the journey begin?
RS4 will be set in Gielinor, in the Sixth Age. But we're beginning somewhere that RuneScape players have only recently started to discover - and that is Ashenfall. An area first explored in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and a landmass to the north-east of the 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 moved on, and Ashenfall has changed with it. But Ashenfall is only the beginning.
Our ambition is for this adventure to grow far beyond Ashenfall over time, moving into places you know and love, as well as opening up new places and stories across Gielinor.
This is just the beginning
We know our incredible community and that means we’re sure you have a million questions. Which platforms? What accounts? Membership? Progression? Combat? Skills? When can you actually play it?
But, the answer right now is that it's simply not the right time, or just too early, for us to say. This isn't the full reveal – more an opportunity for us to share the beginning of something special with you.
We'll tell you much more next year about the world, the game, the team building it and, importantly, how you can start getting involved. For now, there are a few things we want you to know:
Our 4th MMO is now in development.
It's a new RuneScape MMORPG, built in Unreal Engine
It sits alongside RuneScape, Old School RuneScape and Dragonwilds as an independent experience
It will be true to our principles of integrity, permanent progression, and community driven development
It's set in Gielinor and begins in Ashenfall.
It's still a few years away, but we're telling you now because we want to build it with you.
25 years ago, RuneScape began with a world, a small team and a community that helped turn it into something far bigger than anyone could have imagined. Now we get to start another adventure together.