RuneFest 2026: What Jagex Announced for RuneScape

RuneFest 2026 brought announcements for RuneScape’s next chapter, updates across Jagex’s other games, and two projects that take the franchise beyond its current MMO. The main near-term change is RuneScape Reignited, a fresh-start character mode for the existing game launching December 2, 2026. It is distinct from the separate, early-development RuneScape MMO Jagex also revealed. 26

RuneScape Reignited starts December 2

Reignited is a permanent character type with its own economy and hiscores, and no paid progression. The characters play in the same worlds as existing RuneScape characters. 6 Jagex framed the launch as a way for new and returning players to begin together, with a remastered player journey and an Adventure Guide among the announced features. 69

Reignited characters will have free access to members’ content for the first ten days after launch. That means players can try the members’ content from December 2 through December 12 without membership during the access period. 69

Plugin API, Hall of Legends and the 2027 plan

Jagex’s RuneScape announcements include an October Plugin API and the Hall of Legends. The API is part of a wider effort to support plugins in the game. 49

The broader roadmap looks beyond Reignited: Jagex says it plans to remaster the full player journey in 2027, starting with an early-game update on December 2, 2026. Its other stated areas of focus include the user interface and visuals, combat, game balance, daily activities and Auras, and Grand Exchange trading. 14

A separate RuneScape MMO and an animated adaptation

The newly revealed MMO is a separate project from Reignited and the current RuneScape. It is in early development and is being built with Unreal Engine; Jagex did not announce a release date. 25

Jagex also announced an animated adaptation of RuneScape, partnering with Charlie White, known as MoistCr1TiKaL, and production company Lyrical Media. No release date was included in the announcement coverage. 29

Old School RuneScape updates

For Old School RuneScape, the announced schedule includes the Fractured Archive raid on October 20 and Hardcore Worlds on November 4. The 2027 plans include Menaphos and new quests. 1718

RuneScape: Dragonwilds roadmap

For RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the December Luminance update is a prelude to the Blood Crystal Saga, planned for 2027. Jagex also outlined official modding tools and an in-game mod browser and installer, with those features expected in the first half of 2027. 21

Taken together, the announcements point to several different paths forward: a new way to restart in the existing RuneScape, ongoing roadmaps for Old School RuneScape and Dragonwilds, and longer-term franchise projects whose release timing remains unannounced.