Fourth RuneScape MMO Built With Unreal Engine in the Works, Jagex Announces RuneScape Animation With MoistCr1TiKaL

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 glimpse at this new MMO, which it said was built “for a new generation of players.” It’s still in early development (a release isn't expected for at least a few years), and it doesn’t have an official title (Jagex is going with RS4 as a working title for now), but it will “bring the world of Gielinor to life in Unreal Engine, combining the depth, freedom and community-led spirit that have defined RuneScape for 25 years with the technology and game design possibilities of today.”

In a blog post, Jagex explained that it has announced RuneScape 4 so early because it wants to build on the tech development it made for Dragonwilds, and lean on the community co-development it established through RuneScape and Old School. The developer insisted RS4 is not a replacement for either RuneScape, Old School, or Dragonwilds, each of which has its own dedicated team and will continue to see investment.

"We’ll be designing RS4 to sit alongside them as an additional way to experience RuneScape and the world of Gielinor," Jagex said. "In fact, we think having different RuneScape experiences can make the whole family stronger." The developer continued, "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."

Jagex also confirmed RS4 will be set in Gielinor, as you'd expect, and 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." The company also announced plans to expand RuneScape beyond games, partnering with creator and internet phenomenon, Charlie White aka MoistCr1TiKaL as well as acclaimed LA Based production business Lyrical Media, to bring the world, characters and stories of Gielinor to life in a new exciting animated adaption.