RuneFest 2026 fourth RuneScape MMO was the headline announcement from Jagex’s event in Birmingham, attended by more than 6,000 people. The new project does not yet have a final public name and remains early in development, but Jagex confirmed that it uses Unreal Engine and is intended to bring the world of Gielinor to a new generation of players.
This is not merely an expansion for an existing title. Jagex describes it as the fourth MMO in the RuneScape franchise, with its own development path. The company has not announced a release date, supported platforms, price or subscription model. Any claim about those details would currently go beyond the official information.
What is confirmed about the new MMO
According to Jagex, the game is designed as a new interpretation of Gielinor that should preserve the depth, freedom and community influence associated with RuneScape. Unreal Engine provides a modern technology base, but the choice of engine does not reveal the combat system, economy, progression pace or business model.
Jagex did not present enough detail to conclude that the new game will replace RuneScape or Old School RuneScape. The rest of the RuneFest program points in the opposite direction: the company is investing in several branches of the franchise at the same time, with separate plans for existing games and RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
RuneFest 2026 fourth RuneScape MMO and the community
Jagex says community influence will remain central to the project. That commitment matters in a series where polls, development diaries and long-running conversations with players have shaped major changes. However, the company has not yet published a specific consultation or voting system for the new game, so later development updates will show how the promise is implemented.
RuneScape Reignited and existing games
RuneScape Reignited is scheduled for December 2. Jagex presents it as an enhanced experience connected to a broader development plan, although players should use future official updates for the full list of changes. Old School RuneScape will receive Menaphos, a location the community has anticipated for years, alongside additional work shaped by player feedback.
Don’t miss this
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is getting the Blood Crystal Saga and a roadmap extending into 2027. That provides a more immediate development track than the unnamed MMO. Players interested in other large game expansions can also read our Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance report, which similarly separates a confirmed window from details still in development.
An animated adaptation is also in development
Jagex confirmed early work on an animated RuneScape adaptation with Charlie White, known online as MoistCr1TiKaL, and Lyrical Media. The format, distributor and release date were not announced. The project signals an effort to expand the franchise beyond games, but it should not be described as a finished series or a production with a confirmed launch schedule.
It is useful to separate four tracks: the new MMO, Reignited, Old School RuneScape content and Dragonwilds. Each serves a different audience and has a different schedule. The clearest near-term date in the official announcement is December 2 for Reignited, while the fourth MMO remains an early project without a release window.
What players should watch next
The next meaningful details will be the game’s name, platforms, monetization model and the first substantial gameplay presentation. Development diaries should also explain how community feedback will influence decisions. Until those arrive, Jagex’s announcement supports conclusions about direction and technology, not detailed predictions about mechanics.
The official Jagex announcement is the primary source. It confirms the scale of the company’s plans without promising a launch date for a project that is still early in development. Store pages, ratings and system requirements have not been published.
Who each announcement is for
Existing players receive the most concrete near-term information through Reignited and Menaphos. The unnamed MMO is more relevant to people waiting for a modern new entry into Gielinor, while Dragonwilds remains the separate survival-oriented option. Presenting all of these projects together does not mean one cancels another.
Don’t miss this
RuneFest 2026 therefore offered a map of the franchise rather than a single release. The RuneFest 2026 fourth RuneScape MMO reveal is the biggest long-term development, while Reignited, Old School content and Dragonwilds provide more immediate reasons to follow Jagex’s next updates.
Bottom line
Jagex has confirmed the project, its Unreal Engine foundation and its place as the fourth MMO in the franchise. Everything beyond that should remain clearly labeled as unknown until the studio publishes supporting material. For now, the announcement is significant because it expands the long-term RuneScape roadmap without ending support for the existing games.
