RuneScape 4 announced at RuneFest 2026: Jagex is building a new MMO in Unreal Engine

The game is being built in Unreal Engine and is set in Gielinor, but no final title has been confirmed.
There is no release date, platform list, or gameplay overview yet; the first details point to an early stage of development.

What happened

During RuneFest 2026, Jagex announced a new MMO project within the RuneScape franchise. IGN, Polygon, and TheGamer describe it as a fourth RuneScape MMO and use the working name RuneScape 4 or RS4. The reveal was tied to a broader franchise roadmap shown at the event, although the full contents of that roadmap have not been made public.

On Jagex’s official teaser page, the company says the project is “an entirely new RuneScape MMORPG,” built in Unreal Engine and set in the world of Gielinor. Jagex has not yet shared a final product name, release date, or platform information. The page does confirm that the project was shown for the first time at RuneFest and marks a new chapter for the franchise.

Early reporting explicitly says the project is in development very early. As a result, it is still unclear how far along production is or how this new MMO will eventually relate to RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape. Jagex has also not said exactly what role the game will play within the existing franchise, beyond confirming that it is a new MMO in the same world and under the same brand.

Timeline

2004: RuneScape 2 launches as a major new version in the franchise and later becomes one of the pillars of the modern RuneScape line.
2007: The version that Old School RuneScape would later be based on dates from this year.
2013: Old School RuneScape launches based on an older 2007 version of the game.
2026-10-03: Jagex shows a new RuneScape MMO at RuneFest 2026, currently referred to as RS4.
2026: Jagex and multiple outlets confirm the project is being developed in Unreal Engine and has no release window yet.
2026: Jagex’s official teaser page describes the project as a completely new RuneScape MMORPG set in Gielinor.

Background

RuneScape has been around for more than 25 years and has seen several major variants. RuneScape 2 was released in 2004, while Old School RuneScape arrived in 2013 based on an older 2007 version. That means the franchise has long had a modern mainline alongside a classic branch, and this new MMO now appears to add another layer to that structure.

Based on the information available so far, the new MMO is a separate addition to that lineup. Jagex has not shared details about gameplay, monetization, or platforms. The name is also not final, since RS4 is being used as a working title in reporting rather than an official final title. That keeps the current messaging deliberately limited: the core announcement is that a new RuneScape project exists, not that every product detail is already locked in.

Several sources link the reveal to a broader franchise roadmap shown during RuneFest 2026. In that roadmap, the game is described as a project for a new generation of players, but the available information remains limited to the first announcement. Polygon calls it a new MMO in Unreal Engine, while TheGamer emphasizes that it is still early in development. IGN describes the reveal as part of a larger set of RuneFest announcements, including other franchise plans.

Jagex’s official teaser page is currently the most important primary source. It explicitly states that the project is an “entirely new RuneScape MMORPG,” that it is being built in Unreal Engine, and that the setting is Gielinor. Because Jagex has not yet provided a release window, platform list, or gameplay details, the announcement is still more of an initial look at the project than a full product presentation.

Sources

IGN: "RuneScape 4 and Animated Adaptation Announced"
Polygon: "RuneScape 4 Officially Revealed by Jagex"
TheGamer: "RuneFest 2026 Reveals RuneScape 4 And Massive Franchise Roadmaps"
MMORPG.com: "RuneScape 4, The Next MMO From Jagex, Announced At RuneFest This Weekend"
Jagex official teaser page: play.runescape.com/4