In a new press release, the team at Jagex has confirmed that this year, which marks the 25th anniversary of RuneScape, will be the biggest yet in the game’s quarter-century on the market. It was promised that more investment and content development will be rolled out in 2026 than ever before, making for an ambitious roadmap for RuneScape fans everywhere.
The ‘RS25’ programme sets the stage for ‘the most ambitious evolution in RuneScape history.’ The pipeline includes the RuneFest event in the United Kingdom, an OSRS LAN event, better creator commitments, and a ‘reborn RuneScape.’
RuneScape is Evolving More Than Ever in 2026
RuneScape is turning 25 this year, and that’s not a milestone that many active games have ever managed to celebrate. As an MMORPG, RuneScape was part of the pioneering effort that eventually led to live-service games – titles that evolved over time and constantly provided fresh content and updates to players.
It hasn’t been an entirely smooth journey getting here, but the milestone year has finally arrived, and Jagex has a wealth of plans for 2026.
In October, RuneFest 2026 will be held in Birmingham, England, featuring live reveals, developer sessions, and ‘unforgettable community moments.’ RuneScape is taking to the stage in the US with the Deadman All-Stars Live production, and later in the year, a creator-backed LAN event will be held (location pending).
An all-new press release revealed what’s coming this year to the game ecosystem itself
RuneScape will enter a new chapter with a comprehensive rejuvenation rooted in integrity, visual renewal, and a renewed focus on what makes the game special. Alongside a long-requested Player Avatar refresh and meaningful visual upgrades, and major improvements to player support, all designed to better serve the community at the heart of RuneScape.
This new era will also see the removal of RuneScape’s microtransaction system, Treasure Hunter, following the community vote in November 2025, marking a major step forward in player-first design and transparency.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds will also expand through 2026 after a successful launch last year.
Jagex was also promoting an exclusive merchandise line produced to celebrate the substantial company milestone. As the year unravels, more merchandise will be released across the line.
In a statement, the CEO of Jagex, Jon Bellamy, wrote:
It’s incredible to think a quarter century has passed since RuneScape’s beginnings as a Java-based browser game. Today we’re speaking to the largest and most active RuneScape community in our history, and this milestone is as much theirs as it is ours.
The team at Jagex uploaded an 11-minute video looking back at the last 25 years of RuneScape history, which you can see below:
This year promises to be absolutely insane for RuneScape fans. The game has had a few bumps in the road in the last few years, but the community seems eager to receive what amounts to a bounty of content through 2026.
Have you played RuneScape much in the last 25 years? Let us know if you’re a fan on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Nioh 3’s demo progress will carry over
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
