RuneScape began its journey as a browser game and grew into one of the longest-running live service games in the industry.
Others may have played World of Warcraft, but for me, RuneScape was my first real introduction to MMOs. More than 20 years later, I am still closely involved with the franchise and still play to this day.
Despite the name, Old School RuneScape is the more popular of the two. It recently passed 250k concurrent players, which is impressive for a game approaching its 25th anniversary.
With the franchise now turning 25, Jagex has made it clear that 2026 will be packed with announcements, updates, and celebrations.
A full year of announcements and community focused plans
Jagex has confirmed that RuneScape’s 25th anniversary is not being treated as a simple marketing gimmick. It is being positioned as a year-long celebration across 2026, supported by a full schedule of game updates, live events, and roadmap reveals for every part of the franchise.
Instead of delivering one oversized announcement, Jagex has mapped out a bit of a staggered rollout. RuneScape Ahead arrives on January 19, the Old School RuneScape Winter Summit follows on January 25, and the DragonWilds Summit lands on January 29. Each will focus on a different part of the RuneScape, as the franchise spreads its wings.
Community is being placed at the center of the anniversary. Jagex has said RuneScape is now serving the largest and most active player base in its history, and that carries through everything announced so far. Old School players will get a full 2026 roadmap and a follow-up content poll, while RuneScape 3 players will see a new integrity-focused roadmap tied to major changes in monetization, which has been a point of contention for fans in the past few years.
As weird as it is for me to admit, RuneScape is not one game, at least not anymore. Old School RuneScape, RuneScape 3, and DragonWilds are all for different audiences and have different development goals. A year-long celebration gives Jagex the space to support each one without forcing them into the same update cycle.
For those who want to take part in person, RuneFest will return this year at the Birmingham NEC in the UK.
For players in the US, RuneScape will also arrive in America for the first time, coming to Chicago on June 20, 2026, with The Deadman All Stars Live event.
Are you more excited about the Old School roadmap, RuneScape 3’s integrity changes, or the return of RuneFest this year? Share what you are most looking forward to in the comments and take part in our poll below:
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