Jagex Announces Development of Fourth RuneScape Title Built on Unreal Engine

Jagex, the UK‑based studio behind the long‑running MMORPG RuneScape, confirmed that a fourth mainline entry in the franchise is being created using Epic Games' Unreal Engine. The project, currently referred to as RS4, is still in early development, and the company said it will share additional information about the game in the coming year.

RuneScape first launched in 2001 and has since evolved through several major updates, most notably the transition from the original Java client to the more modern RuneScape 3 platform in 2013. The upcoming title represents the next technical leap for the series, moving away from the proprietary engine that has powered previous releases toward a widely adopted, high‑fidelity graphics framework.

By adopting Unreal Engine, Jagex aims to deliver a visual overhaul while preserving the sandbox gameplay that has kept the community engaged for over two decades. The engine’s robust toolset is expected to streamline content creation, allow for larger, more detailed environments, and potentially open the door to cross‑platform releases, although no specific platform plans have been announced.

Industry observers note that the shift mirrors a broader trend among legacy online games seeking to modernize their graphics stacks without abandoning their core player bases. The move could also position RuneScape to compete more directly with newer MMOs that already leverage state‑of‑the‑art rendering pipelines.

Jagex emphasized that the decision to use Unreal Engine does not signal an imminent overhaul of the existing RuneScape 3 experience. Instead, the studio plans to maintain the current game while development on RS4 proceeds in parallel, ensuring that long‑time players are not forced into a transition before the new title is ready for launch.

The company has pledged to release further details, including gameplay footage and a more concrete release window, sometime in 2025. Until then, fans will have to wait for official updates, though the announcement has already sparked discussion across community forums about the potential direction of the series.

Engadget was the first outlet to report on the development, citing Jagex’s statement. As the news settles, the broader gaming community will be watching to see how the integration of a mainstream engine influences both the design philosophy and the longevity of one of the world’s most enduring online games.