adminThe RuneScape 2026 strategy marks a renewed focus on the franchise’s British identity, its long-standing community and the qualities that made the games distinctive. Jagex is planning a substantial investment in the series, changes to modern RuneScape and a fresh approach to monetization, while also developing the survival game RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
Image credit: Jagex
Why Jagex is investing more in RuneScape
Jagex chief executive Jon Bellamy said the company had sought approval for an investment of multiple tens of millions of dollars beyond its previous spending levels. The planned funding covers content development, player support, anti-cheat measures and live events. RuneFest is expected to grow, and the company is also planning its first event in North America.
The commitment comes as the RuneScape franchise passes £3 billion in lifetime revenue. Jagex has described 2026 as one of its most ambitious and challenging years, with the goal of strengthening the franchise over the long term.
According to senior vice president of product James Dobrowski, new ownership and a relatively new leadership team prompted a review of the company’s direction. Jagex reconsidered its wider strategy as well as the plans for individual games and projects.
RuneScape 2026 strategy: returning to the series’ roots
Old School RuneScape has been setting subscription and concurrent-player records, while the modern version has faced challenges. Jagex says it is taking lessons from the success of Old School as it works to restore confidence in the newer game.
The company’s Road to Restoration is an integrity-focused plan for modern RuneScape. It includes visual adjustments to improve consistency, changes to game balance, combat updates and a user interface and experience overhaul. These improvements are intended to make the game easier to approach for new players and returning members.
RuneScape’s Road to Restoration. Image credit: Jagex
Jagex says the franchise’s identity comes from its whimsical sense of adventure, distinctly British character and close relationship with players. The studio aims to rely less on trends or ideas borrowed from competing games and more on the strengths that feel authentic to RuneScape.
Dobrowski also said the company is giving long-time RuneScape players on its development teams a stronger creative voice. Jagex still plans to test ideas and gather community feedback, but wants the people who understand the games deeply to play a greater role in shaping their future.
Treasure Hunter removed from RuneScape
Jagex removed Treasure Hunter, RuneScape’s gacha-style microtransaction feature, on January 19, 2026, after a public poll. The decision followed community research in which more than 80% of respondents said they had stopped playing because of the feature.
The current version of RuneScape launched in 2013 and arrived on Steam in 2020. Image credit: Jagex
For 2024, the most recent year for which the company had filed accounts with Companies House, Jagex reported £23 million in microtransaction revenue. That represented 15% of its total revenue. Subscriptions brought in £118.5 million, or 78% of the total.
Removing Treasure Hunter means giving up a significant source of income, and Jagex expects a revenue impact. The company is betting that improvements to the game can help rebuild membership over time. It will continue to offer cosmetics and bonus XP boosts as direct purchases. Bonus XP is intended to give players with limited free time another way to progress; players should check what each purchase provides before deciding whether it suits their play style.
How Dragonwilds fits into the franchise
RuneScape: Dragonwilds entered Steam Early Access in 2025 and exceeded expectations, selling more than 1.1 million units. The game combines the RuneScape setting with survival gameplay, giving it a potential audience beyond the franchise’s existing MMO players.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds focuses on survival mechanics. Image credit: Jagex
Jagex says it wants to develop Dragonwilds in close collaboration with its community, while balancing the expectations of RuneScape fans with those of survival-game players. The studio sees the game as a way for existing fans to experience the franchise in a different format and for newcomers to discover its world through a genre they already enjoy.
What players should watch for next
Jagex’s plans extend beyond a single year. The company has described its RuneScape roadmap as its largest yet and says it wants players and staff to feel proud of the game’s direction. It also plans to release Dragonwilds later in 2026, bringing the franchise to a broader audience.
For players, the most useful signs of progress will be the delivery of the promised interface, combat and balance changes, along with clear communication about updates and purchases. Jagex says community sentiment will be a key measure of success. Ultimately, the RuneScape 2026 strategy depends on whether the games feel more true to their identity and whether players see a compelling reason to return or keep playing.
Alex Forbes-Calvin is a freelance writer who has previously worked with Jagex, including on the book RuneScape: The First 20 Years.
