RuneFest 2026 took place October 3–4 at Birmingham’s NEC as Jagex celebrated 25 years of RuneScape. Its programme covered RuneScape, Old School RuneScape and RuneScape: Dragonwilds, while a same-day community recap reported a surprise reveal of a new RuneScape MMORPG referred to as RS4. Jagex’s separate RuneScape Reignited initiative is described as a starting experience built around accumulated game updates—not as the same project as RS4.
What was RuneFest 2026?
RuneFest ran October 3–4, 2026, in Hall 5 of Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. Jagex framed the event as a celebration of RuneScape’s 25th anniversary and said it was welcoming 6,000 players. That figure is organizer-published event capacity/attendance language, not an independently audited final count. Jagex’s event FAQ also describes two stages, developer panels and creator Q&As, roadmap summits, the Golden Gnome awards, merchandise stalls and expanded entertainment.
The FAQ’s activities included eight skill-chip challenges and a ninth collectible chip for players who completed them, as well as a questing feature with quest points and leaderboards. Those details help explain the event’s mix of game programming and in-person activities.
What was on the RuneFest programme?
The published schedule listed three game-focused summits. It establishes what Jagex advertised, but it is not a transcript or a complete post-event log of everything announced.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- Grab your capes and party hats, because we’re going to Gielinor!
- Inspired by the record-breaking online universe that’s captured the imagination of millions worldwide, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is the official cooperative board game for 1-5 players.
| Summit | What the schedule advertised |
|---|---|
| RuneScape | “New adventures and surprises” and a first look at what was ahead in 2027. |
| Old School RuneScape | A separate Old School RuneScape summit. |
| RuneScape: Dragonwilds | The game’s first RuneFest summit, with content plans beyond its 1.0 release. |
Jagex’s January announcement had set the event capacity at 6,000 fans, and the current event FAQ likewise presents 6,000 players in connection with the anniversary event. These are Jagex’s figures, rather than an independent attendance tally. Jagex’s January 2026 announcement also positioned RuneFest as the franchise’s anniversary gathering.
What is RuneScape 4?
A same-day post on r/runescape reports that Jagex closed its RuneFest livestream by revealing work on a new RuneScape MMORPG referred to as “RS4.” The post links to an official RuneScape page, but the announcement details could not be independently checked here. Accordingly, RS4 is best described as a reported reveal, not a project with confirmed public specifications.
Rank #2
- Immerse yourself in a thrilling tabletop adventure filled with strategy, storytelling, and dynamic character interactions designed to challenge every decision.
- Experience high replayability through immersive roleplay, unpredictable encounters, and evolving tactical choices that keep every session intense and fresh.
- Master your destiny with customizable heroes, intricate quests, and deep world-building that fuel creative expression and competitive gameplay.
- Perfect for RPG enthusiasts seeking complex mechanics, cooperative missions, and richly detailed scenarios that spark imagination and rivalry.
- Premium components, atmospheric artwork, and narrative depth make this board game a must-have centerpiece for any tabletop gaming collection.
The available information does not establish RS4’s release timing, platforms, gameplay design, story, engine, monetization or final product name. The schedule’s promise of new adventures and a look ahead to 2027 is general programme context; it does not confirm any of those specifics for RS4.
What is RuneScape Reignited?
Jagex describes RuneScape Reignited as a starting experience that brings major updates together so players can experience those changes from the beginning. The initiative sits within the existing RuneScape context: it is presented as a curated way into accumulated updates, not as a confirmed separate standalone game.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- CATCH THE CHAMELEON: A bluffing board game where players must race to catch the chameleon before It's too late
- ONE SECRET WORD: In this board game for adults and family everyone knows the secret word - except for the player with the chameleon card
- DON'T GET CAUGHT: Use hidden codes, carefully chosen words, and a bit of finger-pointing to track down the guilty player... Before the imposter blends in and escapes!
- EASY TO LEARN, QUICK TO PLAY: Like all good family board games, it takes 2 minutes to learn and only 15 minutes to play. Recommended for 3-8 players and ages 12+
- MULTI-AWARD WINNING: "Best Party Game" At UK games expo. "Seal of excellence" From dice tower games. A perfect board game for adults and teenagers
Jagex says its broader foundation work includes combat modernisation, overhauled key features, and rebuilt user interface and systems shaped by player feedback. The page names Player Avatar and Construction among major updates for 2026. It does not establish a specific Reignited launch date, nor does it identify Reignited as RS4.
How are Reignited and RS4 different?
The available descriptions point to different purposes and different levels of certainty. Reignited is an official Jagex initiative described as a starting experience around updates and improvements. RS4, by contrast, is currently reported by a same-day community recap as a new MMORPG in development; the exact official announcement wording and further project details remain unverified.
Rank #4
- Deep in the dangerous wasteland to the north east — the place they call the Wilderness — lies the lair of the King Black Dragon. A fearsome, three-headed beast infamous for dealing burning, freezing, electrifying, poisonous death to unfortunate adventurers. But lucky for you, Bob the Cat is here to lend a helping paw! Still, you may want to say a prayer before taking this quest on…
- The King Black Dragon expansion grows your RuneScape Kingdoms universe with an infamous new boss to face, Bob the Cat to meet, Prayer skill to master, Wilderness location to explore, and a whole new campaign, A Cat’s Tale of Triple Trouble, that will test your dragon-slaying mettle!
- It’s packed with new side quests, vault cards, and events, plus new items to discover, craft, and equip on your path to victory.
- Please note, you’ll need a copy of RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg to use this expansion.
| Project | What is established | What is not established here |
|---|---|---|
| RuneScape Reignited | Jagex describes a starting experience combining major updates and broader game improvements. | A launch date or status as a separate standalone game. |
| RS4 | A same-day community post reports a new RuneScape MMORPG in development. | Official wording, release timing, platforms, gameplay details and its technical relationship to the existing game. |
RuneScape’s 25-year milestone
Jagex’s 25 Years of RuneScape page attributes this statement to Jon Bellamy, CEO of Jagex: “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 characterization of the community as the largest and most active in the game’s history is Bellamy’s, not an independently verified player-count statistic.
RuneFest merchandise
The event FAQ mentions merchandise stalls, while Jagex’s franchise site describes official merchandise as licensed apparel and collectibles. Those category-level descriptions do not confirm availability of a particular item or listing.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
