RuneScape is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is more popular than ever! The game’s creators, Jagex, have announced plans for a full year of updates, events, and community involvement for both the classic Old School RuneScape and the newer RuneScape 3. Recently, Old School RuneScape reached an impressive 250,000 players online at the same time, proving that this game, which began as a simple browser game, is one of the most enduring and successful online games of all time.
While many people started with World of Warcraft, RuneScape was my first experience with massively multiplayer online games. Even after more than 20 years, I’m still a dedicated fan and continue to play regularly.
I’ve noticed there are actually two different versions of the game available. One is called Old School RuneScape, and the other is RuneScape 3.
Although it’s called ‘Old School,’ RuneScape is actually more widely played than its newer version. It recently hit a peak of over 250,000 players at the same time, which is remarkable considering the game is almost 25 years old.
As the game celebrates its 25th anniversary, Jagex promises a year full of exciting news, updates, and events in 2026.
A full year of announcements and community focused plans
I’ve been following the news about RuneScape’s 25th anniversary, and Jagex has made it clear they’re not just using it as a quick marketing boost. Instead, they’re planning a full year of celebrations throughout 2026. They’ve promised a consistent stream of game updates, live events, and they’ll be sharing their plans for the future of the entire RuneScape franchise. It sounds like they’re really going all out!
Rather than making one big announcement, Jagex is releasing information in stages. First comes RuneScape Ahead on January 19th, then the Old School RuneScape Winter Summit on January 25th, and finally the DragonWilds Summit on January 29th. Each event will highlight different aspects of the RuneScape universe as the game expands.
The anniversary celebrations are really focusing on the RuneScape community. Jagex has announced that both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape have more players than ever before, and that’s reflected in their plans. Old School players can look forward to a detailed content plan for 2026, with a chance to vote on what they want to see. RuneScape 3 players will get a new plan focusing on improvements and changes to how things are bought in the game – something players have been asking about for a while.
It’s strange to say, but RuneScape has become multiple games. Old School RuneScape, RuneScape 3, and DragonWilds each cater to different players and have their own unique paths for development. Jagex is using a year-long event to allow them to support each game individually, without needing to synchronize updates.
RuneFest is coming back this year as an in-person event at the Birmingham NEC in the UK.
RuneScape is coming to the US for the first time ever! Players can experience the game live in Chicago on June 20, 2026, at the Deadman All Stars Live event.
RuneScape holds a special place for many as their very first online multiplayer game, and it’s incredible that it’s still popular after 25 years. With exciting updates planned for both Old School and RuneScape 3, plus the return of the RuneFest convention, this anniversary clearly shows RuneScape isn’t just enduring—it’s flourishing.
The MMO that refuses to die is still shaping communities, and 2026 looks like its biggest year yet.
As a researcher following the RuneScape community, I’m really interested in what players are most excited about right now. For me, it’s a tough choice between the plans for Old School RuneScape, the upcoming changes to RuneScape 3 that aim to improve the game’s core, and the return of RuneFest! I’d love to hear what *you’re* most looking forward to – please share your thoughts in the comments and participate in the poll below to let me know!
Read More
- Darkwood Trunk Location in Hytale
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Hytale: Upgrade All Workbenches to Max Level, Materials Guide
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Daredevil Is Entering a New Era With a Chilling New Villain (And We Have A First Look) (Exclusive)
- So Long, Anthem: EA’s Biggest Flop Says Goodbye
- 7 Announcements We’re Dying to See at Dragon Ball’s Genki Dama Festival This Month
- We’ll Never Get Another Star Wars Show Like Andor, But Not Because of Dave Filoni
- Katy Perry Shares Holiday Pics With Justin Trudeau & Ex Orlando Bloom
- RHOBH’s Jennifer Tilly Reacts to Sutton Stracke “Snapping” at Her
2026-01-17 19:12