Jagex is expanding the RuneScape universe beyond its MMORPG roots with an ambitious new direction. The 24-year-old franchise is venturing into the popular survival crafting genre while maintaining the charm and familiarity that has kept fans engaged for over two decades.
A New Continent Awaits
RuneScape: Dragonwilds introduces players to Ashenfall, a forgotten continent within the world of Gielinor where dragons have awakened. This cooperative open-world survival game supports up to four players who must work together to master survival skills, build camps, and eventually confront the formidable Dragon Queen. The new setting features two distinct regions containing five unique biomes, with Jagex hinting at potential post-launch expansions to further enrich the world.
Familiar Yet Fresh
While Dragonwilds takes place on a new continent, RuneScape veterans will find plenty of nostalgic elements. The game world includes locations reminiscent of iconic RuneScape landmarks such as a wizard's tower and a familiar castle. Players will encounter recognizable creatures like rats, dragons, trolls, and cows, but with an intriguing twist – Ashenfall's wild magic has transformed these beings into nature-infused variants with new appearances and plant-like features.
Skills and Magic Reimagined
At the core of Dragonwilds' gameplay is skill development, maintaining RuneScape's traditional progression system with activities like cooking and woodcutting. However, these skills have been reimagined for the survival genre, allowing players to interact with the environment in creative ways. Players can utilize wind runes to glide through the air or employ ax-tral projection to chop down multiple trees simultaneously with a spectral axe. The game promises a unique progression system where players unlock new spells, craft recipes, and abilities as they advance.
Technical Specifications and Release Timeline
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, RuneScape: Dragonwilds boasts surprisingly modest system requirements. The game will enter Early Access on Steam this spring, with Jagex targeting a full release, including console versions, in early 2026. For fans eager to learn more, a deep-dive reveal is scheduled for April 15, 2025, at 9:00 AM PT on Twitch.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), AMD Radeon RX 5600XT, or Intel Arc A750 (8GB)
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 25 GB available space
Recommended:
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8GB)
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 25 GB available space
Community-Driven Development
Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy emphasized that community feedback has been central to Dragonwilds' development from the beginning. The studio has already conducted closed alpha tests with select community members and plans to incorporate player feedback throughout the Early Access period. This approach aligns with RuneScape's long-standing tradition of community engagement, potentially helping the game appeal to both dedicated fans and newcomers alike.
Key Features
- Cooperative gameplay for 1-4 players
- New continent of Ashenfall with 5 unique biomes
- Classic RuneScape skills reimagined for survival gameplay
- Transformative magic abilities for resource gathering
- Powered by Unreal Engine 5
- Early Access launch: Spring 2025
- Full release target (including consoles): Early 2026
A Strategic Expansion
Dragonwilds represents Jagex's first successful attempt at expanding the RuneScape franchise beyond its core MMORPG offering, following the cancellation of a previous action RPG project. The company has assembled a new development team of industry veterans specifically for this project, aiming to create an experience that feels authentic to the RuneScape universe while exploring the popular survival crafting genre that has captivated gamers in recent years.