Proposal: A Fresh-Start RuneScape Built for the Future

[long smelt]

Dear Jagex Leadership Team,

I’m writing as a long-time RuneScape player who has spent years across both RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape. This email isn’t a complaint, but a genuine product proposal that I believe could define the next decade of the franchise.

RuneScape today has a unique challenge: its most loyal players are also its most saturated. Many long-term players are maxed or near-maxed, have experienced most content, and miss the sense of discovery, progression, and long-term growth that originally made RuneScape special. Seasonal modes and temporary resets help, but they don’t fully satisfy that desire to start again in a world designed from the ground up.

I believe the time is right for a brand-new RuneScape — a true fresh start where both RS3 and OSRS players can begin together in a new world with modern systems, new content, and long-term vision. Not a reboot of either existing game, but a third pillar built from scratch. A natural evolution: RuneScape 4.

A new game would:

Reignite progression and discovery for veteran players

Reunite fragmented communities across RS3 and OSRS

Attract lapsed players who left years ago but still care deeply about the brand

Give Jagex creative freedom without legacy constraints

Create a long-lasting, future-proof MMO rather than another temporary mode

RuneScape has one of the most loyal player bases in gaming. Many of us would happily start over — if the world is truly new. I strongly believe a fresh, permanent RuneScape experience would generate excitement, goodwill, and long-term growth across the entire ecosystem.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Even if this idea is already being explored internally, I wanted to add a player’s voice in support of it.

[mortal pike]

This email isn’t a complaint, but a genuine product proposal that I believe could define the next decade of the franchise.
This line of text together with it being a totally new discord account just screams ai generated message to me

[long smelt]

AI helped but the points remain valid. It is time for a brand new Game. OSRS Came out in 2013. RS3 came out 25 years ago. It is time for the release of Runescape 4.

[ember sable]

Rather not see the community get split any further personally.

[mortal pike]

Yeah personally i hope we don't get a 3rd runescape or some permanent fresh worlds to potentially divide the playerbase again and give jagex another game to upkeep

[long smelt]

That is a valid point. But I see it more as bringing back old players, allowing new players to start fresh. Maybe even eventually the entire community just hops on Runescape 4. Combat would be the main thing. It would be interesting to see what creators would do with that.

[mortal pike]

Alot of players don't want to just start out from nothign again though

[long smelt]

It would be a brand new game. Not gilenor. Brand new content. Not lumbridge

[mortal pike]

So it wouldn't be runescape 🙂

[long smelt]

instead of seeing it as "starting again". Think of it as a new game- which technically it would be

[long smelt]

it would hold the same logo. But a different game. Yes

[ember sable]

I understand where you're getting at but, adding a now fourth game to the IP. I just don't see it being financially worth it to Jagex given how many times new games for them have flopped. The investments they are making into the current 3 games, I'm sure they don't want to be hiring yet another team of developers when the existing teams appear to be growing.

[ashen oxide]

rs2 and rs3 werent new games, just major updates

in some ways we can consider today's update to be RS4

i do also agree with what has been previously said, we dont need yet another game to upkeep

[long smelt]

The problem I see is that their core player base is getting older. Long time players who are mostly 30 years old +. Eventually as life goes on the core player base will be less and less. It is an opportunity for Jagex to have a new game on the PC. Loads of players can play together. Brand new players to join too. Even the creators. Odablock, Boaty, Settled etc. Would they still be runescape creaters in their 40s? would people watch them? probably not. Its time for Jagex to create new or risk going bankrupt/bust by like 2035-2040

[ashen oxide]

?

[long smelt]

You are right. Hence why I said RS3 for 25 years. Its basically the same game except EOC and better graphics

[ashen oxide]

rs3 is still getting new players

[stable smelt]

Unfortunately splitting the playerbase will only speed up killing the games. Aging players shouldn't be the answer to making rs mode 4,5,6,7.

[ashen oxide]

rs4 will either be unpalatable to osrs players or unpalatable to rs3 players

[long smelt]

I would think of it more like revolutionising the game. Or risking it being like a Nokia Phone that didnt revolutionise and lost to Iphone

[ashen oxide]

there is no game that pleases both playerbases

[long smelt]

or like a Blockbuster

[ashen oxide]

what we have is not broken

[long smelt]

what makes you say that?

[ashen oxide]

we need not fix it then

[ashen oxide]

they are completely different games

[stable smelt]

Rs isnt remotely like blockbuster right now. Its also, and I cannot stress this enough, getting updated quite aggressively. We cannot make a genuine argument that rs in either form is going to become a nokia

[ashen oxide]

mostly comes down to the combat system

its either ability based gcd combat

or osrs auto attack combat

one will make the game drive away the other playerbase

what would make "rs4" the great new big thing

the only point i agree with in your list would be shaking off technical debt

[long smelt]

That is a great question. One for the developers to think about. They are on the right lines with Leagues and deadman mode. Maybe something like League or legends/ world of warcraft cross? Something Brand new/high risk/high reward? They got the money to to take the risk.

[long smelt]

It gets updated a lot. But like sailing or any new skill. People play it a lot then. Then dont play for 2 years until the next skill. A new game- there are many many new skills and adventures to take place.

For me, I'm sitting on a maxed account with nothing to do. I wouldnt wwant to start a level 3 again from lumbridge. I want a new game

[stable smelt]

Most players aren't even 30% complete with the game. Your concerns are more a fearmonger than it is a reality

[long smelt]

where did you get that figure from? Most players only play a bit then quit. But I am talking about long timers right

[stable smelt]

Start a lvl 3. Get 120 all. Get comp. Get trim. Complete boss/clue logs

[stable smelt]

Long timers arent mostly comped

Do people actually think most players have done most of the content?

[ashen oxide]

gm combat acheivments, trim comp, collection logs, 5.8b etc.

[mortal pike]

You'll have a hard time convincing me theres even 1 person that has actually completed "most of it"

[long smelt]

I mean 120 all takes a lot of time and commitmemt. Most people would get to level 70. Maybe push it to get 99 and call it a day. New content

[ashen oxide]

...

[stable smelt]

Sounds to me like you are making my point now

Making a new game wont change this

[ashen oxide]

if youre argument for runescape dying is people getting skills to 70 and then getting bored

thats something they are fixing

[mortal pike]

Game barely gets started at the 70s

[ashen oxide]

they are explicitly taking a look at mid game progression

[stable smelt]

They will make a new game get to lvl 70 and quit. Boom now we split the population and got people still quitting

[long smelt]

You guys may be right. But do you guys honestly think this game will still be around in another 20 years with the way things are going?

[stable smelt]

Yes

[ashen oxide]

yes

[stable smelt]

Not even close. They make soooooo much money

[ashen oxide]

if you asked me 5 months ago i would say no, at least for rs3

but with this roadmap im expecting the game to have some staying power

[long smelt]

Time will tell.

[ashen oxide]

jagex has been to hell and back these past 25 years

[long smelt]

They have indeed. I quit many times.

[ashen oxide]

if they survived early eoc and the post-vorkath drought

you burning out/getting bored of an mmo is incredibly natural

and not an issue qxclusive to rs

quite frankly i think rs3 is in a better spot than WoW atm

[long smelt]

My final question. Do you not think its a bit offputting for new players if there are players that have been on for years, and maxed out inside and out. Its kind of like a barrier to entry? Thinking, what is the point of playing this old game? Yes a few as you have already pointed out would sign up anyway. But I mean the majority.

[mortal pike]

Hard to say. But this is the game i fell in love with all those years ago. And keep coming back to no matter what happens or happened during my breaks

A new game may never give me that feeling again

Since no other game really ever gave me that feeling or the urge to come back to the way runescape has

[long smelt]

I know what you mean. Your like me and a lot people. The nostalgia. But I guarantee to many new players and young Gen z and Gen Alpha coming though. They look at this game and think erm.... I would rather go sit on call of duty on playstation or something. And that is I think gonna hit Jagex long term.

[ashen oxide]

the issue there lies with the genre

MMOs arent what they used to be

at least classic MMORPGs

[stable smelt]

People have started playing rs for the first time in the last 12 months. I have never seen a complaint about their standing versus me being maxed

[ashen oxide]

i started playing rs3 in like 23-24

[long smelt]

Have you got any statistics of the new numbers coming through though? I thought its mostly players that have played for over a decade really. Loyal base

[long smelt]

Wow really? Never ever played before that?

[ashen oxide]

i saw my cousin glassblowing on karamja on osrs in like 2018

[long smelt]

so you kind of agree. MMOs will be a thing of the past if this continues

[stable smelt]

I dont find this to be an argument. Who cares how many. The ones that do join arent complaining im maxed. That was the point I was making

[ashen oxide]

not really, and making another RS wont fix the issue

MMOs are not as popular, but that doesnt mean they're dying

[stable smelt]

^

[long smelt]

I enjoyed this conversation guys thanks. Maybe you are right. Jagex should just continue as they are doing. Time will tell. I do predict that Runescape is going to be pretty much dead by 2035-2040. Time will tell

[mortal pike]

If that happens we had one hell of a ride. Tons of games can't even dream of existing that long