Jagex has revealed a fourth RuneScape MMO currently in early development under the working title RS4, built on Unreal Engine and set in Gielinor's Sixth Age. The studio also announced an animated adaptation produced with YouTuber Charlie "MoistCr1TiKaL" White and Lyrical Media, expanding the franchise beyond games for the first time in its 25-year history.
Jagex has officially announced RuneScape 4 during this year's RuneFest convention, confirming a full MMO sequel built on Unreal Engine. The project began life as an expansion for the survival game Dragonwilds before playtester feedback pushed the studio toward a traditional MMO direction. The new game aims to blend the visual identities of both RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape into a single experience.
Blizzard closed the BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony with a surprise reveal of World of Warcraft Forever, a "Classic Plus" MMO built by the Classic team and set during the game's original first year. The new experience launches November 4 on PC with three fresh zones, nine dungeons, over 1,000 quests, and a brand-new playable race.
The Elder Scrolls Online faces community fears of entering 'maintenance mode' after Xbox layoffs impacted developer ZeniMax Online. Despite assurances from the team, including Associate Design Director Jason Barnes and Community Manager ZOS_Kevin, that new content is still planned, uncertainties linger. The game's future remains uncertain, with a revised roadmap in the works.
Elder Scrolls Online's Season One launches in two days amidst Xbox's 1600 staff cuts, impacting 12-year-old MMO's development team. The game's roadmap, initially planned 12-14 months ago, will undergo changes post-Season One. Despite assurances the seasonal model isn't a direct response to layoffs, the team faces significant resource challenges.
Stars Reach, the latest project from MMO legend Raph Koster, promises to revolutionize the genre with its dynamic, sandbox world design, set to launch in Early Access this summer. Unlike traditional MMOs such as World of Warcraft, Stars Reach focuses on player-driven experiences through features like terraforming, ecological systems, and governance. By embracing emergence over prescription, Koster aims to bring back the "dream of an alternate world" that has been lost in modern MMO design.
Raph Koster, veteran of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, discusses the viability of traditional theme park MMOs, citing ballooning development costs and stagnant gameplay. His upcoming sandbox MMO, Stars Reach, aims to break this mold. Koster believes the genre's narrow focus since World of Warcraft has left players "bored, frustrated, and underserved".
The Elder Scrolls Online has finally achieved Steam Deck Verified status after two years of tweaking, ensuring a seamless out-of-the-box experience on Valve's handheld PC. This milestone comes as the game prepares for its first season, featuring the return of the Thieves Guild and a quest involving Daedric prince Sheogorath. Players can now enjoy the MMO's low-intensity gameplay in a more convenient, couch-friendly setup.
Horizon Steel Frontiers, the MMORPG spinoff in PlayStation's Horizon franchise, is set to launch in the first half of 2027 for Mobile and PC. Developed by Universal Studios Hollywood Hub and published by NCSoft, this mobile-first experience shifts focus to multiplayer-centric gameplay, drawing comparisons to Monster Hunter. Fans can expect a unique MMO take on the series, differing from the narrative-driven predecessors.
Riot Games' League of Legends MMO project, announced in December 2020, has bolstered its development team with the addition of Brian Holinka, a veteran of over a decade at Blizzard, where he notably served as lead combat designer on World of Warcraft. This move follows recent hires of other World of Warcraft alumni, underscoring the project's continued development despite the departure of its initial lead, Greg Street. Holinka's expertise is expected to significantly impact the game's combat design.
