Jagex, the studio behind RuneScape, has announced RuneScape: Dragonwilds, a fresh take on its iconic universe.
This open-world survival crafting game, set for Early Access on Steam this spring, shifts from MMORPG roots to a co-op adventure featuring dragons and community-driven development.
Background
Announced on March 31, 2025, RuneScape: Dragonwilds is set on Ashenfall, a forgotten continent in the RuneScape world.
Developed by Jagex, known for its long-running MMORPGs, the game introduces survival mechanics while retaining familiar elements like skill leveling and magic.
The shift to Unreal Engine 5 signals a leap in graphical fidelity, promising immersive landscapes and detailed environments.
Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy emphasized a player-first approach, highlighting community feedback as central to development.
Closed alpha tests have already influenced design decisions, reinforcing the studio's commitment to player engagement.
Gameplay
Core Mechanics
Players are stranded on Ashenfall, where dragons have awoken, and must gather resources, build shelters, and craft weapons to survive.
The game supports 1-4 players in co-operative mode, allowing for solo play or teamwork.
Key activities include leveling up skills to unlock magical spells, using Anima to shape the environment (e.g., exploding ore veins or conjuring tools), and embarking on quests.
(Screenshot from Official Gameplay Teaser Trailer)
The ultimate goal is to master survival and uncover ancient secrets to slay the Dragon Queen.
Skill and Combat Systems
The game integrates RuneScape's signature skill system, with players able to level up for crafting recipes, abilities, and magical survival spells.
Combat is challenging, featuring battles against legendary RuneScape creatures and new foes like Garou, with dungeons and the first dragon boss, General Velgar, included in Early Access.
(Screenshot from Official Gameplay Teaser Trailer)
Players can prepare potions, craft gear, and explore a vast landscape with ruins and biomes, enhancing the survival experience.
Building System
Also, as shown in the Official Gameplay Teaser Trailer, RuneScape: Dragonwilds will contain building system which is essential for survival on the Ashenfall continent.
(Screenshot from Official Gameplay Teaser Trailer)
Players are expected to build shelters to protect against dragons and harsh conditions, likely using resources like wood and stone gathered from the environment.
The system may allow for crafting and placing various structures, such as walls and roofs, with potential magical enhancements using Anima, a game mechanic for environmental manipulation.
Release Information
(Screenshot from Steam)
The game is set to enter Early Access on Steam this spring (April to June 2025), with the full version estimated for early 2026.
Exact release dates within this period are not yet confirmed, but a livestream on April 15, 2025, at 5 PM BST may provide further details (Official Announcement).
The Early Access version will include initial regions, survival systems, RuneScape skills, magic spells, gear crafting, building mechanics, combat, dungeons, and the first dragon boss.
Pricing and Platforms
Pricing has not been announced, but it is expected to increase after Early Access, with updates during this period being free and potential paid DLC planned post-launch.
Currently, the game is confirmed for PC via Steam, with no other platforms announced yet, though future expansions to consoles seem possible given industry trends.
System Requirements
Minimum and recommended specs suggest a focus on modern systems:
- Recommended: Intel i5-10600 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600; RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT; 16GB RAM
- Storage: 25GB; OS: Windows 10 (64-bit); DirectX: Version 12
These requirements align with the graphical capabilities of Unreal Engine 5, ensuring a visually rich experience.
What to Expect
During Early Access, players can anticipate a partial map with core survival and crafting mechanics, including RuneScape skills, magic spells, and the first dragon boss.
The game will start with a blend of survival and RuneScape elements, with more content, features, skills, and map expansions planned.
Community feedback will play a crucial role, with developers listening to players to refine and expand the game, potentially leading to a dynamic and evolving experience.
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Editor's Comments
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is shaping up to be a wild departure for Jagex, and for RuneScape diehards, it's like stepping into a familiar tavern that's been retrofitted with a forge and a dragon roost.
The shift to survival crafting is a daring leap, but it's not some half-baked cash-in.
The Anima-infused mechanics—think magically detonating resource nodes or conjuring ghostly pickaxes—bring a RuneScape flair that could make even Rust players pause their base-building.
And the dragons? General Velgar and his kin aren't just fire-breathing set pieces; they're woven into the lore, poised to torch your painstakingly crafted outpost with cinematic gusto.
That said, survival games are a brutal proving ground, and Dragonwilds isn't immune to the genre's pitfalls.
The RuneScape skill framework is a nostalgic anchor for veterans, but it risks drowning newbies in complexity.
Success hinges on Jagex nailing the grind-to-glory ratio—too much tedium, and players will bolt. The Early Access phase will be make-or-break: expect rough edges, but the community's voice could polish Ashenfall into a gem.
If Jagex plays its cards right, Dragonwilds might just fuse old-school charm with fresh survival thrills into something unforgettable.
For now, it's a high-stakes bet worth watching.
FAQs
> Q1: Is RuneScape: Dragonwilds F2P (free-to-play)?
A1: The pricing of RuneScape: Dragonwilds has not been announced, but it is expected to increase after Early Access, with updates during this period being free and potential paid DLC planned post-launch.
> Q2: When does RuneScape: Dragonwilds come out?
A2: While the early access of this game is coming to Steam this spring (April to June 2025), the full version is estimated to be released in early 2026.
> Q3: Will RuneScape: Dragonwilds be on consoles?
A3: Currently, the game is confirmed for PC via Steam, with no other platforms announced yet, though future expansions to consoles seem possible.
> Q4: Is Dragonwilds separate from OSRS and RS3?
A4: Yes, it's a standalone survival crafting game, distinct from Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and RuneScape 3 (RS3).