RuneScape enters 2026 standing at the threshold of its most ambitious transformation in a generation. As the franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary, Jagex is marking the moment not only by reflecting on its storied past but by setting a clear course for its future. This year represents a turning point—one where the studio is reimagining the player experience across systems, visuals, gameplay philosophy, and even the game’s identity itself.

What emerges is a sweeping initiative: a fully transparent content roadmap for 2026, a renewed visual direction, and The Road to Restoration—a dedicated, integrity-focused development track designed to strengthen the foundation of RuneScape for years to come. Alongside this comes a major new chapter in the world of Gielinor: Havenhythe, RuneScape’s largest area expansion ever.

Below is a detailed breakdown of everything players can expect throughout 2026.

A New Identity for RuneScape

Jagex is introducing a revitalised brand identity, one that honours the franchise’s heritage while embracing a more modern, unified aesthetic. This identity shift underscores the studio’s commitment to delivering meaningful experiences, lasting value, and consistent quality. It’s a symbolic renewal—one that signals the beginning of a long-term evolution.

Introducing The Road to Restoration

At the heart of this new era is The Road to Restoration, a sweeping, year-long initiative focused on reinforcing the game’s core pillars. This development track will operate in tandem with the main content roadmap, targeting long-standing community concerns.

Key areas of focus include:

· Reducing Dailyscape pressure and mandatory login habits

· Rebalancing the early and mid-game skilling experience

· Improving visual cohesion across Gielinor

· Refining combat through modernisation

· Enhancing social systems and client functionality

· Cleaning up legacy MTX systems

· Strengthening the game’s technical foundation

Before tackling all of that, Jagex began this new chapter with a headline announcement of historic importance.

The End of Treasure Hunter

As of today, Treasure Hunter has been fully removed from RuneScape. Hundreds of gameplay-impacting MTX items associated with the system are no longer available for sale. Throughout 2026, players will have opportunities to consume or clear out any existing stockpiles before the items become entirely obsolete later in the year.

This move is positioned as the first step in a long-term commitment to eliminating gameplay-affecting microtransactions, reversing systems that have long been community pain points.

Today’s Launch: Three Major Releases

To kick-start the Road to Restoration, Jagex launched three significant updates immediately.

1. UI Update: A New Look for a New Era

The user interface has received a comprehensive refresh featuring:

· A cleaner, more classic aesthetic

· Restored stone-style UI icons

· The return of the circular minimap

· Improved default layout for all player types

This is the first step in a series of iterative UI improvements planned throughout 2026.

2. Visual Update: Cosmetic Toggle Options

Players now have full discretion over cosmetic visibility. New toggles allow you to hide:

· Other players’ worn cosmetic overrides

· Animation customisations

More options—including toggles for Summoning familiar customisations—will arrive later in the year.

3. Visual Update: Misthalin & Asgarnia Facelift

Iconic free-to-play regions, including Lumbridge, Draynor, Varrock, and surrounding areas, have been visually uplifted to match RuneScape’s modern art direction. Normal, Oak, and Willow trees across the entire game have also been fully reworked for visual consistency.

The Year Ahead: Key Updates on the Road to Restoration

Free RuneMetrics for All Members

In spring, RuneMetrics will become fully free for all paid members. RuneMetrics Pro subscriptions are being retired, and the web-based Pro interface will be decommissioned later in 2026.

Combat Modernisation Arrives in February

One of the year’s most transformative updates is the complete modernisation of the three core combat styles: Melee, Ranged, and Magic.

Highlights include:

· Removal or rework of bloated abilities

· Removal of Threshold abilities

· Introduction of modernised Basic Attacks

· Redistribution of ability unlocks across levels

· Removal of “lesser” abilities

· Major VFX, animation, and projectile reworks

· Normalised ammo consumption

· Tutorial-style unlock guidance (similar to Necromancy)

· Level caps for Attack, Strength, Ranged, and Magic increased to 120

· Removal of Berserker, Reckless, Maniacal, and Mahjarrat auras

· Solid food healing rebalance

· Default action bar clean-up and optimization

This update aims to eliminate contradictions in early-game combat while preserving depth for endgame players.

Early-, Mid-, and Late-Game Rebalancing

Beginning in February, the early game will receive significant tuning—addressing issues like:

· Shrimp catch rates

· Pickpocket stun durations

· Drop table inconsistencies

Mid-game adjustments arrive in summer, followed by late-game refinements in the autumn.

Life After Dailies

A major structural update will aggressively reduce Dailyscape elements, reworking:

· Shop stock systems

· Vis Wax generation

· Daily/weekly D&Ds

· Hourly Wilderness Events

The goal is clear: RuneScape should be fun to log into—not an obligation.

Aura Overhaul

Auras will be fully removed this spring, eliminating time-gated efficiency windows like Refreshes and one-hour power spikes. Jagex is exploring ways to rebalance its benefits into the wider gameplay loop.

Grand Exchange Improvements

The GE will receive systemic upgrades, including:

· Improved price-updating logic

· Potential adjustments to buy limits

· Broader market quality-of-life improvements

Feedback will play a major role in shaping this update.

Social Expansion: Squad Goals

Later this year, RuneScape will see large improvements to social systems, with upgrades such as:

· Increased chat range options

· Drop broadcasts for the collection log moments

· Enhanced clan features

The goal is to make socialising feel more connected and impactful.

API Plugin Support by the end of 2026

RuneScape will finally introduce official plugin support, echoing the flexibility of Old School RuneScape’s plugin ecosystem. Jagex is forming a dedicated development team and designing foundational APIs built for community developers.

Interested developers can begin engaging through the official RuneScape Discord API channel.

Visual Update: Noise Control & Cleanup

Gielinor’s visual clutter from the past 25 years will be gradually removed or modernised. This includes the continued rollout of the Player Avatar Refresh.

Havenhythe: RuneScape’s Largest Area Expansion Ever

A New Chapter Begins

Havenhythe Part One launches this year, introducing a massive eastern landmass beyond Morytania. Rich with first-age history, Havenhythe once housed a magical nexus—birthplace of the Colossi—and a dormant gateway to Vampyrium.

Players will arrive via classic RuneScape fashion: meeting a stranger in a tavern, sharing a questionable drink, and boarding an unexpected boat.

A Living, Breathing Region

Havenhythe offers:

· The village of Wendlewick is your first hub

· A grounded world filled with local stories and side quests

· Layered environmental storytelling

· A shift from cozy settlements to colder, more treacherous lands as you move east

Expect quirky local problems, oddball NPC personalities, and plenty of RuneScape’s signature humour.

New Early-Game Bosses

One highlight is Silverquill, the Sanguine Hedgehog—a giant vampyric hedgehog designed as an early-game combat boss. She teaches core combat fundamentals like reading telegraphs and reacting to attacks. Defeating her may reward players with her distinctive silver spikes.

Looking Forward

2026 is poised to be one of the most significant years in RuneScape’s history. Between the Road to Restoration, a sweeping combat modernization effort, the removal of long-criticized MTX systems, visual cohesion updates, improved social features, and the arrival of Havenhythe, the game is being rebuilt from its foundations outward.

Jagex has emphasized that this roadmap will evolve throughout the year, guided directly by community feedback. What we see today is only the first chapter. The journey to restore and reimagine RuneScape begins now—and the future of Gielinor has never looked brighter.

RSorder Team