Jagex plans to reach up to 18 million past and present RuneScape players with Dragonwilds' console release

Jagex is using its instantly-recognizable MMO brand to reach players on console, but not with the mainline RuneScape experience.

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RuneScape is one of the older MMORPGs that still has a healthy fanbase--Old School RuneScape is apparently doing so well that it has broken nearly all of Jagex's internal metrics. The studio is now expanding to console with a new RuneScape game, Dragonwilds, but it's a spin-off game and not the original RuneScape experience. Jagex is instead choosing to reach PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2 players with a separate game.

Jagex sees big opportunity for Dragonwilds. Not only is it a survival sim that mirrors popular games like Valheim, but it's also a RuneScape game, and the studio hopes that this will be enough to attract past RS players. In fact, Jagex thinks there are around 18 million console gamers who have played RuneScape in the past, so there's quite a bit of potential for adoption.

In a recent interview with The Games Business, Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy outlined the synergy between the traditional RS game and Dragonwilds:

"We're going to bring it to new platforms where historically we've never been, and therefore it will be hard to get off the ground.

"We've done some of the numbers on there, we think there's about 6 million of our historical players on each of our main platforms, ie Xbox and PlayStation, and then about twice that on Switch, that are already on console.

"So when we've been speaking with the platforms, I've been saying 'look, you don't have to create an audience for us.' We have one. They're just there. Let's bring a game to them that they're going to recognize and love the IP of."

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

What platforms will RuneScape Dragonwilds be released on and when is the launch date?

RuneScape Dragonwilds will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, the Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The launch date is September 15, 2026; it is currently available in early access on Steam.

Answered

Question #2

Is RuneScape Dragonwilds the same as the mainline RuneScape or Old School RuneScape?

No. RuneScape Dragonwilds is a spin-off separate from the mainline RuneScape experience and Old School RuneScape. It is a new survival crafting game Jagex is bringing to consoles rather than the original RuneScape.

Answered

Question #3

Will Dragonwilds be available on Nintendo Switch 2 and current Switch models?

RuneScape Dragonwilds is confirmed to release on the Nintendo Switch 2 (alongside PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC) on September 15, 2026, and it is currently available in early access on Steam. The article does not state that Dragonwilds will be released on current Nintendo Switch models.

Answered

Question #4

Is RuneScape Dragonwilds already playable before its full release?

Yes. The primary article says RuneScape Dragonwilds is currently available in early access on Steam ahead of its full release on September 15, 2026. Related article "RuneScape: Dragonwilds shadow drops into early access, now available for $30" confirms it arrived on Steam Early Access.

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RuneScape Dragonwilds will release on September 15, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch 2, as well as PC. It's currently available in early access right now on Steam.