Interview: RuneScape devs Mod Ryan and Mod Luma

• RuneFest might be in the rear-view mirror, yet the information allows enough we have actually still obtained stuff to cover
• Have a look at our interview with 2 crucial dev team on RuneScape!
• We chatted about Reignited, leading upcoming releases on the roadmap and more

Believe it or otherwise, it’s already been a week given that I went to RuneFest 2026 And one topic I have actually been delighted to touch on was my meeting with RuneScape devs Mod Ryan and Mod Luma. We entered into the weeds of Reignited, the web content schedule for 2028 and much more, so keep reading and find out what I learnt from the fabled dev team.

Throughout my time at RuneFest, I listen to anecdotally that a surprising variety of people really make use of both mobile and computer to play RuneScape. Primarily for grinding abilities. What do you think about that?

Mod Ryan: A lot of individuals do exactly what you claimed; they use desktop computer and after that if they’re going someplace, they’re playing on their phone. We had not actually built it to be a mobile-only video game. Obviously, we developed it as an alternative or means of playing, yet we do have a section of gamers that are mobile-only.

Mod Luma: Perhaps you go to your PC, you go downstairs into the living-room, however after that you just want to do some mining on your phone … It makes it really very easy to grab from whenever, and wherever.

Great, and I believe I speak for at the very least some people when I say just how mind-blowing it was to see RuneFest 2026 personally, as it made me actually appreciate the size and enthusiasm of the neighborhood. For yourselves, does that feel proving for all the initiative you put into development?

Mod Luma: It just maintains expanding every year, yet the energy sort of stays the very same; you can’t truly replicate it. There’s absolutely nothing like showing up to a location, and every person around you is likewise a RuneScape gamer, and they love the video game, and they enjoy what you do.

We’re throughout social media; gamers will certainly message us on social networks, and remark and make articles. Yet it’s a very different experience being below, personally, having people come near you and they resemble, ‘ah, we’re truly delighted for this upgrade’.

Mod Ryan: I have actually been playing RuneScape for 22 – 23 years. I have actually operated at Jagex for 13 years of that, and been to nearly all RuneFests in that time; I only missed out on one. And each and every single time I’m below, it always amazes me. I feel emotional around it, seeing all the players, the people that we have actually made the experiences for, and they come below to speak to us regarding that; it never ever gets old.

It’s extremely humbling every single time to know just how much this game indicates to many individuals in the world. They originate from all over the place. I talked with a lot of people from Australia and America.

Mod Luma: I have actually went to several RuneFests as a player, so I have actually gotten on the various other end of like, ‘oh my god, I get to meet my preferred mods that serviced my preferred content’. And afterwards now being on this side as well, where you’ve got individuals coming up to you, and they resemble, ‘oh my god, you serviced this, you have actually done this’. It’s certainly the emphasize of my year.

With the news of RS 4 , exactly how do you picture it working side-by-side with Traditional and Normal RuneScape?

Mod Ryan: We have a household of video games currently. 3 video games, as you mentioned: those are RuneScape, Old School and Dragonwilds. And what’s so lovely below, and like great regarding this globe, is that people play RuneScape and Old-fashioned and Dragonwilds.

And essentially the 4 th is to basically just include in that bubble; one more alternative, an additional game to enjoy. No negative results on any of the existing video games; just an additional one to add to a bundle of remarkable games to play.

With the many announcements that were made throughout RuneFest, what’s the one you’re most thrilled concerning?

Mod Ryan: From the roadmap news, Reignited would be the huge one to talk about as the end result of a year’s well worth of job. We started this year with the Roadway to Repair assuring to bring the heart back to RuneScape, removing the outright functions like Treasure Hunter, after that remastering, cleaning up and rebalancing.

So by the end of the year on December 2 nd, Reignited will certainly approve that possibility to open the doors once more, and offer a course into RuneScape for new and returning gamers.

Mod Luma: I mean, Ryan currently covered Reignited; it’s really tough to pick since the following roadmap is simply definitely stacked, you recognize. A lot of people were excited for Dragon Slayer II, like the extension of a really iconic story, and the dexterity rework, a neglected skill that we’re upgrading.

A great deal of individuals are thrilled for gnomes once more, a grandmaster ending to a decades-long storyline. So it’s actually hard, to think of any kind of one point, which’s not also mentioning the continuation of our Roadway to Reconstruction updates with long-requested functions, like the organizing system rework and the other organized improvements also.

Reignited is obviously something you seem very anxious regarding, yet I did notification during some of the QNA sessions there was some scepticism amongst gamers about just how Reignited characters would exist together with the present gamer base. Exactly how would certainly you alleviate those issues?

Mod Ryan: So Reignited is a brand-new opportunity to get involved in the game; whether you’re a brand-new, returning, and even an existing player, you can launch a Reignited personality if you want to. So it’s still one RuneScape area. It has to do with placing RuneScape back on the map, you recognize. There are a lot of individuals in this world who have maybe never even found out about RuneScape, and this is a perfect minute to find out about it and come and play.

Few companies in the sector get the opportunity to state, ‘below is a 25 -year-old game full of content, come and play as if it released today’. Like the idea of’re-launching’ a new MMO, with 25 years of web content, I recognize it’s not brand-new MO, however the idea there, if you’ve never read about [RuneScape], is wonderful.

It’s a moment in time; I assume that’s one of the most vital points. The quantity of discussion concerning RuneScape, that cultural zeitgeist of, ‘did you read about [what was being added], want to come play RuneScape?’ As I said on stage, invite your good friends, call your mother; it’s an excellent possibility to [get into RuneScape]

I admit I was surprised by the scepticism, although I can see why individuals can have those issues. I imply, unlike something like, claim, WoW: Forever, this is not a siloed-off version but generally modern-day RuneScape as it exists now.
Speaking as somebody who’s in a comparable situation to the new players you appear to be aiming to court, I located the concept really appealing of having the ability to sort of ‘locate your way in’ to a game that can otherwise be a bit difficult.

Yes, it all takes place inside the same video game, so to the factor of, like, you can play along with expert players. As a Reignited personality, you’re part of a fresh economic situation and fresh collection of high ratings. So like I claim, it’s as if beginning the video game from no due to the fact that [there’s demand but] there’s no supply. If you require air rings, people got ta make air rings; that’s essentially the difference.

But, in regards to the web content that gets added to RuneScape, both Reignited and experienced players obtain the precise same content [and] schedule.

Of course, one of the significant points of contention was the fact that Reignited will certainly have its very own different economy from the remainder of RuneScape. Exist prepares to bring that in?

Mod Ryan: So at the moment we’re extremely concentrated on the launch itself and what that implies in the minute. What should we fine-tune, if anything? Should we alter anything?

We have no certain plans now to merge the economic situations, however as we stated, we work with our players regularly, we adapt, and we advance.

And talking gamers, allow’s conversation regarding the Road to Repair. This was a significant project to regain gamer self-confidence in RuneScape. Have you observed an uptick in positivity nevertheless of the job that’s entered into the roadmap?

Mod Luma: I imply, I assume it’s a night-and-day distinction, where the game was even last RuneFest compared to today, [when people were talking about] ‘don’t play RuneScape for XYZ reasons’. We’ve seen that conversation modification and become, ‘well, they fixed XYX, so you ought to absolutely play RuneScape now.’

Looking past 2027, is there anything you can expose about what you’ve obtained prepared?

Mod Ryan: Unfortunately, we’re not in a place to talk about 2028 at this stage, however we’re always looking towards where we can take the video game to brand-new elevations and assuming around where we intend to take the video game strategically in regards to material beats.

We have actually still got some things from 2027 that we want to disclose, however we’re holding off till later on in the year for that.

With all the huge news, what do you believe obtained the loudest reaction from the crowd this RuneFest?

Mod Ryan: I believe dexterity rework in fact obtained the loudest holler. Since it’s just never transformed since its inception 25 years ago. If you go by raw, then I believe agility rework was at the top.

Mod Luma: Dragon Slayer II was up there as well.

It certainly reveals you have players who aren’t just devoted to the next large, glossy thing, yet also constantly having a great experience.

Mod Ryan: I indicate, it’s an actually good example of why we have actually committed to the roadway to reconstruction, committed to dealing with and boosting old web content while we’re releasing new web content as well.

And, to sum things up, what would you individuals want to say to followers of RuneScape who, whether they attended RuneFest or not, have been sticking with the game for as long?

Mod Luma: Thanks for being here with us throughout the previous year and the Road to Remediation. We wish you’ve enjoyed all the previous updates we have actually produced. We hope you’re expecting the extension of Road to Restoration next year and all the other interesting updates ahead.

Mod Ryan: I would certainly also like to say thank you for the in 2014 and all the job we did together, due to the fact that the Road to Repair was a journey with them. This is our game, mine and yours. We developed RuneScape together, and we will build the following 25 years with each other.

Which’s that! We have actually got a few other topics to touch on with RuneScape, and possibly another meeting including none other than the group at Traditional RuneScape. So stay tuned!