Jagex explains why RuneScape Reignited was scrapped weeks after reveal
Creative director Ryan Philpott says mixed messaging between RuneFest talks and follow-up blogs fuelled the backlash that ended the relaunch.
Jagex has explained its reasoning behind RuneScape Reignited and the decision to cancel the relaunch within weeks of revealing it, after veteran players complained they felt left behind or sidelined in favour of attracting new players. The studio apologised for the plan, and RuneScape creative director Ryan Philpott, known to players as Mod Ryan, set out how the studio saw the project in an interview with gamesradar.com.
Philpott said Jagex did not view Reignited as a fork or a parallel version of the game, comparing it instead to past modes such as Iron Man and Group Iron Man. Reignited had been positioned as a relaunch with fresh servers, intended to cap off the Road to Restoration update plan.
Mixed messages after RuneFest
According to Philpott, some of the messaging was muddled between the RuneFest talks, how players interpreted them and follow-up blogs published by Jagex. He said the studio expected some pushback but received more conversation than anticipated following the reveal.
RuneScape has been running for 25 years, Philpott said, while Old School RuneScape has been the more popular of the two MMOs. Over the past year in particular, Jagex has removed much of what it described as systemic and monetisation problems from RuneScape through the Road to Restoration plan.
Quick answers
Was RuneScape Reignited cancelled?
Yes. Jagex cancelled the relaunch within weeks of revealing it at RuneFest, after veteran players complained they felt left behind or sidelined.
Why did Jagex cancel RuneScape Reignited?
Jagex apologised for the plan after the player backlash. Creative director Ryan Philpott said some messages were muddled between the RuneFest talks, player interpretation and follow-up blogs.
Did Jagex see Reignited as a separate version of RuneScape?
No. Philpott said Jagex did not view it as a fork or parallel version, comparing it to past modes like Iron Man and Group Iron Man.