Jagex Partners with Lyrical Animation and MoistCr1TiKaL for New RuneScape Series

Key points

• Lyrical Animation is producing the series alongside White's Meatier Productions, with development currently in early stages.
• The project was unveiled by Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy at RuneFest 2026, following the Old School RuneScape keynote.
• Charlie White, who has over 25 million followers, is a longtime RuneScape player and collaborator with Lyrical on other projects like 'Godslap'.
• Jagex aims to expand the RuneScape ecosystem beyond games, leveraging the franchise's 300 million accounts and $3 billion lifetime revenue.
• Further details regarding the series' format, release date, and specific plotlines are expected to be announced in 2027.

Background

RuneScape, launched in 2001, has evolved into a multi-title franchise including Old School RuneScape and the survival game RuneScape: Dragonwilds, which recently debuted on Xbox consoles. The franchise has generated over $3 billion in lifetime revenue. This animated series announcement follows recent expansions into new game genres and platforms, reflecting Jagex's strategy to diversify its offerings while maintaining its core MMORPG titles.

How outlets are covering it

Dark Horizons and Jagex's official press release align on the core facts: the partnership between Jagex, Lyrical Animation, and Charlie White, and the early-stage nature of the project. Both emphasize the potential to reach new audiences. TechPowerUp, while covering the same RuneFest event, focuses primarily on the technical announcement of RuneScape 4, an Unreal Engine MMO, rather than the animated series. This highlights a divergence in media focus, with gaming hardware outlets prioritizing the new game engine and platform details, while entertainment outlets highlight the creator-led animation collaboration. All sources agree that the animated series is a significant step for the franchise, but only the entertainment-focused sources provide details on the creative team and White's involvement.

Why it matters

This marks the first major foray into traditional media for a 25-year-old gaming franchise, signaling a shift in how long-running online games expand their brand. The collaboration with a high-profile creator like MoistCr1TiKaL suggests a strategy to leverage community influence and modern content formats to sustain interest and attract new demographics. It also reflects the broader trend of game studios diversifying into animation and film to extend the lifecycle of their intellectual property beyond the initial game release.

What to watch

Jagex and Lyrical Animation are expected to provide more details on the animated series in 2027, including format, release date, and specific storylines. Development is currently in early stages, with no confirmed release date. The success of this project may influence future expansions of the RuneScape franchise into other media formats, while the ongoing development of RuneScape 4 continues in parallel.