Jagex have announced the release date of Runescape 3. As with 2004′s Runescape 2, it’s more of a major iteration to the underlying tech powering the base game, rather than a standalone sequel. This third levelling up of the free-to-play MMORPG is due to occur on July 22nd, bringing new “player-generated content” to the game, alongside an HTML5 engine upgrade.

Jagex, the creators of the hugely popular and BAFTA nominated free-to-play adventure game, RuneScape, has formally announced that RuneScape 3 will launch this summer.

The massively successful game, which has welcomed more than 220 million adventurers since it was first released in 2001, is set to undergo one of the most significant updates in its history. RuneScape 3 will see a massive leap forward in technology, with a new fully HTML5 engine, improved graphics, longer draw distances, new audio, new design features and a world changing content update as the game moves into a new age.

Full details of the update remain a closely guarded secret but RuneScape’s Executive Producer, Phil Mansell gave the community a teaser of what’s to come, saying, “RuneScape 3 is a massive update to RuneScape building on 12 years of content to make improvements on all fronts. RuneScape 3 is going to run faster, look better and feel so much more immersive.”

The updates aren’t limited to tech improvements, however, RuneScape’s Creative Director, Mark Ogilvie commented, “RuneScape 3 marks a significant moment in RuneScape’s history as the world enters the 6th Age. All our recent content updates have been building up to this point, massive change is coming, and our players will be able to shape the game with the choices they make. Every single player will have the ability to shape the world.”

More details about RuneScape 3 will be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the RuneScape 3 video announcement can be viewed in full below.

Huge changes are coming to the hugely popular browser-based MMO Runescape as Jagex announced today in a "Behind the Scenes" video that Runescape 3 would be released this summer. Much as Runescape 2 was simply an overhaul of the original title, Runescape 3 again is an evolution of the game rather than a completely new game.

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A new way of unearthing videogame cheaters has been introduced to RuneScape, the world’s most popular online adventure game. 

‘Botting’ is a system whereby players of many online games use third-party software to automate tasks which in turn increase their player ability. It is an increasing problem for many online games – which is why Jagex is introducing sophisticated counter measures.

The new system will see anyone caught cheating within the game given two very public warnings – and if they are then caught a third time, their in-game character will be detained and sent to ‘Botany Bay’ where they could be permanently destroyed.

Botany Bay is a new in-game area where the community can judge the cheats, voting on ways in which they can be destroyed and throwing rotten fruit as the votes are counted. Methods of disposal include being stomped on by a dragon, blasted by a ray of light from the RuneScape gods, or consumed by a giant worm.

Mark Ogilvie, RuneScape Lead Designer commented: “Seeing rogue characters killed by dragons will be a very visual deterrent to other cheating players who now risk losing their character permanently.

We take a very hard line on cheaters in our game and have taken the unique move to name and shame those who have been breaking one of our most important rules. We have wanted to do this for some time and we hope that by bringing the actions of those who cheat to the attention of the wider community, we can make a massive step towards eliminating botting from the game.”

Jagex Games Studio will be reopening RuneScape classic for the last time as part of the games 10th anniversary celebrations to allow players new and old the chance to see how the game has evolved.

RuneScape Classic was first released to the public in January 2001 and is the original version of the popular free to play MMMORPG RuneScape and shows just how far RuneScape has come over the past 10 years.

RuneScape Classic has been opened sporadically since RuneScape 2 was released in 2004 and fans have been checking out how far the game has progressed ever since, taking a nostalgic tour of the game and collecting the much coveted Classic Cape and Classic Hood. These collectables, which give players a unique Skillcape emote, are exclusive in-game items only available to those who have logged in to RuneScape Classic; making this last ever chance a historical moment for RuneScape players as the cape and hood will soon be unobtainable to those not already holding them.

RuneScape members wishing to join RuneScape Classic will need to log-in between Thursday 15th September 2011 and Thursday 29th September 2011 to ensure they can access the game in the future as this is the last time the doors will be open to new players.

Daniel Clough, VP of RuneScape, commented, “The past 10 years have seen RuneScape grow and develop at a phenomenal rate and today’s game is testament to the continued content, graphical and technological updates. Taking a trip back to Classic is gives our longest standing players a chance to reminisce and newer players a chance to see where their game has come from. Ten years after RuneScape Classic opened its gates to adventurers, it seems a fitting time to close them to new players, as we look forward to RuneScape’s second decade and to what promises to be a very exciting future for the game.”

The flurry of online games dropping their subscription fees over the last year or so might make the free-to-play model seem like a fresh new trend in PC gaming, but it’s nothing that Jagex haven’t done before, way back in 2001, with their browser-based MMO, Runescape.

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Jaex Games Studio will be holdings its second RuneFest celebration 'RuneFest 2011' at the Old Billingsgate in central London, on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October 2011. RuneFest 2011 will include many of the popular activities from last year’s event, such as the insider sessions, developer meet-and-greet sessions and the community management gaming zone, plus a host of new features for 2011 including an exclusive late night Party.


RuneFest celebrates the entire worldwide RuneScape community; bringing the RuneScape universe to life, including huge themed areas for players to experience real-world RuneScape activities. This year’s event is of particular significance as RuneScape celebrates its tenth anniversary and many of the activities, talks and events will be themed to celebrate the last decade of development of Runescape


Further details of what fans can expect at the event will be announced prior to the release of tickets, which will be available to purchase from Monday 27th June 2011. Tickets are priced at £59 for a day ticket, either the Saturday or Sunday, £99 for a weekend ticket. The late night party tickets will be priced at £49 and is open exclusively for RuneFest attendees (all prices include booking fees and taxes).


In addition to the standard tickets, those wishing for a VIP RuneFest experience will have the chance to purchase a VIP Ticket priced at £179. This VIP ticket will include priority seating for all presentations, private insider sessions with senior developers, signed concept art and a private J-Mod staffed area with its own VIP bar. The ticket will also guarantee access to the exclusive after party plus a few surprises that will be kept a secret until the event.


Fans are encouraged to visit the RuneFest 2011 website, www.RuneFest.com and sign up to receive regular email updates to make sure they don’t miss out on the chance to be part of the celebrations.

RuneScape will be getting a in-game update to RuneScape’s Clan system today.


This update gives clans a real presence in the game, offering new tools to help players organise and administer their clans, as well as ways to advertise their clans and show allegiance to them in RuneScape.


The Clan update will include the following features:


- In-game Clan Support – For the first time players will now be able to create clans in-game and recruit new clanmates, assigning ranks and job titles to their members.


- Additional Clan Chat Channels – This update includes two new chat channels for players: the current 'Clan Chat' system remains as it is, although it will be renamed 'Friends Chat'. The new channel will offer a unique system for players to communicate with fellow clan members (and access to chat on another clan's chat channel as a guest). Players will even be able to keep track of communication in all three channels at the same time.


- Clan Camp – Clan members now have access to a new area on the RuneScape map which will serve as a hub for clans to socialise, recruit and plan. The Clan Camp is the starting point for all the new features and includes everything players need to start a clan, meet with their clan, recruit new members and plan their next adventure.


- Greater Customisations of Clans – Players will now be able to customise their clan with clan mottos, motifs and colours. These will be reflected in clan capes and a new item called the vexillum. The vexillum can be stood in the ground at events to mark that clan’s territory. It can also be inspected to allow others to access essential clan information.


- Clan Web Pages – Each clan will be give a personalised web page which will play host to a list of all clan members, high scores, stats and information about their clan. The clan web pages will also host public and private clan specific forums.


- Rated Clan Wars – Rated Clan Wars, the new clan-specific gameplay content, is a redesigned version of the popular Clan Wars activity, allowing clans to challenge other clans to battle and be rated based on the outcome.