RuneScape 3 is facing a major review bombing after one of Jagex’s major RuneFest announcements fell flat. Players have shown up in droves to review-bomb RuneScape 3, dragging its review score down as the community vents its frustrations with the developer.
RuneScape players have never been shy about voicing their frustrations, especially with major updates that could completely change the game. There are numerous examples over the years of RuneScape players rioting in-game en masse, causing mayhem across the game’s cities to ensure their voices are heard. With an MMO as old as RuneScape, there are bound to be some updates that don’t quite hit the mark with players. That’s why, with Old School RuneScape, Jagex adopted a player-vote approach, ensuring a majority of the community approved all new content.
RuneScape Faces Review Bombing After Reignited Announcement
During RuneFest 2026, Jagex brought plenty of big announcements about the future of the RuneScape franchise. One of these new announcements was RuneScape Reignited, a new permanent character type with a brand-new economy and its own hiscores – basically a fresh start after Jagex had worked towards removing paid progression over the last 12 months. Reignited accounts share the same worlds as legacy players, meaning there’s no community split, but they won’t be able to trade with each other. Jagex describes it as entering a version of RuneScape “that is launching like a new game but that has the benefit of 25 years of content,” giving new players the opportunity to start on a completely level playing field. Regardless, players are not in the least bit happy.
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Following the announcement, RuneScape has been hit with tons of negative Steam reviews, bringing its recent review score on the platform down to “Mixed.” Players are explicitly naming the Reignited update as the reason for their frustration, with many believing the fresh start makes existing players’ progress feel meaningless. One review says, “We need to figure out a way to advertise or entice new players without alienating all the veterans of the game,” while another says that “Treating us old players this badly after everything we’ve stuck through is a punch in the face.”
RuneScape Reignited plans to launch on December 2, 2026. However, such a negative community reaction may prompt Jagex to reverse course on the update. After all, RuneScape has had plenty of controversial updates in the past, and Jagex has usually tried to placate players when possible. There are no guarantees that Reignited will be canceled, but it’s definitely a situation to keep an eye on if the community pressure continues.
While RuneScape Reignited has definitely left many players frustrated, it’s worth noting that RuneFest 2026 still had plenty to keep fans excited about the future of the franchise. A brand-new animated series was announced, as well as confirmation that Jagex is officially developing RuneScape 4, an MMO that will stand as its own game – not just as an update to the existing title.
