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RuneScape

GameBy Jagex

Documents about RuneScape

Cover of How one Star Wars actor became the CEO of Commodore
21 min
The Game Business21 min

How one Star Wars actor became the CEO of Commodore

Commodore, under the leadership of CEO Christian Simpson, is executing a dual-track business strategy that blends retro-computing nostalgia with modern digital minimalism.

  • Commodore has successfully pivoted from a niche hobbyist brand to a multifaceted publisher, selling over 27,000 Commodore 64 units since its relaunch.
  • The 'Comeback 8020' flip phone, which promotes digital minimalism by excluding social media, achieved first-weekend sales volume equal to the first three months of Commodore 64 hardware sales.
  • The company is executing a dual-track business strategy that balances retro-computing nostalgia with modern digital minimalism to capture a broader market beyond traditional gaming enthusiasts.
The Game BusinessOct 2026
Cover of TWIG #404: AI Game Mashups Go Viral, Google Launches Playground and Mobile Studios Are Cheap Again
61 min
Deconstructor of Fun61 min

TWIG #404: AI Game Mashups Go Viral, Google Launches Playground and Mobile Studios Are Cheap Again

The gaming industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation driven by the rapid integration of generative AI and a shifting landscape for mergers and acquisitions.

  • The gaming M&A market has shifted to a buyer's advantage, with acquisitions becoming increasingly rare and occurring at lower valuations relative to revenue.
  • Large-scale, profitable entities like Savvy Games Group and MTG are the primary active dealmakers, creating a high barrier to entry that leaves smaller studios with limited exit opportunities.
  • Major platforms including Google, Meta, and Roblox are introducing prompt-to-game generative AI tools, creating a tension between democratized development and a surge of low-quality content.
Deconstructor of FunOct 2026
Cover of Tencent’s bid to create the next FromSoftware and Larian
25 min
The Game Business25 min

Tencent’s bid to create the next FromSoftware and Larian

Tencent Games, through its Interactive Entertainment and Game Global (IEG) division, is actively pursuing a long-term strategy to cultivate category-leading game studios capable of achieving the global success seen by developers like FromSoftware and Larian.

  • Tencent is shifting its global strategy to cultivate category-leading studios capable of producing high-quality console and PC titles, modeled after the success of FromSoftware and Larian.
  • The company currently manages approximately 20 studios worldwide, utilizing a 'long game' approach that prioritizes creative autonomy and operational support over rigid corporate oversight.
  • Tencent is leveraging the global success of Chinese-developed titles like Black Myth: Wukong to bridge the gap between its traditional mobile-centric expertise and the high-end console market.
The Game BusinessSep 2026
Cover of Rainbow Six: Siege boss: We'll treat our players like kings and queens when GTA 6 comes out
37 min
The Game Business37 min

Rainbow Six: Siege boss: We'll treat our players like kings and queens when GTA 6 comes out

Rainbow Six: Siege maintains its long-term viability by prioritizing a service-oriented model that emphasizes technical stability and tactical depth over the development of a sequel.

  • Ubisoft is prioritizing long-term player retention and service quality to mitigate potential market disruption caused by the upcoming release of GTA 6.
  • The development team manages a workforce of over 600 people to maintain the game through a modular architecture that avoids the need for a full sequel rebuild.
  • The studio is leveraging a strategic partnership with Tencent to improve communication, bolster regional expansion, and enhance security protocols following previous cyberattacks.
The Game BusinessSep 2026
Cover of What Happens When You Become A CEO? (The First 100 Days)
44 min
Deconstructor of Fun44 min

What Happens When You Become A CEO? (The First 100 Days)

The transition into a CEO role within the gaming industry demands a rapid shift from transactional, hands-on management to a visionary, coaching-oriented leadership style.

  • New CEOs must ruthlessly prioritize core intellectual properties and divest from non-essential assets to focus resources on flagship franchises and innovation.
  • Successful leadership transitions require flattening organizational hierarchies and replacing legacy management to build a high-performance, autonomous, product-focused culture.
  • CEOs should dedicate approximately 20 percent of their time to board and stakeholder communication to ensure alignment on long-term goals over short-term market volatility.
Deconstructor of FunAug 2026
Cover of Games For Breakfast Feat. TierZoo | Ep.73 | Gaming News
109 min
Extra Credits109 min

Games For Breakfast Feat. TierZoo | Ep.73 | Gaming News

The modern gaming landscape is defined by a tension between player-driven innovation and the volatility of platform-level control.

  • Old School RuneScape is introducing a 'BronzeMan' mode, an official implementation of a previously unofficial community challenge similar to the 'Iron Man' mode.
  • The game 'Aliens: Fireteam Elite' on Nintendo Switch has become inaccessible to users because it relied on cloud streaming, and the servers hosting the game have been shut down.
  • Hello Games is using the development of 'No Man's Sky' as a technical testing ground for mechanics that will be implemented in their upcoming title, 'Light No Fire'.
Extra CreditsAug 2026
Cover of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is the most anticipated game of 2026 (that isn’t GTA)
61 min
The Game Business61 min

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is the most anticipated game of 2026 (that isn’t GTA)

The 2026 gaming landscape is defined by a tension between the enduring appeal of legacy intellectual property and the evolving expectations of modern players.

  • The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the most anticipated non-GTA title of 2026, with projected sales of approximately 10 million units.
  • The industry is experiencing structural instability, evidenced by inconsistent financial performance where some publishers report growth while others face year-over-year declines and workforce reductions.
  • Long-term engagement remains a viable commercial strategy, highlighted by Human: Fall Flat reaching 60 million units sold a decade after its initial release.
The Game BusinessJul 2026
Cover of RuneScape CEO: We want to be bigger than World of Warcraft
32 min
The Game Business32 min

RuneScape CEO: We want to be bigger than World of Warcraft

Jagex is undergoing a strategic transformation to solidify its position as a premier global gaming entity by centering all operations exclusively on the RuneScape franchise.

  • Jagex has launched the 'RS25' strategy, a £200 million investment initiative aimed at modernizing the RuneScape franchise and establishing it as the world’s leading MMO brand within five years.
  • The company is pivoting to a single-franchise focus by divesting non-core assets to prioritize the long-term health and growth of RuneScape.
  • Jagex intends to leverage its historical player base of 300 million users to drive expansion into Asian markets and launch the new title 'Dragon Isles' on console platforms.
The Game BusinessJul 2026
Cover of Jagex prepared to take financial hit to save RuneScape
16 min
The Game Business16 min

Jagex prepared to take financial hit to save RuneScape

Jagex is currently undergoing a strategic pivot to prioritize the long-term health and integrity of the RuneScape franchise over short-term revenue gains.

  • Jagex is prioritizing the long-term sustainability of the RuneScape franchise over short-term revenue by re-evaluating and potentially reducing microtransactions in RuneScape 3.
  • The company has abandoned third-party publishing and large-scale acquisitions to focus exclusively on its core MMO portfolio: RuneScape, Old School RuneScape, and RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
  • Old School RuneScape maintains its market position through a democratic development model that requires a 70% player approval rating for all content updates.
The Game BusinessSep 2025
Cover of National Game Engines Could Shape The World - The Metacast by Naavik
62 min
Naavik62 min

National Game Engines Could Shape The World - The Metacast by Naavik

The gaming industry is currently navigating a complex intersection of participatory governance, geopolitical technological sovereignty, and aggressive market consolidation.

  • State-sponsored development of national game engines is emerging as a tool for governments to exert political influence, surveillance, and social engineering within virtual spaces and the metaverse.
  • Corporate consolidation is accelerating as companies prioritize financial synergy and technological control over organic growth, leading to a market dominated by fewer, larger-scale acquisitions.
  • Unity’s acquisition of ironSource represents a strategic shift toward integrating ad-tech and monetization capabilities to maintain competitiveness against rivals like AppLovin.
NaavikJul 2022
Cover of Bringing a Desktop Subscription Model to Mobile
19 min
PocketGamer.biz19 min

Bringing a Desktop Subscription Model to Mobile

Jagex successfully expanded its desktop MMORPG, Old School RuneScape, to mobile platforms by prioritizing a seamless, cross-platform experience that allows players to maintain progress across PC and mobile devices.

  • Jagex generated 25 million in gross revenue and 8.6 million installs by expanding Old School RuneScape to mobile, proving the viability of a cross-platform subscription model.
  • To maintain a unified view of user value across PC and mobile, the company integrated internal data with mobile measurement partners, enabling more effective scaling of advertising spend.
  • The mobile launch strategy utilized pre-order campaigns on the Apple App Store and Google Play, which drove the game to the top of free-to-play charts in the US and UK within 24 to 72 hours.
PocketGamer.bizFeb 2020
Cover of Build movements for your community
14 min
PocketGamer.biz14 min

Build movements for your community

Building successful game communities requires shifting from a standard update-by-update release cycle to a movement-based strategy.

  • Shift from a standard update-by-update release cycle to a movement-based strategy, where players share a purpose and work toward a common vision to sustain long-term engagement.
  • Implement collaborative decision-making tools, such as the 75% majority polling system used in Old School RuneScape, to align design goals with player expectations.
  • Seed ideas early through teasers, social media, and live-streamed development sessions to allow for speculation and feedback before official content launches.
PocketGamer.bizFeb 2019