RuneScape: Dragonwilds Is Bringing Survival Crafting to PS5 for the First Time in Series History
For most of its 25-year history, RuneScape has been known as an MMORPG. RuneScape: Dragonwilds takes the franchise in a different direction, transforming the world of Gielinor into an open world survival crafting adventure where players must build, gather, explore, and battle dragons in order to survive.
Developed and published by Jagex, RuneScape: Dragonwilds first launched in Early Access on Steam in April 2025. Following a year of updates and community feedback, the game is now preparing for its PlayStation 5 debut in 2026, marking the first time a RuneScape title has officially arrived on console.
The game takes place on Ashenfall, a previously unseen continent within the RuneScape universe. According to Jagex, dragons have awakened across the region, forcing adventurers to gather resources, construct shelters, craft equipment, and uncover ancient secrets in order to challenge the Dragon Queen. Players can tackle the adventure alone or with up to three friends in online cooperative play.
Unlike the traditional MMORPG experience associated with RuneScape, Dragonwilds places a much stronger emphasis on survival mechanics. Gathering materials, constructing bases, improving equipment, and exploring dangerous wilderness areas form the foundation of the experience. At the same time, the game retains familiar RuneScape elements such as skills, progression systems, quests, and magic.
Survival Through Magic
Jagex describes Ashenfall as a land overflowing with Anima, a powerful force that players can harness to reshape the world around them. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional tools, adventurers can use magical abilities to perform tasks more efficiently. Official examples include summoning spectral axes to cut down trees and using magical powers to interact with the environment in unique ways.
The developers have also emphasized skill progression as a core component of the game. Players can level various abilities while exploring the continent, unlocking new powers, recipes, and options for survival as they become stronger. Recent updates have continued expanding these systems throughout Early Access, including new regions, higher skill caps, and additional content.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds may not be a traditional MMORPG, but it remains deeply connected to the universe that made RuneScape famous. By combining survival crafting, cooperative exploration, skill progression, and dragon hunting within the world of Ashenfall, the game offers a different way to experience one of gaming's longest-running fantasy franchises. With its PS5 release approaching, console players will soon have the chance to see what that new adventure has to offer.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 12:07 PM.