Author: Jagex

November 10^TH 2021, Cambridge, UK – The story of RuneScape and how it became one of the world’s longest-running games since its launch in 2001 will be revealed in full tomorrow, November 11^th, as Dark Horse Books and Jagex publish ‘RuneScape: The First 20 Years – An Illustrated History’ as a lavishly illustrated, full-colour, hardcover book.
 

Delivering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the iconic online fantasy RPG as it celebrates its 20th anniversary year, ‘RuneScape: The First 20 Years’ charts the history and art of the game’s world of Gielinor.

Through the book’s 224 pages, it explores the detailed tapestry of RuneScape and sister-title Old School RuneScape through exclusive interviews with the designers and developers alongside hundreds of full-colour illustrations spanning the entire two decades of its storied history.
 

Written by journalist Alex Calvin, the book covers the most significant stories behind RuneScape’s origins, the people behind it, the tale of its evolution, and where it’s going next. Its chapters include The Birth of RuneScape, The Age of Discovery, RuneScape IRL, Evolve or Go Home, Old School Cool, The Sixth Age of RuneScape, and The Next 20 Years.
 

Phil Mansell, CEO, Jagex, said:

“RuneScape’s 20^th anniversary highlights that there’s something truly magical about its world, its gameplay, its players, and the people who bring it to life and ‘RuneScape: The First 20 Years’, is the story of that magic. Together with Dark Horse Books and author Alex Calvin, we’ve captured memories, adventures, stories, and friendships to tell how RuneScape and Old School RuneScape became the living games that they are today.
 

“RuneScape’s world of Gielinor is steeped in history, characters, lore, and inhabited by an incredible community of players who, alongside everyone at Jagex, have shared memories from the past two decades. This book is for every citizen of our shared world to enjoy.”
 

‘RuneScape: The First 20 Years – An Illustrated History’ will be available from all good bookstores, comic shops, and online retailers (RRP £33.99/$39.99) tomorrow, November 11^th.
 

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Notes to editor:
 

Publication dates

‘RuneScape: The First 20 Years – An Illustrated History’ will be published in the USA on November 9^th and on November 11^th across the rest of the world.
 

About RuneScape

Twenty years ago this year, gamers first arrived in a whole new online world of medieval fantasy as RuneScape launched online. Two decades on, it has become one of the world’s longest-running online games and a global success story having welcomed almost 300 million player accounts. In an industry where success can often be short lived, RuneScape has defied the odds by not just surviving, but thriving over an incredible 20 years. RuneScape and its sister title Old School RuneScape are at peak popularity with more than 1.2 million subscribing members joining the further millions of players who enjoy RuneScape for free.
 

RuneScape is an ever-expanding, living game that’s bursting with activity and life. Set in a medieval fantasy land, begin by creating a character and then embark on epic journeys through a vast sandbox world that’s full of gods, warring races, unexplored dungeons, and glittering riches. Propelled by the game’s narrative, choose your own path through enthralling quests, and progress through 28 diverse skills to shape a single character in a classless world. RuneScape on mobile is now available for iOS and Android devices, featuring cross-platform play between mobile and desktop editions, enabling players to seamlessly jump between devices and take their adventure anywhere. In RuneScape, you get to be the hero you always wanted to be and, with new content added almost every week, there’s always a new and adventurous experience to look forward to. Become the hero you were born to be at www.runescape.com.
 

About Jagex

A leader in creating deep and engaging live games on PC and mobile, Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed almost 300 million player accounts to its world and is a $1billion lifetime revenue franchise. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped. Now we’re expanding and extending our portfolio with fresh franchise titles and new IP to bring life to the living games of the future. Jagex employs more than 450 people at its Cambridge headquarters. Career information can be found at www.jagex.com
 

About Dark Horse Comics

Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics is an excellent example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Under a new partnership with Vanguard Visionary Associates, Dark Horse is positioned to further expand its reach globally with publishing, products, and filmed entertainment. Over the years, Dark Horse has published the work of creative legends such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Will Eisner, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Wendy Pini, and Gerard Way. In addition, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing exciting new creative talent throughout all its divisions. The company has also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, including Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Predator, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, StarCraft, The Witcher, and Halo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

 

Press Contact:

Jagex Games Studio

Laura Durrant [email protected]

Rich Eddy [email protected]

Dark Horse

Kate Jay, PR and Social Media Coordinator

[email protected]
 

Anthony Mauro, PR Coordinator

[email protected]