RuneScape developer Jagex has confirmed it’s paused Project Zanaris, which aimed to add community servers to Old School RuneScape.
In a blog post on the project’s status, Jagex admitted “feelings around the project were mixed”, and that other core areas of the game “deserve more attention right now”.
Yet the news arrives in the wake of confirmed layoffs at Jagex, with RuneScape fans speculating wider issues at the studio.
Speculation around layoffs began as fans noticed missing names from the RuneScape 3 team at the bottom of regular game update blog posts. Responding on reddit, RuneScape mod JagexHooli confirmed the layoffs as part of a company restructure.
“Yes, there have unfortunately been job reductions at Jagex,” Hooli wrote. “These have been made as part of changes in a company restructure as Jagex puts more emphasis on RuneScape games and community growth.
“The majority of roles are from non-game dev and non-player facing areas. There are some exceptions within the RS team as part of the company’s focus on a streamlined development approach.”
Hooli added these changes won’t affect Jagex’s roadmap of future updates. In a statement to PC Gamer, Jagex reiterated the “vast majority of proposed role reductions are within non-game development and non-player-facing functions”, although the company declined to specify how many people have been cut.
What has particularly shaken the RuneScape community, however, is that two beloved developers appear to have left Jagex.
Mod Jack worked at Jagex for 15 years and was a lead game designer on RuneScape 3, while Mod Timbo worked at Jagex for 17 years and was a principal game designer on RuneScape 3. Both designers were expected to work heavily on forthcoming updates to RuneScape 3, including a new skill and region.
However, fans spotted that both names have dropped off recent blog posts. Neither designer has made a public statement.
Wrote one fan on reddit: “Jagex what were you thinking? It’s unbelievable to see Mod Jack who was so passionate for your game is leaving”. Wrote another: “Timbo??? JACK???? If I would have to name 5 important jmods behind past couple years of updates, these two come into my mind instantly. They seemed like core part of team and big updates [sic].”
Eurogamer has contacted Jagex to confirm if Jack or Timbo have officially left the company.
While Project Zanaris has been paused, Jagex wrote the “incredible talent behind the project have been redistributed across Jagex or directly moved to Old School to help with ongoing improvements and exciting new initiatives”. These include improved server infrastructure, more creative events, and wider region support.
The news of layoffs and the paused project come in a period of mixed fortunes for Jagex.
On the one hand, Jagex released its new survival crafting game Dragonwilds to strong success. The RuneScape spin-off arrived in Steam early access in April and quickly gained a sizable audience, though this has rapidly dropped off.
However, Jagex and the RuneScape community is still recovering from the fallout of a controversial pay-to-win Hero Pass that was added back in 2023, which was followed by a poorly received survey concerning future monetisation ideas in January of this year.
In March, Jagex CEO Phil Mansell departed the company after eight years, and was succeeded by Jon Bellamy, as reported by Game Developer.