Embracing Success: Jagex's New CEO Prioritizes RuneScape Above All Else

In recent years, Jagex, the powerhouse behind RuneScape, has undergone significant transformations. The company was acquired by CVC Capital Partners and Haveli Investments in 2024, and earlier this year, long-time CEO Phil Mansell stepped down, making way for Jon Bellamy. Despite these changes, Bellamy is resolute in his focus on RuneScape, emphasizing that the franchise is the key to the company's success. With both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape boasting a combined peak concurrent player figure of 270,000 users, the franchise appears to be thriving. Bellamy asserts, 'For a long time, Jagex has been 'the RuneScape company'. We're the best in the world at doing exactly that.' He plans to maintain this focus, concentrating on what the company does well rather than exploring new, untested avenues. The appointment of Bellamy, who was hired by CVC Capital in July 2023 as an advisor, may indicate a desire for the company's current owners to exert greater control over Jagex. However, Bellamy believes this proximity to ownership is beneficial, stating, 'CVC and Haveli understand this business better than almost any other potential acquirer.' The launch of RuneScape: Dragonwilds in April has been a resounding success, with over 900,000 units sold. As a result, Jagex is increasing its investment in the game, which is slated to launch on console in late 2026. Bellamy attributes the game's success to its unique blend of RuneScape and Valheim elements, saying, 'It's definitely surpassed all of our initial expectations.' To maintain this momentum, Bellamy aims to streamline Jagex's operations, focusing on three core products: Old School RuneScape, RuneScape 3, and Dragonwilds. New ideas will be encouraged through initiatives like game jams, ensuring that innovation remains a vital part of the company's culture. One area of contention is RuneScape 3's monetization, which has led to the loss of players due to the implementation of microtransactions. Jagex has suspended the Treasure Hunter minigame and is conducting experiments to determine the best approach to monetization. Bellamy emphasizes the importance of community involvement in this process, stating, 'Agreement's a really good word; this has to be done with the community.' He acknowledges that finding a consensus on monetization will be challenging but is committed to working with the community to find a solution that reflects the game's integrity. In June, Jagex faced criticism for its handling of Pride in RuneScape, with some accusing the company of rolling back its support for the event. Bellamy has faced backlash for his comments on the matter, but he stands by his decision, citing the need to protect the game and its community. He emphasizes that his primary concern is the continuity and maintenance of Jagex's games, saying, 'The most important thing is the continuity and maintenance of our games, as well as the preservation of our players and serving our players great RuneScape experiences.' Looking to the future, Bellamy is optimistic about Jagex's prospects, envisioning a future with three stable RuneScape products that are growing and sustainable. He also hopes to explore a broader interpretation of the RuneScape IP, although he is tight-lipped about what this might entail.