Runescape’s 2026 Reboot: Treasure Hunter Axed, “Integrity Roadmap,” Havenhythe Expansion

This caught my attention because Runescape has spent much of the last decade trying to apologize for itself – and now Jagex looks like it’s trying to fix the parts that mattered most. After years of tension with the community, 2026 may be the year Runescape stops running from its past and starts rebuilding trust in plain sight.

Runescape’s 2026 Integrity Roadmap: Rebuilding Trust, One System at a Time

Key Takeaways

• Treasure Hunter is being removed after a community vote – Jagex has committed to phasing out that MTX system.
• The “Integrity Roadmap” targets UI, combat modernization, content rebalance, visuals declutter, DailyScape/Aura overhauls, and official API/plugin support.
• Content plan includes a two-part Havenhythe expansion (new quests, early bosses, Hunter cap → 110; Part 2: remaster + new end-game boss) and a summer avatar + Construction/housing refresh.
• Autumn will bring a revamped Leagues season – Jagex is explicitly learning from Old School’s success.

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Publisher|Jagex
Release Date|2026 roadmap (announced end of 2025-early 2026)
Category|MMORPG
Platform|PC, Mobile
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Main analysis — what’s actually happening and why it matters

Runescape’s story over the last decade is one of two halves: Old School RuneScape (OSRS) surged into prominence by embracing player-first design and nostalgic purity, while modern Runescape slowly (and sometimes awkwardly) chased monetization and systems that alienated longtime players. The removal of Treasure Hunter is the clearest signal yet that Jagex intends to pivot away from mechanics that felt pay-to-win. That alone changes both the optics and, potentially, the in-game economy over time.

The Integrity Roadmap is the meat here. UI modernization and a visual declutter are long overdue — modern MMOs succeed by being readable and accessible, and Runescape’s interface has accrued decades of cruft. Combat modernization is riskier: combat touches the core gameplay loop and player identity, so changes must respect the game’s pace and skill systems. The promise to rebalance content and overhaul systems like DailyScape and Auras suggests Jagex knows incremental polish won’t cut it.

Most welcome is the push for official API/plugin support. OSRS’s Runelite ecosystem is a huge part of its player experience; bringing sustainable, official plugin support to modern Runescape could unlock third-party quality-of-life tools without forcing players into shady, unsupported add-ons. That’s a major structural improvement if executed with clear rules and protections.

Content-wise, Havenhythe — a two-part expansion with a spring launch and a winter follow-up — looks like Jagex’s attempt to balance fresh early-game content with end-game teeth. Increasing Hunter to 110 and promising a new end-game boss are concrete items that veteran players can evaluate; the remastered content clause implies Jagex will rework older, neglected areas rather than simply piling on new zones.

I had a brief look at the avatar updates when visiting Jagex HQ; the character models and animations are noticeably sharper, and the summer plan for Construction and housing — raising cap to 120 and introducing a recipe-driven furniture system — signals a shift from purely functional housing toward social, collectible spaces. That aligns with broader MMO trends: players want homes that show accomplishment, not just storage.

What this means for players

• Lower friction and better tools: UI and API changes should make routine tasks faster and open the door to community-made utilities.
• Less MTX pressure: Removing Treasure Hunter reduces pay-to-win optics, but monetization will still be something to watch (cosmetics, convenience, and subscriptions are likely targets).
• Content for every pace: New early-game quests and an end-game boss means both newer players and veterans get reasons to return.
• Timing caveats: Roadmaps are promises, not guarantees. Execution quality will determine whether this is a real renaissance or another round of missed expectations.

There’s healthy skepticism warranted here: Jagex must prove it can deliver these interconnected changes without breaking the economy or alienating established player bases. But the combination of removing a notorious MTX feature, opening APIs, and committing to both content and systems work suggests this is more than PR — it’s an attempt at structural change.

TL;DR

Jagex’s 2026 roadmap is ambitious and, importantly, community-oriented: Treasure Hunter is gone, official plugin support is coming, UI/combat/visuals are getting modernized, and a two-part Havenhythe expansion plus avatar and housing overhauls aim to refresh both the look and play of Runescape. Execution will be everything, but for the first time in years, I’m optimistic that modern Runescape is serious about earning players’ trust back.