In a major update for the Old School RuneScape community, Jagex has announced the indefinite pause of Project Zanaris, an experimental initiative that aimed to introduce new gameplay concepts beyond the core OSRS experience. While the project was ambitious and full of potential, Jagex is now choosing to refocus on the areas of the game that matter most to the community today.
Why Project Zanaris Is Being Paused
According to Jagex, feedback around Zanaris was mixed and that was something the development team acknowledges as fair. While the project introduced exciting and innovative ideas, the studio admits that Zanaris wouldn’t have lived up to expectations until much later in its development cycle. Rather than dividing their focus, Jagex has chosen to strengthen the core Old School RuneScape experience by investing in gameplay, infrastructure, and community services.
What Happens to the Zanaris Team?
The developers and tech behind Zanaris haven’t been shelved. Instead, the Zanaris team has been reassigned across Jagex and directly to OSRS, where their creativity and experience will fuel the future of the game. Here's how Zanaris will still shape OSRS:
- Faster, More Creative Events – Concepts developed for Zanaris may appear in temporary game worlds or limited-time events, allowing players to enjoy unique gameplay without affecting the core experience.
- Improved Infrastructure – Cloud server tech built for Zanaris will now enhance server reliability, especially during peak times.
- Expanded Regional Support – Jagex is exploring how to improve access for underserved global regions.
- New Customization Options – Many of Zanaris’ customization tools could appear in OSRS worlds or event servers, allowing for more diverse and engaging content.
- Stronger OSRS Roadmap – Former Zanaris developers are now contributing to key initiatives in the current and future roadmap of OSRS.
A New Era of Community Events
While the custom world concept behind Zanaris has been paused, the spirit of experimentation lives on through a new approach: Community Events. Jagex is now exploring more structured, time-limited gameplay experiences like DMM and Leagues. These events offer a safe way to test bold content ideas that could potentially join the main game after community polling.
Players will play a direct role in shaping these events through feedback and participation. Got an idea for a future PvP tournament? Want to see King of the Skill return? Or have a completely new concept in mind? Jagex wants to hear from you on the OSRS Discord.
"We’re not afraid to try new things. We remain committed to working directly with you to find the ideas that resonate most." Jagex states in their blogpost and to make it clear that their focus remains on listening to the OSRS community, improving services, and delivering valuable content updates. While Project Zanaris may step away through a fairy ring, the creativity it sparked will live on through the content and experiences coming next.
What are your thoughts on the announcement? What do you think they will bring next to OSRS? Let us know if you are still playing OSRS in the comments below!