Jagex partnered with a RuneScape-inspired idle game to turn the sequel into an official spinoff
News Source
β’Sun, 01 Nov 2026 18:41:29 +0000
π° What Happened
Jagex has teamed up with Games by Malcs, the small studio behind Melvor Idle, to turn the sequel into an official RuneScape spinoff. Melvor Idle 2 will carry RuneScape branding when it launches.
Jagex said the first game takes heavy inspiration from RuneScape, and that a fan-made idle game is "more than worthy" of the name. The sequel is bigger than the original, with redrawn visuals and a level cap raised to 120.
Idle games mostly play themselves. You set tasks and watch the numbers go up while you do other things, which is why Melvor Idle calls itself the genre in its purest form.
π The Backstory
Jagex became the publisher of the first Melvor Idle five years ago, but the game did not get RuneScape branding back then. Players were wary when the deal was first announced on Reddit, because RuneScape has a long history of fights over money-making.
The new game's announcement says it will have no microtransactions. That matters to fans who have watched Jagex add paid extras to its own games over the years.
Melvor Idle 2 does not take place in Gielinor, the world of RuneScape. The link is about style and game systems rather than story.
π― Why It Matters
It is rare for a big company to back a fan project instead of copying or blocking it. Players get a RuneScape-style game with no extra fees.
Jagex has teamed up with Games by Malcs, the small studio behind Melvor Idle, to turn the sequel into an official RuneScape spinoff. Melvor Idle 2 will carry RuneScape branding when it launches.
Jagex said the first game takes heavy inspiration from RuneScape, and that a fan-made idle game is "more than worthy" of the name. The sequel is bigger than the original, with redrawn visuals and a level cap raised to 120.
Idle games mostly play themselves. You set tasks and watch the numbers go up while you do other things, which is why Melvor Idle calls itself the genre in its purest form.
Jagex became the publisher of the first Melvor Idle five years ago, but the game did not get RuneScape branding back then. Players were wary when the deal was first announced on Reddit, because RuneScape has a long history of fights over money-making.
The new game's announcement says it will have no microtransactions. That matters to fans who have watched Jagex add paid extras to its own games over the years.
Melvor Idle 2 does not take place in Gielinor, the world of RuneScape. The link is about style and game systems rather than story.
It is rare for a big company to back a fan project instead of copying or blocking it. Players get a RuneScape-style game with no extra fees.