Following the release of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the development team has continued working on the game. At RuneFest, held from October 3 to 4, 2026, the team revealed its roadmap for 2026 and 2027. Rather than simply outlining its general direction, the team provided specific details about each planned update, demonstrating a clear development plan and giving players plenty of reasons to look forward to future content. Overall Roadmap for 2026 and 2027 The remainder of 2026 will technically remain part of Kuldra Saga, with continued post-1.0 updates and the arrival of Luminance in December. After that, the first half of 2027 will mark the beginning of Blood Crystal Saga. Before Luminance arrives, post-1.0 development will continue, with monthly updates introducing new content as the game grows. These updates will focus on additional quests, RuneScape Dragonwilds items, content built around existing areas, and ongoing quality-of-life improvements. Luminance A Prelude to Blood Crystal Saga Luminance is specifically described as a prelude to Blood Crystal Saga rather than the beginning of the saga itself. Although the story of Kuldra has come to an end, Luminance will begin introducing new characters, mechanics, and elven themes. The story of Luminance revolves around Ceridwen and her children. Two elves are being hunted by a bounty hunter named Morwyn, and players will need to protect them. Ceridwen's approach to dealing with the bounty hunter will be closely tied to music. Lyres and Songstones Luminance will also introduce the lyre. Players will learn to use it to resonate with Songstones. Although the exact connection between the lyre and the quest system remains unclear, the instrument may eventually tie into world exploration, puzzle-solving, and other gameplay elements. Elves in RuneScape have a close relationship with crystals, and one of their most important abilities is crystal singing, which allows them to shape crystals through song. Seren herself is also closely associated with the elves. Fairy Rings Luminance will bring fairy rings to RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Players will be able to resonate with these rings and use them as a travel and teleportation system to reach hidden destinations around Ashenfall. This system may differ from the existing fast-travel mechanics. It could function more like the way players accumulate Soul Rift in Fellhollow, allowing them to access an entirely different plane of existence. In RuneScape universe, fairy rings form a magical transportation network spread throughout the world, using three-letter codes. Entering different combinations transports players to different locations. Some lead to useful destinations, while others take players to remote or unusual areas. Although it remains unclear how Dragonwilds will incorporate this system into Ashenfall, fairy rings could become an excellent exploration mechanic rather than simply adding another travel point to the map. Character Customization Luminance will introduce new character customization options centered around elves. Players will gain access to new facial features and actual elven ears. Players can currently customize human adventurers, so the addition of elven options could signal that more playable races and customization choices will gradually become available in the future. Luminance will also introduce new weapons, armor, and Vestiges to pursue. These additions will be associated with a material called Harmonised Crystal Fragments, which players will need to track down to obtain new equipment. In addition, Luminance will introduce a complete Prifddinas building set. These building pieces feature an elven aesthetic with green and white colors and extensive use of crystals. This addition should be particularly exciting for players who enjoy building. Prayer Skill Another major update arriving with Luminance in December is Prayer skill. Players will construct altars, which function as new crafting stations that can be placed in their bases. Burying bones and scattering ashes will allow players to progress through the skill. Prayer provides passive effects that influence combat, health, gathering, and protection against specific damage types. Players will build altars at their bases to unlock Prayer slots and choose which prayers to activate simultaneously. Prayer points will become a resource to manage, and players will be able to replenish them at altars throughout the world or after returning to their bases. Blood Crystal Saga Blood Crystal Saga is scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2027. Compared with Kuldra Saga, this storyline will delve deeper into RuneScape lore, exploring elves, crystals, Seren, vampires, and darker legends. Song of Rebellion Song of Rebellion will introduce a group of rebellious elves who need the player's help, as Nos Clan begins threatening the fragile peace established after Kuldra's death. The story will center on a new location called Ailddinas, an elven city built around enormous crystal spires and vast, mysterious sources of power. Nos Clan has corrupted the city, and that corruption has spread into the surrounding woodlands. Players will explore a fully realized elven city connected to the corrupted magical forces surrounding it. This will be the game's first true major city and central hub. Song of Rebellion will also introduce several new creatures, including Implings, new varieties of Kebbits, grizzly bears, and different bird species. These creatures are not simply intended to add atmosphere to the region. They are directly connected to one of the biggest new systems planned for the following year: Hunter skill. Hunter Through Hunter, players will learn to use stealth, set traps, and collect different creatures while making use of new elven equipment. Different creatures, traps, equipment, and potentially even locations will each have distinct purposes. In RuneScape, hunting methods vary depending on the target creature. Different animals may require different traps, bait, or Hunter levels. Dedicated Creation Tools Official mod support is expected to launch alongside Song of Rebellion update in 2027, providing modders with access to an official development toolkit. Dragonwilds Players will be able to manage mods directly within the game. This feature will extend to all platforms, including consoles. The development team is gradually expanding the world of RuneScape: Dragonwilds to create a distinct gameplay experience rather than a replacement for the traditional RuneScape MMORPG. With a clear, long-term development plan in place, the game's upcoming updates give players plenty to look forward to.

Frozen Trail has finally launched, and ARC Raiders has seen its concurrent player count on Steam surge to 109,644 - matching its 24-hour peak. This influx of returning players is enough to make the surface world feel crowded once again! With the player count skyrocketing, you'll naturally encounter more squads, and conflicts over missions and resource nodes will become more frequent. It is crucial not to lose your composure in the heat of the moment; above all, you need to have a clear farming route in mind. What does a concurrent player count of 109k signify? According to Steam data, ARC Raiders currently has 109,644 concurrent players (matching its 24-hour peak), while its all-time peak of 481,966 was set 11 months ago. While this figure doesn't necessarily mean the game has returned to its absolute peak, it certainly shows that Frozen Trail has drawn a massive number of both veteran and new players back into the game. With so many players active right now, it's best to bring teammates along for missions or play during off-peak hours. If you're a returning veteran, don't rush straight into high-value hotspots; first, ensure your gear and resource stockpiles are up to the pace of the game. Unlock Outpost First In ARC Raiders Frozen Trail, Outpost should be your top priority - once you complete specific projects, it becomes accessible, and Workshop relocates there. One quest requires you to take a camera to Bluegate and photograph Ruined Homestead, followed by dealing damage to Bully enemies and flying ARC units. Completing this allows you to expand Outpost and build a Research Bench. Construction materials include 35 Planks, 5 Battered Paperbacks, and 3 Mini Pumps. You can gather these more easily in areas like Observatory and Supermarket at Pendola Pass, where Raider containers are plentiful. After building Research Bench, you'll need to continue upgrading Outpost to unlock higher-level features. Research Bench and Blueprints Research Bench relies on Research Points, which you earn by turning in various ARC Raiders items - such as Frigot Diagnostic Node and ARC Data Module - yielding 1,000 and 200 points, respectively. So, when scavenging, don't be too quick to sell off junk items you deem useless; check first to see if Research Bench needs them. It facilitates blueprint crafting, design crafting, and Amplified research. Blueprint crafting - one of the most attractive features of Frozen Trail - allows you to research and learn almost any blueprint in the game, freeing you from total reliance on random drops. Design crafting involves Lootable “Design” items found in the world, which are used to unlock craftable furniture. Amplified research, meanwhile, requires your Outpost and Research Bench to reach higher levels, making it a mid-to-late-game objective in Frozen Trail. For now, your best strategy is to select a primary weapon you use frequently and invest your Research Points into it to secure a strong start, then explore other research options that interest you later. For players who enjoy collecting and long-term planning, this area will probably become the first place you check whenever you log into the game. Pendola Pass The new map, Pendola Pass, is the centerpiece of this update. It introduces Dynamic Loot Zone system: the value of a specific area fluctuates from match to match, even though the zone type remains constant (e.g., a residential area stays residential, but the potential yield changes). This means that relying on fixed routes in ARC Raiders is no longer a sure bet; players must be flexible and adjust their scavenging order accordingly. While new enemies like Bully, Skulker, and Hydra will alter the pace of our encounters, the addition of new weapons - Bantam and Stiletto - means we can look forward to some truly thrilling battles against them. When the player count is high, try to avoid the most popular drop zones; instead, gather resources on the outskirts before venturing into the core areas. Action Plan for New and Returning Players If you are a returning player, start by unlocking Outpost-related missions and building your Research Bench, then embark on your adventure in the new Pendola Pass map. Of course, you can also pick up missions along the way and progress while scavenging; there is no need to grind the same map repeatedly just because Pendola Pass is new content. Completing more missions will streamline your acquisition of Research Points and blueprint progression. However, always keep an eye on Dynamic Loot Zones while scavenging - don't get locked into a single, unchanging route. Teaming up helps reduce PvP risks and allows you to deal with Bullies, Skulkers, and Hydras more efficiently. If you are a new player, rushing into high-value zones right now isn't a wise move; you're better off focusing on quests first. Once your Research Bench starts producing, your gear will become much more stable, giving you the confidence needed to farm effectively in the game. We can anticipate a surge in the player count following the launch of Frozen Trail; the current 109,000 concurrent players might just be the beginning. This is a chance for everyone to get a fresh start in ARC Raiders. With fast matchmaking and plenty of squads active right now, go ahead and unlock your Outpost, build your Research Bench, and start uncovering the surprises that await in Frozen Trail!