RS3 2026 Roadmap Guide: Treasure Hunter Removal & Core System Reworks

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Created - 26.01.2026 Updated - 27.01.2026

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Runescape has just hit 25 years old, and with it, the game is receiving the most significant change since the evolution of combat. Since its conception, Runescape 3 has been infected with microtransactions and pay-to-win elements. Over time, the focus on these got larger and larger, outshining the actual content releases of the game. The game got bloated with content that has piled up over 25 years, and most of the player base quietly left to either play Old School Runescape or some other game.

However, there is still hope as the Jagexs new CEO, Jon Bellamy, has decided to take on a financial loss to guarantee Runescape 3’s longevity and enjoyability. This announcement is huge for any player who is looking to play Runescape 3 for the first time or give it another try after a long break. In this guide, we’ll briefly explain what each update brings, when to jump back in, and whether RuneScape 3 is worth playing again.

Why the Runescape 2026 Roadmap is Different

Above is a quick overview of the roadmap of Runescape 3. This is, as they call it, “the road to restoration”. The roadmap that will revive Runescape 3 of its slow decay. From the get-go, the key things to take away from this roadmap are the fact that every update focuses on player needs and the removal of systems that harm the gameplay loop, prolonging the game's longevity.

Treasure Hunter and MTX Removal

Even though there are some crazy, huge updates on the roadmap, this is possibly the biggest one out of them all. Treasure Hunter, or formerly known as the Squeal of Fortune, was one of the key corrupting factors of Runescape 3’s downfall. It introduced ways of paying real-life money to get gold, skip long skill grinds, or get free end-game items.

This fundamentally changed how players progressed in Runescape and interacted with the economy, and slowly but surely crumbled the castle called integrity. The items you got from this were so powerful that players stopped interacting with the in-game skill economy to train their skills. This blight upon the game is finally being removed with the items it introduced, which is a great first step to restore trust in the community and to restore the game's integrity.

What Happens to Existing Treasure Hunter Items

Many players still have a ton of treasure hunter items sitting in their bank, so what happens to those items? Simple, they will get removed within a year. So if you have a bunch of proteans sitting in your bank, it is highly recommended that you use up all of them before 2026 ends because they will get removed permanently.

Core System Reworks

UI

Runescape 3 always had a notoriously terrible UI. It was bloated, confusing, and downright impossible for a new player to intuitively use. At the start of this new year, they are looking to fix this by re-designing the starter UI to be more accessible, delivering a more classic, refreshed look. This is great news, especially for OSRS enjoyers, as the new look of the UI resembles that of the old version of the game that we are all familiar with.

Combat

Combat in Runescape 3 is not as intuitive as it looks. Most of the abilities and systems used are from 2013 and are outdated. This year, Jagex is looking to completely overhaul how combat plays. Here is everything they are planning on doing:

• Removing or reworking unnecessary abilities. Runescape 3 has a problem with the sheer amount of useless abilities it possesses. These are abilities that apply similar effects to other abilities or abilities that are completely useless. They cause confusion among the players, so it is good that they are getting changed or removed.
• Removal of thresholds. Threshold abilities are strong abilities that require 50% adrenaline to use. This divides the amount of freedom Jagex can have while designing abilities. With this removed, there can be abilities of various costs that correspond to the amount of strength that the ability possesses.
• Reintroducing basic attacks. Basic attacks are a core part of Runescape since its birth, and they are looking to bring this identity back to all styles of combat.
• Abilities will be redistributed amongst levels, so that players can learn the combat style as they go.
• Lesser abilities that deal less damage than basic auto-attacks will be removed. This will prevent beginner confusion.
• A rework of animations of already existing skills will happen to have smoother, cleaner, and more readable skills.
• Ammo consumption will be the same in all stages of the game.
• All combat skill level caps will be increased to level 120 to match Necromancy.
• Some combat-related auras will be removed as they play too significant a role in combat encounters.
• Food is being reworked so it no longer scales with your constitution and just heals for solid amounts of health. Consuming early game food will no longer drain your adrenaline as harshly, so it stops being a "noob trap".

Overall, the combat changes are designed to create a better combat experience, especially for new players who are looking to get into the game. This will no doubt have a positive effect on the overall player count, as new players will not be overwhelmed by the confusing combat mechanics.

Player Avatar

Over the years, the player characters looked more and more out of sync with the overall world of Runescape. This year, they are looking to fix this by re-designing the character models and re-rendering character outfits and armours to match the style of the game.

Community Plugins

This update is almost as huge as the removal of Treasure Hunter. If you have ever played OSRS, you know how much plugins help players to enjoy the game. For some of us, it would be impossible to play the game without them, and if you have ever tried playing RS3 after OSRS, you will feel the lack of plugins and the quality of life they bring to the table. This point was especially made vocal in the previous years' Leagues, where a bunch of OSRS players tried RS3 for the first time.

Thankfully, Jagex listened, and they are developing an API for plugin developers so that we can all enjoy plugins that will make playing this game much more enjoyable.

Visual Overhauls

Runescape is an old game, and although some of its areas are already reworked to fit the more modern standard of the game, some areas are still lacking. Throughout this year, Jagex will be updating the Al-Kharid desert area, Falador and its surroundings, Port Sarim and Karamja dock, and the area leading to Morytania, north-east of Varrock.

Major Content Updates

There are some pretty huge updates coming to Runescape 3 to shake everything up this year. If you want to be prepared for everything that is to come, you can check out our Runescape 3 Store.

Havenhythe

Havenhythe is Runescape’s biggest area expansion to date. It is located east of Morytania and is an area dating back to the First Age with a rich history tied to the vampyres. Without going into too much detail, here is what you can expect from this area expansion:

• New major and small quests.
• A bunch of new training spots for various skills.

• New training methods for skills. It is confirmed that there will be a new Red Ivy woodcutting training spot for AFK woodcutting, a new fishing spot that allows you to catch Giant Crayfish, new hunting skilling nodes, and much more.
• A bunch of new friendly and hostile creatures with unique drops.
• New armor and weapons, possibly for Necromancy, as that is quite lacking.

Leagues 2

Leagues will be returning to Runescape 3 this year, and they are listening to the feedback from last year. This league will be much faster, with strong relics, auto-completed quests, and high experience multipliers. If you are unsure of when you want to start Runescape 3, you can wait for Leagues and experience the entirety of the game to decide whether you want to play the main game or not.

POH and Construction Changes

The Construction skill of Runescape 3 is severely lacking, and with this year's update, they are looking to completely rework how the skill works to match the overall game. First of all, the skills' max level will be increased to 120. Secondly, they are changing the overall customisability and flexibility you have over your house, allowing you to build the home that you desire.

There will be a new recipe system that lets players unlock and build furniture that is inspired by their adventures across the game. Through this recipe system, Jagex is looking to make the players' home a history book that contains their adventures that can be shared with other players.

Is Runescape Worth Playing in 2026?

Absolutely yes! There can never be a better time to start playing Runescape 3 than now, where Jagex is listening to player feedback and actively looking for ways to improve the game's playability. If you are looking for a sweet spot to start playing the game, we would recommend either starting with League 2, where you can get a feel for the entirety of the game, or at the start of 2027, where all the MTX items are removed, all the improvements are made, and the game finally gets to breathe a new fresh air to its lungs.

If you are looking to get into Runescape 3, we have a brand-new RS3 Beginner's Guide that you can use to kick-start your journey.

FAQs

What is the RuneScape 2026 Roadmap?

It is the roadmap that shows Jagex’s commitment to reviving Runescape 3 and making it a game worth your time.

Is Treasure Hunter permanently removed?

Yes, it is permanently removed, and all the items it introduced will be removed at the end of this year, so use them up if you have any left.

Does this roadmap affect OSRS?

No, it does not, but it can have effects that attract OSRS players back to Runescape 3.

When is the player avatar refresh coming?

There is no exact date as of yet, but it is supposed to come out towards the middle of summer.

What is Havenhythe?

It is the largest area expansion that Runescape 3 has ever received, filled with new skilling locations, quests, new items, and so much more.

Is RuneScape worth returning to in 2026?

Absolutely yes, there has never been a better time to start playing Runescape 3.

That pretty much sums up everything coming with RuneScape’s 2026 roadmap and why it’s such a big turning point for RS3. Between the removal of Treasure Hunter, the massive system reworks, and all the new content on the way, the game is finally heading back toward a healthier and more player-focused future. Whether you’re a long-time veteran or someone who quit years ago, the next couple of years are shaping up to be the perfect time to jump back in and see RuneScape in a whole new light.