Jagex cuts operational staff to refocus on player experience

RuneScape developer Jagex has confirmed layoffs affecting an undisclosed number of employees, predominantly in non-game development roles.

In a statement to PCGamer, Jagex said that the changes to its operational structure were part of a strategy to build “the best experiences for players and grow the RuneScape community.” 

The company confirmed that most of the recent layoffs affected staff in operations and administrative support, although it did not disclose the exact number of employees impacted.

“We recognise that any change of this nature is difficult, and we are committed to supporting all impacted employees throughout the transition," said Jagex.

The layoffs were first discovered on the RuneScape subreddit, where users noticed missing moderators. A mod named Hooli confirmed the cuts, noting they mostly affected non-game development and non-player-facing roles. 

Project Zanaris delayed

Jagex has also hit an indefinite pause on Project Zanaris, citing a desire to refocus on core improvements to Old School RuneScape (OSRS). The studio acknowledged mixed community reactions and admitted Zanaris would not have met expectations in the near term. 

Instead of stretching resources, the team is prioritising current OSRS needs. Developers from the Zanaris project have been reassigned to other areas within Jagex or directly to OSRS to support ongoing updates and initiatives.

“We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to Project Zanaris," the developer wrote in a post.

“Your discussions, feedback and passion helped shape our direction moving forward. We're confident this change will ultimately strengthen OSRS, adding immediate value, better services and exciting new experiences.

The layoffs come months after Jagex CEO Phil Mansell stepped down, having spent eight years in the role and 14 years at the company overall. He was succeeded by former Huuuge Games CCO Jon Bellamy, who joined Jagex’s board in October 2024.