Jagex apologizes after a new RuneScape trailer sparks generative AI concerns, promising to overhaul its review process going forward.
A lot is happening right now for RuneScape. Between a multi-year plan for Dragonwilds and an entirely new MMORPG, RuneFest 2026 packed plenty of surprises. Yet, some things have fallen through the cracks behind the scenes. Jagex has pulled a trailer for RuneScape's Dragon Slayer 2 after players spotted what looked suspiciously like generative AI in the video, including a rather unfortunate sixth finger.
The trailer, which promoted the long-awaited RuneScape update, was produced by an external partner that Jagex says had explicitly confirmed that it wouldn't use generative AI. However, the finished product appears to have raised some very familiar red flags, prompting Jagex to remove it while it investigates what happened.
"We're aware of the concerns raised about the Dragon Slayer 2 trailer and have taken it down, while we investigate urgently," Jagex says in a statement from 'Mod Anvii' on Reddit. Adding some levity, the mod adds that "among other things, there's a sixth finger and, well, that's pretty hard to explain away."
On the back of this, Jagex is adamant its position on generative AI hasn't changed. The studio states that it "doesn't use GenAI to create our games, artwork or creative assets" and says it "will not knowingly allow it to be used on our behalf." The problem, according to Jagex, is that this isn't the first time concerns about generative AI have emerged from one of its trusted external partners.
The studio says this is "the second time in quick succession that concerns about generative AI have arisen through partners we trusted," prompting it to take a closer look at its own review processes. The Dragon Slayer 2 trailer isn't simply being quietly replaced and forgotten about in the meantime. Jagex plans to overhaul those processes immediately following RuneFest, while also bringing community creators into the project.
The studio says it will "work with and commission creators from the community" to ensure that the story of Dragon Slayer 2 is told to a standard befitting such a significant RuneScape update. It follows a similarly rocky situation, after RuneScape's 100 Thieves collaboration was berated for the same issues. Addressing the backlash, 100 Thieves iterates that "AI has no place in our apparel design."
For now, the original trailer is gone, and Jagex is investigating. Hopefully, whatever replaces it has the right number of fingers.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.pcgamesn.com/runescape/dragon-slayer-2-ai
