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Why RuneScape’s 2025 Pride Content Changed—and Why Staff Objected

Jagex’s 2025 Pride decision stopped new content, but did not remove every Pride activity. Here’s how RuneScape and Old School RuneScape differed, and why staff objected.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Jagex did not remove every Pride-related activity from RuneScape in 2025. The decision stopped new Pride content in both games, but the outcomes differed: Old School RuneScape’s Pride mini-quest was discontinued for the year, while RuneScape’s existing Tales of Pride returned without new additions. Community-organized in-game marches were still permitted, according to reporting by PinkNews.

What changed in RuneScape and Old School RuneScape?

Game or activity Reported 2025 outcome
Old School RuneScape Pride mini-quest Discontinued for 2025.
RuneScape’s Tales of Pride Existing content returned, but no new content was developed.
Community-organized in-game marches Permitted, according to PinkNews.

The distinction matters: the controversy was about pausing new official development, not deleting every existing Pride feature or forbidding players from organizing marches. PinkNews also reported that pre-programmed recurring Pride content could remain.

Why did Jagex pause new Pride content?

Jagex told PinkNews that development was focused on building worlds around what players had asked for. A spokesperson said existing Pride content remained live, community-led marches were supported, and the company was exploring wider ways to celebrate Pride, potentially including partnerships and charitable support. Those were possibilities described by the company, not confirmation that a partnership later took place.

In a reported staff Q&A, CEO Jon Bellamy said he had made the decision and framed it as risk management: “The content.. is now controversial in a way it didn’t used to be and that controversy now brings more risk than it did previously, risk that I’m personally responsible to protect against.” The quotation and account were published by PinkNews.

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In a later interview reported by Game Developer on 3 September 2025, Bellamy continued to defend the approach. He cited continuity, player experience, escapism, and a desire to operate the games “as apolitically as possible,” while acknowledging that Pride content could pose a risk to the games’ escapism. He said decisions in later years would depend on the circumstances at the time.

What did Jagex employees say?

PinkNews reported that Bellamy announced the pause internally on 25 April 2025. Employees reportedly challenged the decision, saying the work was complete or straightforward to implement; some offered to finish it in their own time. These are accounts attributed to the reporting, including an anonymous employee, rather than independently published internal documentation.

On 15 May, staff diversity, equity and inclusion groups sent management an open letter asking it to restart development and commit to Pride as an annual seasonal event in both games. The letter reportedly referred to earlier event data and revenue, but the article did not provide numerical results. Management responded on 22 May. PinkNews reported that its reply said pre-programmed recurring Pride content could remain and included the explanation: “Our job is not to use the game as an outlet for our own views, but to craft worlds that serve our players, offering immersion, escape and meaning.”

Employees criticized the decision as reflecting the political climate, according to PinkNews. That criticism is their interpretation; Jagex’s stated rationale focused on player priorities, immersion, and risk.

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Did RuneScape remove all Pride content?

No. The reported 2025 changes were not identical across the two games, and community marches remained permitted. PinkNews also quoted a Jagex spokesperson saying: “Jagex is a strong supporter and ally of the LGBTQ+ community, with a firm belief that our games should be a safe space for all our players and celebrates people of all identities.” That statement was made on behalf of the company, not by Bellamy personally.

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Is there an official RuneScape Pride event in 2026?

The available reporting does not establish whether Jagex announced or held official Pride programming in 2026. Social discussion, including a Reddit thread about a possible 2026 event, is not authoritative confirmation. The documented dispute and outcomes described here concern 2025.

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