Gaming News
Jagex Apologizes After AI-Generated Six-Fingered Character Debuts at RuneFest
Ongoing
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“We're aware of the concerns raised about the Dragon Slayer 2 trailer and have taken it down, while we investigate this urgently,”
via pcgamer.com
Our take
The incident highlights a significant gap in vendor management for major studios, as Jagex's reliance on external partners led to a public failure in asset verification. By admitting that the error exposed weaknesses in its own approval pipeline, Jagex shifts the narrative from blaming the partner to acknowledging internal process failures.
Background
Jagex is the developer of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape. The company holds an annual event called RuneFest, where it presents new game content and updates to its player base. In late September 2026, Jagex faced a separate controversy regarding a clothing collaboration with 100 Thieves, where AI-generated designs were identified by the community.
Alec 'Mod Sween' Sween is a developer for Old School RuneScape who serves as a primary point of contact for the community on Reddit. He previously addressed the 100 Thieves incident, stating that Jagex does not knowingly use generative AI for game assets. The Dragon Slayer 2 quest is an upcoming major update for RuneScape 3.
The timeline
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Jagex removed Dragon Slayer 2 trailer and apologizes
Jagex reportedly removed the Dragon Slayer 2 trailer from circulation and issued an apology after players identified a six-fingered character and bizarre footwear in the video shown at RuneFest. Alec Sween stated on the 2007scape subreddit that the trailer was produced by a trusted external partner who reportedly confirmed generative AI would not be used, but the company allegedly acknowledged it failed to catch the error.[1]
Our read of the evidence
Mostly unverified. Jagex removed the Dragon Slayer 2 trailer and issued an apology after players identified a six‑fingered character that appeared to be AI‑generated during the RuneFest keynote, as reported. The company is now investigating how the material slipped through its approval pipeline and is overhauling its review processes, according to reports.
Our rating counts evidence, not opinions about anyone: events confirmed by a primary source (the person's own post, their official site, a court or government record) weigh most, then how many independent outlets report the story.
What happens next
Jagex is investigating how the material slipped through its approval pipeline, according to gamedev.net.
Jagex is overhauling its review processes, according to pcgamer.com.
Frequently asked
Is the RuneScape AI controversy resolved?
No, the situation is ongoing. As of October 5, 2026, per pcgamer.com, Jagex is investigating the incident and overhauling its review processes.
What did Jagex say about the six-fingered character?
Jagex apologized, stating that the sixth finger is 'pretty hard to explain away.' They admitted the team 'should have caught these things' and that they 'didn't do well enough.'
Who created the AI-generated trailer?
According to Jagex, the trailer was produced by a trusted external partner who explicitly confirmed that generative AI would not be used.
Is this the first AI incident for Jagex?
No, this is the second time in quick succession that concerns about generative AI have arisen through partners, following a previous issue with a 100 Thieves collaboration.
What is Jagex doing to prevent this from happening again?
Jagex is overhauling its review process and plans to work with and commission creators from the community to ensure Dragon Slayer 2 is told to the appropriate standard.
More related drama (4)
Sources (4)
- pcgamer.com, RuneScape dev apologises after RuneFest debut of an AI-generated six-fingered character: 'That's pretty hard to explain away', Oct 5, 2026.
- Twitter (original post), Original tweet by 100 Thieves (@100Thieves): We messed up. Our collaboration with RuneScape is a passion project that brought together people from across 100 Thieves to create a celebration of OSRS a.
- Reddit (original post).
- gamedev.net, Jagex responds to use of generative AI in RuneScape trailer …, Oct 5, 2026.
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 1 dated events from 4 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “Jagex Apologizes After AI-Generated Six-Fingered Character Debuts at RuneFest.”
GenZHype, 5 October 2026,
https://genzhype.com/gaming/jagex-apologizes-after-ai-generated-six-fingered-character-debuts-at-runefest/.