Mod Husky, the creative director behind RuneScape’s upcoming Dragonwilds update, argues that the survival crafting genre has deep roots in MMOs. In a recent interview, he went so far as to suggest that “It’s almost like the genre was born from MMOs.”

Dragonwilds introduces survival crafting gameplay to RuneScape, placing players in a vast wilderness where resource gathering, crafting, and community collaboration are key to survival. This intriguing twist on established RuneScape gameplay is designed to attract both dedicated players and newcomers. This expansion into a seemingly distinct genre led Mod Husky to reflect on the surprising overlap between the two.

He highlighted that player interactions, community dynamics, and trading within survival crafting games closely mirror the core elements found in many MMOs. These emergent gameplay loops, driven by player decisions and cooperative efforts, underpin the long-term engagement found in both genres.

With Dragonwilds slated to overhaul the wilderness area and usher in an era of full-loot PvP in designated dangerous zones, Mod Husky and the Jagex team aim to create a dynamic and rewarding experience for all players. This exciting direction acknowledges and amplifies the MMO principles inherent in survival games by combining intense competition with a focus on community building and resource management.