In a story that’s sparking debate across the gaming world, long-time MMORPG RuneScape is under fire after an anonymous employee accused developer Jagex of catering to American conservatism by scaling back Pride Month content in 2025. RuneScape and its retro counterpart, Old School RuneScape, have long been sanctuaries for LGBTQ gamers, offering inclusive communities and annual Pride events that many queer players say made them feel seen and safe.
But this year, insiders say a shift began shortly after new CEO Jon Bellamy took charge. On April 25th, Bellamy announced that both games would skip new Pride Month content to focus on what players wanted. Staff pushed back, saying the content was nearly complete, and some even offered to finish it off the clock. However, Management cited fears of political backlash behind this decision.
In a video Q&A to address staff questions, Bellamy stated,
“I understand that RuneScape… is precious because it is a safe space, it is an escape from reality, and the reality that we find ourselves in is changing. It is getting stranger, more troubling, less moral, I would argue. Games and studios are being cancelled because of content that is perceived to be ‘woke’ or representative. The pendulum is swinging back in a way we didn’t expect.”
The company has since walked back slightly, allowing pre-existing Pride content to stay on a timer, and green-lighting community-run Pride marches. But many at Jagex aren’t satisfied.
