JAGEX (RuneScape) Community, Craft and AI: Running a Game That Never Dies

Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the AI era.In this episode, we sit down with Jon Bellamy, CEO of Jagex, to explore what it takes to lead RuneScape, a 25-year-old world that millions still treat as home. Jon explains why running Jagex often feels “more like government than game development,” and how community and trust shape every decision.From his early years as a RuneScape player to roles in VC, Huge Games, and now the CEO seat, Jon’s path spans every side of the industry. We discuss legacy, community governance, the real impact of AI on development, and what it takes to keep a living game thriving across generations.We dive into:(00:00:00) Intro and Jon's journey to Jagex(00:02:42) Managing a community like a government(00:06:51) The 70% poll threshold for new features(00:09:23) Dragonwilds and early access success(00:14:10) Card Game: Hardest lessons and unsolvable problems(00:20:06) Strategy: Betting on 10 bold things(00:26:21) Balancing new players vs. loyal community(00:37:43) The truth about AI in game development(00:46:04) Human creativity vs. "AI Slop"Check other episodes: https://www.sett.ai/podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sett-ai/posts/?feedView=all