RuneScape dev announces new sci-fi MMO

Jagex Games Studio has announced an upcoming, free-to-play, browser-based MMO entitled Stellar Dawn. This announcement follows last year's cancellation of Mechscape, which according to GamesIndustry.biz, cost Jagex "tens of millions".

According to Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard, Mechscape didn't turn out to be the game Jagex intended. "The previous game wasn't a game that we want to play," he explained. "As much as we ended up thinking of it like a baby – we were 'reasonably' proud of it, we thought it was a good experience and we'd achieved something – it wasn't a game ready for launch."

However, several pieces of Mechscape's concept art and even much of the game's engine have transferred to the new project, which Jagex describes as a "combat-driven MMORPG with a rich sci-fi storyline".

Like RuneScape, Stellar Dawn will be free to play with additional areas and opportunities available to subscribers. A public forum is available and closed-beta registration is currently running with participants selected based on their hardware profiles.

A date for the beta is yet to be announced.