RuneScape Dev Pulls Trailer Over AI Allegations

Did you catch that six-fingered knight in the new RuneScape 3 trailer? Fans sure did, and now Jagex has pulled the whole thing.

Over the weekend, RuneFest 2026 brought a bunch of exciting reveals for RuneScape players. But things took a sharp turn when the trailer for the Dragon Slayer 2 quest dropped. Eagle-eyed viewers quickly noticed something odd: a knight with six fingers. That's a classic telltale sign of AI-generated art, and the community didn't hold back.

The backlash was swift and loud. Social media lit up with accusations that Jagex had used generative AI to create the trailer, despite the company's previous hardline stance against it. Jagex took notice and responded by not only releasing an official statement but also pulling the trailer entirely while they investigate "urgently."

In a Reddit post, social media manager Alex Sween acknowledged the issue head-on. "Hello, it's me, again, talking about Gen AI, again," the statement began, referencing a recent incident involving 100 Thieves and OSRS. "We're aware of the concerns raised about the Dragon Slayer 2 trailer and have taken it down, while we investigate urgently. This trailer was produced by a trusted external partner who had explicitly confirmed that GenAI would not be used. But, among other things, there's a sixth finger and, well, that's pretty hard to explain away. For that we apologise."

The six-fingered knight wasn't the only red flag. Another frame showed a fully-armored knight wearing what looked like modern sneakers. Sween admitted in follow-up replies that it was something Jagex "should have caught," adding, "We didn't do well enough and can't simply place the blame elsewhere."

While the trailer is gone from official channels, it's still viewable in the full RuneFest 2026 livestream, and fans are still discussing it across social media. They're not happy, and Jagex knows it. The team used the statement to reiterate its position: "We don't use GenAI to create our games, artwork, or creative assets and will not knowingly allow it to be used on our behalf."

But this is the second time AI allegations have hit Jagex this year, suggesting a deeper problem. The developer says it's overhauling its review processes immediately following RuneFest and will work with community creators to ensure Dragon Slayer 2 meets expectations. Meanwhile, Jagex is still pushing forward with other projects, including RuneScape 4 and an animated adaptation with YouTuber MoistCr1tikal.

What do you think about AI in game trailers? Will you be keeping an eye out for six-fingered knights from now on?