A year-long journey of creativity, learning, and game development culminated this month as the winners and runners-up of the RS25 Future Talent Pathway visited Jagex's new headquarters. From classroom workshops to a RuneScape-inspired Game Jam, the programme has connected aspiring developers with industry professionals, helping them take their first steps toward careers in games.

In March, Jagex volunteers delivered free game design workshops in schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, introducing students to the fundamentals of game development and careers in the industry. The programme received an enthusiastic response, inspiring young people to see how creativity, practice, and passion can lead to rewarding careers, reaching over 500 students across different schools.

School workshops were followed by a RuneScape inspired Game Jam held in June and July for college students and recent graduates. Participants were challenged to create a game experience in which a short journey and a single mysterious object felt epic, personal, and meaningful, set against the legend of a lost relic hidden somewhere in the RuneScape world of Gielinor.

This month, our winners and runners-up had the pleasure of visiting the brand new Jagex offices, where they were given a unique behind-the-scenes look at life in a game studio and the opportunity to connect directly with industry professionals.

Throughout the day, the winning teams showcased their games, with Jagex staff dropping in to play, provide feedback, and celebrate the creativity and talent on display. Winners also took part in exclusive one-to-one mentoring sessions with professionals from their chosen discipline, offering valuable insights into the skills and pathways that lead into the games industry.

“It's been an incredible experience. I've really enjoyed myself, especially the one to ones that we got and I got a lot of good feedback and advice, which is really invaluable. I'm also a RuneScape player, so that's quite special to me that I got to visit Jagex who actually made it.“ - Allison Dawson, RS25 Art Challenge Winner

The visit included a career-focused AMA session with Jagex's Talent Acquisition team, giving participants the chance to ask questions about breaking into the industry, building portfolios, and preparing for future opportunities. The day concluded with a certificate and prize ceremony, recognising the outstanding achievements of the winners and the hard work shown by everyone who took part in the competition. Each winner recieved a variety of incredible prizes: Laptops kindly donated by MSI, PlayStation Plus Passes, exclusive RuneScape merch and access to the Into Games Career Launchpad course.

"My day has been amazing, being shown around, talking to a lot of developers and seeing what they're working on. While speaking with the QA testers and analysts, we spoke a lot about automation testing and how that can be used. So, I've been inspired to look into that further!" James Grant, Highly Commended Award.

RuneScape turned 25 this year, and one of the ways we wanted to celebrate was by opening doors for the people who will build its next 25. From school workshops reaching over 500 students to welcoming our winners into the studio, it’s been a real highlight of my year, and I’m so proud of everyone at Jagex & IntoGames who helped these young creators step through the door.” Michaela Thompson, Director of Talent at Jagex.

A huge thank you goes to Jagex for their continued support, mentorship, and commitment to developing future talent, as well as MSI for their generous prize donation. Through initiatives like the RS25 Future Talent Pathway, the next generation of game dev are not only developing practical skills but also building the confidence, connections, and inspiration needed to take their next steps into the world of game development.

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