Jagex pull Runescape trailer and apologise for genAI use after complaints about six-fingered knights, pinning the blame on a "trusted external partner"

Key Points:

• At RuneFest 2026, Jagex revealed a trailer for RuneScape 3's Hoard of Dragons expansion, featuring the Dragon Slayer II quest set for 2027, but quickly took down the video due to the use of generative AI (genAI) imagery.
• The trailer, despite its hand-drawn style, contained obvious AI-generated anomalies like a knight with six fingers and a medieval warrior wearing sneakers, which raised concerns about the authenticity of the artwork.
• Jagex's social manager acknowledged the issue, apologizing for the errors and blaming a trusted external partner who had assured no genAI would be used, while reaffirming that Jagex does not knowingly use genAI for their creative assets.
• The company promised to overhaul their review processes to prevent similar incidents, though critics argue this reflects a lack of care for the artistry and legacy behind RuneScape's visuals.
• This controversy marks the second recent instance of genAI-related issues at Jagex, fueling skepticism about their commitment to avoiding AI-generated content in their work.