Jon Bellamy, CEO of RuneScape developer Jagex, stated the continuity and operation of the studio’s video games “as apolitically as attainable” is on the prime of his totem pole—even when meaning winding down in-game occasions celebrating LGBTQ gamers.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the outlet requested Jon Bellamy for remark relating to experiences that the studio had been criticized internally after cutting down Satisfaction Month occasions beginning this yr. The mandate resulted within the discontinuation of the Satisfaction mini-quest in Previous College RuneScape, whereas the Tales of Satisfaction occasion was current in RuneScape, however with out new content material that had already been accomplished.
Bellamy was accused by one nameless staffer of “catering to American conservatism,” and Jagex workers despatched an open letter to administration. The studio responded by saying that “our job is to not use the sport as an outlet for our personal views, however to craft worlds that serve our gamers providing immersion, escape and that means.”
Chatting with GameIndustry.Biz, Bellamy echoed this sentiment. He reaffirmed his stance that taking a step again from Satisfaction Month-related content material was to keep away from “backlash,” because it was “controversial in a approach it did not use to be.” He added that in the end, his job is “governance and safety as a lot as anything,” and that “these sorts of harsh choices” need to be made to guard the approaching way forward for the sport.
“If there are powerful choices to be made subsequent yr, we’ll make them. If the world has modified a bit and the setting is totally different, we are going to react accordingly,” Bellamy stated.
Satisfaction content material is ‘controversial,’ says Bellamy (however would not say why)
The outlet talked about how one of many group’s arguments towards making the choice as a result of international political scenario is exactly why occasions like this are extra necessary than ever. Earlier this yr, Jagex builders reportedly volunteered to complete the 2025 Satisfaction Month content material in their very own time, saying that it was already full or easy to implement, whereas others proposed an in-game Satisfaction parade which, supposedly, wouldn’t have entailed growth time.
“An important factor is the continuity and upkeep of our video games, in addition to the preservation of our gamers and serving our gamers nice RuneScape experiences as now we have for years,” Bellamy replied. “That is the highest precedence, and that may at all times be the highest precedence.”
The CEO added that he completely sympathizes with what’s being stated, whereas including that his precedence is to not compromise the escapism alternative provided by Jagex’s video games, as it may be a “very actual danger” to the enterprise.
“On the prime of my totem pole will at all times be the continuity and operation of our video games as apolitically as attainable, as a result of in the end our video games provide escapism to many lots of of hundreds of gamers every single day,” he stated.
Bellamy, an advisor for CVC Capital Companions, the personal fairness agency that bought Jagex alongside Haveli Investments in 2024, succeeded former CEO Phil Mansell again in March of this yr. Three months later, Jagex introduced modifications to the studio’s operational construction, which resulted in layoffs of an undisclosed variety of workers.
