That sound you can hear in the distance is someone mumbling in-teh-grih-teh, because a key bit of RuneScape’s in-teh-grih-teh-focused 2026 additions has gone live today, March 23rd. It’s part one of the Havenhythe expansion, which Jagex are touting as the MMORPG’s largest area embiggening yet.

Found to the east of Morytania, Havenhythe is a quiet and mysterious place with a long history behind it,” Jagex wrote in their intro to this new area. “Once home to ancient civilisations, strange magic, and stories long forgotten, the island has mostly been left to time. Your journey begins with a vision when you visit the Rusty Anchor in Port Sarim. A warning of something stirring beyond the sea. Before long you will find yourself setting sail to see what is really waiting there.”

They continued that this first bit of the Havenhythe expansion “lays the foundations for the island”, which is designed to grow and have more stuff added to it througout the year. As for what’s in there right now, the answer’s some stuff that’s free to play, and a whole lot more if you’ve invested in a RuneScape subscription.

For example, the two main quests of the expansion added in part one – Visions of Havenhythe and Hearts of Sanguine – are both free to give a go. However, both of the side quests added alongside them – one of which is about helping the crabs of Wendlewick, a coastal village which serves as Havenhythe’s largest settlement, solve “a housing problem” – are members-only. Yep, you’ve gotta pay if you want to see what the shell’s going on with the crustacean condos in your new stomping grounds.

Also only for members is the more interesting-sounding of the two new bosses, Silverquill the Dreadhog. They look a bit like an evil Sonic, and their silver spikes will “play a role in the wider conflict at the centre of Havenhythe”. At least there’s a free boss fight against a bloke called Ivar, King of Bones. Continuing with the theme of plenty of side stuff being members-only, the newly introduced setting up of fish farms you’ve got to look after like they’re a Koi pond and the new big game hunting which raises that skill’s cap to 110 are also members-only.

At least having a wander around Havenhythe itself’s free, with a second part to the update set to make more additions to the area later this year. Maybe I’ll have to fight for free crab housing in RuneScape like Julian attempted to fight for the game’s sharksuit. He also asked Jagex about their plans for Pride content in RuneScape this year, following the decision not to create any fresh bits last year.